Boulder Contemporary
Type
Single Family Residence
Location
Boulder, Colorado
Year Completed
2007
Design Team
Satto Rugg, Architect
General Contractor
Eastwind Services
Photography
Bodhgaia Architecture
Contemporary solar design with a penchant for openness - from the interior spaces within to connection with the beautiful garden space.
This contemporary solar home replaces a dilapidated 2- story ranch on a spectacular lot. The design takes full advantage of the southern orientation and views opening onto a generous private garden. A two-story grenhouse space brings light additional warmth in winter, as well as providing an ideal food production space. Gently arced glue-lam beams support the roof which holds both solar thermal and PV panels. Numerous energy saving features won this house an Energy Star 5-Star Plus rating.
Featured in the Boulder Solar Home Tour, 2007.
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Passive solar design; living spaces oriented to south with maximum fenestration and roof overhangs
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Active solar thermal HW and heating system: ten evacuated-tube panels + eight hundred gallon storage tank
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calculated to provide shade in summer.
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6.2 kW grid-tied Photovoltaic electric system
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House designed around existing deciduous trees which allow sun penetration in winter and provide shade to southern façade in summer.
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Open plan layout with convective heat transfer; high thermal mass radiant floor heating.
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2-story indoor greenhouse for heat gain and potential food production.
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Window glass individually tuned to orientation; southern glass tuned to maximum SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) for heating and western glass to block low-angle afternoon sun in summer.
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High performance closed-cell foam insulation in walls and roofs.
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Geothermal effect used for wine storage/root cellar
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HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation) system to provide fresh air without losing stored heat
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Wood backup heat
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Lyptus hardwood flooring; sustainably managed and harvested
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Kitchen cabinets of wheatboard, Lyptus and cork. No urea formaldehyde; natural oil finish.
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American Clay & plaster wall finishes
