No there isn't a problem with your computer monitor the house you see is actually wrapped in blue insulation but the house is actually a green house under construction in Lorton VA.
This home being built by the Speer family is utilizing all of the latest green technologies including both solar and geothermal technologies.
The south-facing roof will contain solar panels that will provide most of the electrical energy for appliances in the home. If the family generates more electricity than they need the will feed power back to the local electric company grid causing the meter to run backwards.
Heating and cooling will be provided by a geothermal ground source heat pump (GSHP), also called a geoexchange system. With the earth's natural heat collected in winter through a series of pipes, installed below the surface of the ground the loop carries this heat to the home. An indoor system then uses electrically driven compressors and heat exchangers then release the warmer air into the home and into their in floor heating system.
When the home is finished it will contain 3900 SF of living space on three levels. The hardiplank siding will be green, how appropriate, with white accents. This is an ambitious project and one of the more innovative green building projects undertaken by West Properties based in Falls Church VA.
You can keep track of the progress of this innovative Lorton home by driving by the site at the corner of Ox Road and Hooes Road in Lorton.
Cindy: I watch shows like Renovation Nation and such on Planet Green and think how cool it would be to have solar panels and such.
I'm addicted to Planet Green and someday before I am older and grayer I want to build a small green house of some sort. Looking for a piece of property is high on my 2010 to do list.
Cindy
Thanks for sharing the information, we're going green.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Hi Cindy, This is so cool! For those of us who can't do a drive by, I hope you will keep us posted on the construction.
Lou-I'm trying to be as green as possible. We need to realize that our natural resources are changing.
Mary-I will. Have a great Thanksgiving.
Cindy:
It is interesting to think about heating a space this large by these green methods. I think, eventually, everything may be done this way but we have a way to go. I will look forward to your updates on this.
Great news Cindy...any idea what their budget is on this one. USGBC and the NHBA are now stating that the costs to go green is in the 2-4% range over conventional. Of course, that doesn't allow for the top end items like pv panels or geothermal.
Claudette-it will be interesting to see how the savings pan out for the family. What is great is to see someone building from the ground up using these technologies.
John-with some incentives from the federal and state government for the use of green technologies we can hope that more builders and buyers will decide to see what they can utilize in their new homes.