Carlisle house: an all-solar electric residence

• Main Authors: Nichols, B. E., Strong, S. J.
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION; CONSUMPTION; AND UTILIZATION; HOUSES; PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES; PERFORMANCE; AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS; DATA ACQUISITION; DIRECT GAIN SYSTEMS; INTERCONNECTED POWER SYSTEMS; MASSACHUSETTS; SOLAR WATER HEATING; SPACE HEATING; BUILDINGS; ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT; ENERGY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT; HEAT PUMPS; HEATING; HEATING SYSTEMS; NORTH AMERICA; NORTH ATLANTIC REGION; PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS; POWER SUPPLIES; POWER SYSTEMS; RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS; SOLAR EQUIPMENT; SOLAR HEATING; SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS; USA; WATER HEATING; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6378090; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6378090

An all-solar electric house that derives most of its energy requirements from the sun has been built in Carlisle, Massachusetts. A solar photovoltaic array on the roof produces electricity; passive solar features provide much of the space heating; thermal collectors provide domestic hot water; and energy conservation measures reduce electrical and thermal energy requirements to a minimum. The solar photovoltaic array produces dc current that is transformed to ac power in a utility-interactive inverter connected to the utility service. There is no on-site electric storage. The array is sized so that, on a net basis, most of the annual energy for the house comes directly from the sun. Initial performance data are presented. State-of-the-art energy conservation and passive solar heating techniques were employed using direct passive solar gain, sun-controlling geometry, fully insulated, staggered-stud-wall construction, and internal thermal mass to create a house design with low heating and cooling loads. Window area was reduced on the north, east, and west elevations and these units were triple glazed.