The Solar Homestead
Inspired by the traditional home-places of early mountain settlers, the Solar Homestead is a self-sustaining dwelling designed to produce as much energy as it consumes. The home's fully panelized building kit can be shipped anywhere in the world. Its sleek and functional layout and leading-edge technology make it a perfect choice for homeowners who want to maximize energy savings and minimize their impact on the environment.
The Solar Homestead was the winner of the People's Choice Award at the 2011 U.S. Solar Decathlon, a project of the U.S. Department of Energy to highlight the comfort and affordability of energy-efficient construction. It is the first time a Decathlon winner is being made available to the consumer.
"This home is a true mix of form and function -- as attractive and livable as it is efficient," said Steve Linton, president of Asheville, NC-based Deltec Homes, builder of The Solar Homestead. "In this design, we are using some of the most forward-thinking practices and technologies in building science. We believe this home exemplifies the next generation in green building."
Designed to be a "net-zero" home, the Homestead uses a highly efficient building enclosure and solar technology to produce its energy. Customizable options allow homeowners to adapt the design to meet their specific "net-zero" living goals.
The Solar Homestead's main house features two bedrooms and one bath in 1,032 square feet of living space. An optional outbuilding module provides an additional 135 square feet for full or half-bath and a third bedroom or office. A grand porch and solar canopy connect the living spaces, and additional outbuildings can expand living and storage options even further into the outdoors.
"The Solar Homestead is a modern take on the self-sustaining homesteads established all those years ago," said Linton. "Like those early homes, ours connects indoor and outdoor living and utilizes renewable energy resources, but in new way tailored to fit the needs of today's family."
Features like super-insulated double stud framed walls, triple-glazed windows and doors, and innovative heating and cooling systems add to the efficiency of the home.
The Solar Homestead is manufactured by Deltec, a leading builder of energy efficient homes for more than 40 years, and designed by students and professors in the Department of Technology and Environmental Design at Appalachian State University (ASU) in Boone, NC. ASU was one of 20 collegiate teams competing in the 2011 U.S. Solar Decathlon that challenged participants to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive.
"This is a great example of our department working with local industry to bring sustainable solutions to the people of North Carolina and beyond," said Jamie Russell, assistant professor, Department of Technology and Environmental Design at ASU. "It is a great step forward, bringing energy efficient housing to a large consumer base."
The Solar Homestead can be shipped nationally as a panelized building system package or constructed turnkey by the Deltec Building Company within a 60 miles of Asheville. Royalties from sales of the home will support the ASU Department of Technology and Environmental Design's next large-scale sustainable design-build project and other research and creative activities at the university.