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Solar Residence

    • This custom home by e2 Homes in Winter Park, Florida, was the first home in the country certified to the strict performance criteria of the U.S. DOE Zero Energy Ready Home program.
    • This 4,305-square-foot Zero Energy Ready Home has almost no electric bills thanks to very high-efficiency construction and a solar electric system.
    • The roof design, metal roofing, and steel-reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete wall construction help make this a disaster-resistant home. Risks prevalent to Florida include pests, termites, hurricanes, high winds, and wildfires.
    • The water-saving landscaping design includes drought-tolerant species and pervious bark and gravel ground cover that can handle both heavy rains and drought conditions.
    • The 13.4-kW solar electric system forms the roof of the back porch. The panels are dual surface, meaning they produce power from any sunlight that hits the top of the panels as well as from any light reflected onto their lower surface from below, for up to 30% greater power production. All wiring is hidden within the canopy’s aluminum support beams.
    • The home’s porch roof consists of 69 solar panels. The panels don’t sit on top of the roof; they are the roof. The panels are fitted together into a completely water-tight 962-square-foot roof structure that blocks the rain but allows about 15% of the light to filter through to the porch area below.
    • A high-efficiency ceiling fan supplements the cooling provided by the home’s high-efficiency ducted heat pumps and an additional ductless heat pump for the master bedroom.
    • High-efficiency endless hot water is provided with two tankless propane-fired water heaters located near the master bath and the kitchen to speed hot water to faucets. An outdoor shower off the master bath helps keep heat and humidity outside. A 7,000-gallon rainwater cistern provides water for large aquariums, toilets, and landscaping irrigation.
    • The home’s exterior walls consist of 8-inch-thick autoclaved aerated concrete blocks. The steel-reinforced blocks are structurally solid, airtight, and provide a continuous thermal blanket insulation system around the home.
    • The high-efficiency autoclaved aerated concrete block walls are bug-resistant, moisture-resistant, and fire-resistant to help make this home disaster-resistant.

      Solar Residence

      Project Address

      Winter Park, FL

      Conditioned Square Footage
      4,305 sqft
      Number of Bedrooms
      4 Beds
      Number of Bathrooms
      4.0 Baths
      Number of Floors Above Grade
      1 Floor Above Grade
      Home Type
      Custom
      Climate Zone Temperature
      Hot
      Climate Zone Humidity
      Humid

      With PV

      HERS Index with PV
      -7HERS (PV)
      Average Monthly Energy Bill PV
      $-10Average Monthly Energy Bill (PV)
      Annual Energy Cost Savings with PV
      $3,500Annual Energy Cost Savings (PV)
      30 Year Savings with PV
      $149,00030 Year Savings (PV)

      e2 Homes, LLC

      ZERO

      HIA Year
      HIA Status
      Winner
      HIA Category
      Housing Innovation Award

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      Key Features

      Key Features
      All-electric home Photovoltaics Unvented insulated attic ACH 50 < 2.5 or CFM50/SF of enclosure ≤ 0.25

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      Testimonials

      Video Testimonial

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      Home owner (or occupant) Testimony
      DOE Zero Energy Ready Home takes advantage of new technologies and materials [like aerated concrete walls] to have a more efficiently operating home, with less maintenance .… We like the indirect daylight throughout the house, the use of solar to offset power costs, the ability to reuse the rainwater. We have an outdoor shower in the master bath to keep humidity out of the house. We have less maintenance in the yard since we have drought-tolerant plants and no grass.
      Testimony Citation
      e2 Homes homeowner

      Additional Media

      Finished Elevations

        Finished Interiors

          Under Construction

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              Floor Plan