A Bright Idea: BrightBuilt Barn
(Page 2 of 2)
May/June 2009
By Olivia Blanco Mullins
4. Window View: Translucent panels filled with Nanogel, an insulation product that lets in light, are above and below the windows. All windows are triple-glazed.
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5. Separate Quarters: All plumbing and electrical wiring systems stand alone, making them easily accessible for repairs.
6. Knowledge: A ring of LED lights surrounding the outside of the house broadcasts its consumption and production: Red lights mean the house is consuming more than it is producing; green lights mean it’s producing more than it’s consuming.
Beyond Net Zero: Because the home has such a tight insulation system, heat produced by inhabitants and appliances is enough to keep it comfortable most of the year. The solar water heater and connected heat pump function as a backup heating system on the coldest days and nights. The solar panels produce more energy than the house consumes, allowing Collins to pipe energy back to the grid and earn utility credits.
Energy Meter: The barn’s energy is constantly monitored by three meters. One measures production and consumption; another calculates the number of average homes the barn could power at any given time; and a third measures the home’s progress toward offsetting the energy expended in its construction.
Big Enough: The barn is designed as a 700-square-foot home, but extra 4-foot pieces can be added in any direction to make it larger.
Pre-Fabulous: To reduce construction site waste, the barn was built at a facility where a computer cut each piece. Material waste at Bensonwood is less than 10 percent. The pieces were packed flat and delivered to the site.
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