$2,000
100%
or more of electricity
50% to 74%
of hot water
50% to 74%
of space heating
$10,000
22%
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5 KW PV installation covers all of my electric bill for my home and professional home office. Glad I purchased GE panels and Solectria inverters
$2,000
100%
or more of electricity
50% to 74%
of hot water
50% to 74%
of space heating
$10,000
22%
Property
- Owner:
- Dennis G. Unger, P.E.
- Type:
- Residential
- Address:
- 12 Maple Street, West Newbury, MA 01985
- Size:
- 3,000 sq ft
- Energy need met:
- 100% or more of electricity
- 50% to 74% of hot water
- 50% to 74% of space heating
- Designations:
- Deep energy retrofit
- Passive house
- Zero net energy
- Event Participation:
- NESEA Green Buildings Open House 2012 Host
- NESEA Green Buildings Open House 2013 Host
Technology
- Type:
- Solar PV
- Installed:
- January 2009
- Size of System:
- 5 kW
- Purposes:
- To generate electricity
Financial Details
- Gross Cost of System:
- $40,000
- Value of Rebates:
- $22,000
- Value of Tax Credits:
- $8,000
- Net Cost of System:
- $10,000
- Annual Savings:
- $2,000
- Annual Revenue:
- $200
- Own or Lease:
- Cash Purchase
- Additional Financial Notes:
- Electricity Use: no
Professionals & Suppliers
- Financing:
- None
- Architects:
- Riverside Engineering services, Inc
- Builders:
- Riverside Engineering
- Riverside Engineering services
What You Need to Know
Description:
Grid Tied PV o Circa 1812 - A four room, center hearth colonial home was built at 12 Maple Street in West Newbury, MA. Most surrounding land was clear cut for agricultural purposes. This residence was heated by a wood hearth and serviced by a 15' deep stone lined hand dug well (outside) and included outdoor plumbing. A Horse Barn / Carriage house supported the basic transportation needs of the occupants. The occupants were living in a 100% sustainable environment. o 1869 - The house was purchased by H.T. Bailey. Bailey added Victorian details to the facade and removed the center hearth to replace it with two chimneys, possibly adding indoor plumbing and possibly adding hydronic heat. Bailey added One Rear addition and possibly a rear porch. The Front bay window was added by Bailey so he could watch over his general store at night. o Circa 1900 - More rooms were added to the rear of the house. Plumbing, heating, electrical service were all upgraded. Agriculture was no longer a factor and large trees were beginning to fill the landscape. o Circa 1950 - The house was expanded to 14 rooms, the carriage house was converted in to a two stall motor vehicle garage or service shed. Municipal water service was added. The Oil boiler heated the entire home with one zone. AND the Oil boiler supplied domestic hot water to the residence. A Primitive on site waste water disposal system was installed to cut off the straight pipe plumbing that was probably causing noticeable stress to the nearby stream. The House at 12 Maple Street had become a small nursing home. o Circa 1970 - A family of 12 lived at 12 Maple Street; a perfect match for this 14 room dormitory style residence. o 1987 - The Owner occupant of the house was transferred to a new job location. A Corporate relocation service took ownership of the house. AND the house was burned while unoccupied as locals fought over the possibility of using the land for parking in support of a proposed regional abortion hospital. o 1989 - The House was purchased by Dennis G. Unger, P.E. at public auction. Unger demolished one Half of the house and used the combustibles to heat the home during the renovation. The seven rooms of the remaining house were stripped down to studs. Thermal pain windows and modern insulation were installed. One of the Old chimneys was removed and replace with a modern chimney. One wood burning stove was added to the living room that supplied 50% of the required heat in the home. o 1990 the Horse Barn was demolished and replaced with a modern home office and modern work shop. The new barn was heated with two solid fuel burning stoves. All modern underground utilities were installed. o 1991 - The OLD Sanitary disposal system was replaced with a modern treatment system, o 1992 - The original dug well was found and restored for use in irrigation of a home garden. o 1993 - The second chimney was relined and a second wood stove was added to the home. The Home heat was then 75% renewable energy. o 1995 - The old kitchen was removed from the rear of the house and replaced with a modern kitchen. This renovation included the installation of a concrete floor slab with radiant heating coils. The Kitchen floor slab was then run on a second heating zone. o 1998 - A long term plan to plant Fruit trees, gardens, and water collection systems / irrigation systems was completed. First rain barrels were installed. o 2000 - Fire wood acquisition was expanded throughout the neighborhood by offering free removal of unwanted trees and windfalls. o 2006 - A massive concrete heat storage slab was added to the living room. Shade trees were carefully trimmed to maximize summer time protection to the house. Air conditioners were removed from the house with the slab maintaining cool temperatures on the hottest of summer days. o 2007 - An overall plan was completed to restore the home and office at 12 Maple Street to operate on 100% sustainable energy. An Indirect fired hot water heater was installed for domestic hot water. o 2008 - A solid fuel Boiler and hydronic circulation system were added to combine the heating systems of the home and the detached barn. The Wood boiler proved it was able to provide 100% of the heat and domestic hot water to the home, office and work shop. Careful planning and tree cutting was completed to create "clear sky" for the upcoming solar installations. o January 2009 - A $ 22,500.00 Commonwealth Solar rebate was awarded to Dennis Unger for 12 Maple Street making it economically feasible to install a 5.3 kW photovoltaic solar array. This PV install is designed to supply all of the electric needs for the home, office, residence, and work shop . o April 2010 - Thermal Solar panels are scheduled for completion; making it possible to diminish wood burning during the summer months. o September 2009 - Photo voltaic array is completed making it possible to produce more electric power than actually used by the residence contributing excess energy to the electric grid. o April 2012 - Possible purchase of an Electric car. o September 2012 - Possible Wind turbine installed to provide added energy required by the electric car. o
Other Benefits:
Business good will
Maintenance Requirements:
clear trees from area
Efficiency or Sustainability Improvements:
Daylighting, Earth sheltered, Radiant floor heating, Rain Barrels, Rain Garden, Recycled Materials
My Motivation:
to benefit the environment
Advice:
Keep moving in the right direction with sustainable living technologies
Experience with Installer:
Self installed
Open House Info:
12 Maple Street West Newbury, Massachusetts
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