Emporia
Emporia Classic Level 2 48 AMP EV Charger UL Listed
The Emporia Classic Level 2 48 AMP EV Charger UL Listed is a home charging solution designed for electric vehicle owners seeking efficiency, safety, and smar...
$429
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How Did the Home Integrate A Combo Wind-Solar System?
Mucklow chose a hybrid wind and solar renewable energy system for his 1,200-square-foot cabin. "At the site," he explains, "the wind blows strong in the winter when insolation is low, and vice versa in the summer." The 60-foot-tall, one-kilowatt wind turbine has a controller with input for up to 750 watts of solar. "I had another solar charger that can take another 60 amps," he says.
To install the wind turbine, Mucklow needed to get a conditional use permit. "The county government decided that producing power wasn't a standard use." He also has installed 14 100-watt solar panels.
"Because the cabin is in the mountains, I wanted several reliable sources of heat in case one fails," he continues. The cabin isn't all-electric, though. Not yet. Mucklow is using propane until he installs a solar thermal system. "Ultimately, I'll use solar hot water to heat the solar reservoir that heats the water in the hydronic radiant floor system," he says.
An Upside-Down Cabin for Mountain Views
Mucklow designed the cabin "upside-down" to take full advantage of the views. The main living area is upstairs; the bedrooms are on the first level. The garage level is composed of concrete blocks with a frost-protected shallow foundation. "The bedrock is close to the surface. So, by putting down a layer of foam and extending the foam four feet, we could build without digging down below the frost line," he explains. "The foam insulates the ground and prevents it from freezing."
He framed the cabin with wood, a "renewable resource," he says. An open stairwell between the levels created a stack effect: an operable skylight on the third level exhausts warm air and draws in fresh air through the windows. As a result, "there's little need for cooling on the upper level," Mucklow says. "Most of the year, we'll have the windows open."
He selected Kolbe VistaLuxe windows for the cabin, sizing them to maximize the line of sight. He also compared a lot of data on windows on the EPA ENERGY STAR website," he says. Mucklow had already decided to use Passive House principles in the cabin's design and construction but did not seek certification. "I realized double-pane windows with all the bells and whistles—argon-filled, low-E coatings or films, warm edge spaces—performed better than basic triple-pane windows," he says.
"Also, VistaLuxe had corner windows I liked, with clean lines. We wanted to build sustainable and off-grid, but not compromise the intent of the cabin, which is to have the lovely mountain views."
Keeping It Local with SIPS
Mucklow found the windows he liked were available through a local supplier, "so they were also windows local contractors were familiar with," he says. That's also why he chose SIPs for the cabin's walls and roof. "I like the idea of hiring local people to share knowledge and help contractors get exposed to sustainable technologies," he says.
Before he began construction, Mucklow hired a local small business of mostly carpenters, as he intended to build the cabin with double-stud walls and rock wool or mineral insulation. The business owner, however, lost several of his employees, which made the job untenable. But, he also mentioned he was familiar with SIPs, so they pivoted.
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Article by
Camille LeFevre
Camille LeFevre is an architecture and design writer based in the Twin Cities.
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