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The BioS(h)IP Architectural Materials
Organized into Construction Specifications Institute Categories
To all the companies listed below who worked with both the 2002 and 2005 CU Solar Decathlon Teams, we thank you for your continued support. And, to our new sponsors, we extend our deepest gratitude. A number of Boulder-based companies provided food and sustenance to our team so we thank you for powering us through the competition. We're proud to use and display the following products in the BioS(h)IP. The 2005 CU Solar Decathlon Team
1 General
Boulder Chips
…the Totally Natural Potato Chip will be served on the BioS(h)IP
Boulder Chips's are made using sunflower and/or safflower oil. The chips are produced from natural ingredients and are tested at every stage of preparation to ensure quality. (Sounds like the making of the biobased BioS(h)IP). These bio-chips will be enjoyed by the CU Team throughout the Solar Decathlon competition.
Celestial Seasonings Tea
Sleepytime Drive, Boulder, CO www.celestialseasonings.com
The CU Team will be
brewing their Celestial Seasonings tea with sun power on the National Mall.
Celestial Seasonings is the largest manufacturer and marketer of specialty
hot teas in the
Chocolove
PO Box 18357, Boulder, CO 80308 800-246-2656 www.chocolove.com
Boulder-based Chocolove began selling its premium chocolate bars in 1995. The bars are created based on European processes handed down from generation to generation. The CU Team was delighted to learn that Chocolove would provide them with the ultimate chocolate experience while competing on the National Mall.
Fuel for Transporting the CU BioS(h)IP
Locally produced B100 biodiesel fuel is used to transport the CU home to Washington, DC and then back to Colorado. The CU Team collaborated with Boulder Biodiesel on development of CU's biodiesel plan.
Izze Sparking Juice
Izze Beverage Company, 2990 Center Green Court South, Boulder, CO 80301 303-327-5515
Lemon, Blueberry, Clementine, Blackberry, Grape, Pear, Pomegranate. Izze beverages are a delicious, natural sparkling juice that has won the nation's heart. The CU Team will enjoy Izze products when the Solar Decathlon competition heats up.
Meals for Judges, Household Products, the "Wheatgrass Frieze, and CU Team Sustenance
Wild Oats Markets, Inc.
3375 Mitchell Lane, Boulder, CO 80301, 800-494-WILD; www.wildoats.com
Wild Oats, a natural grocer headquartered in Boulder, worked with the CU Team on preparation of the organic meals served to the Solar Decathlon judges. They also provided the wheatgrass frieze that adorns the cabinet tops in the BioS(h)IP. Wild Oats contributed environmentally produced household products for the CU home including paper towels, detergents, and office paper. And!, they contributed their wonderful Wild Oats-brand foods and beverages to keep the CU Team nutritionally fortified. Thank you Wild Oats for all this great support.
Paper -- Brochures, Flyers, Competition Documentation
100% Recycled Paper with Soy Ink
The CU Team printed fundraising brochures and other literature on recycled paper with soy ink.
Spring Water in Cornstarch Plastic Bottles
BIOTA Brands of America, Inc.
P.O. Box 2812, Telluride, CO 81435, 970-728-6132; www.biotaspringwater.com
BIOTA, or "Blame It On The Altitude", is an innovative new company which bottles pure mountain spring water in cornstarch plastic bottles. BIOTA bottles are compostable and degradable and fit with the CU Team's "low-to-no petroleum" philosophy. The Team will drink and prepare meals with BIOTA while on the National Mall.
Soy Milk
Silk
White Wave, Boulder, CO www.silkissoy.com
White Wave Inc., maker of Silk Soymilk, won the prestigious Green Power Partner of the Year award from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency in 2004. The award recognizes Silk's pioneering role in using and promoting renewable energy. White Wave is the largest American company to purchase wind energy credits for 100 percent of its manufacturing and operations needs. In 2005, the company extended the impact of its renewable energy purchase to cover its entire supply chain. The CU Team will keep the soy power going on the National Mall with soy insulation in their home's walls and Silk in their bodies.
Team Uniforms: Organic Cotton Unbleached T-shirts & REI Shirts
The Team's
T-shirts are 100 percent unbleached, organic cotton. The Team's "dress" uniform shirts
for the Solar Decathlon competition are SPF-30 shirts from Recreational Equipment
Cooperative, REI, Seattle, Washington. REI contributes to environmental
organizations throughout the
2 Site
Curbside Recycling Containers (and Indoor Recycling Containers)
CU's Recycling Department provided the team with containers for inside and outside the home. Also provided was an interior "worm composting" unit for turning food waste generated by occupants of the CU home into rich soil for the lawn.
Flowers and Plants provided through a collaboration with Colorado State University, CSU
The CU Team collaborated with Colorado State University's, Boulder Agricultural Extension Agent, in order to provide plants and flowers for the BioS(h)IP's landscape. Plants which represent the home's building material feedstocks, such as corn, wheat, soy, sunflowers and others, will be showcased on CU's lawn in biodegradable, molded fiber pots and recycled wood planters. CSU coordinated with local middle school children who provided seed art with the theme of "the sun" that will be exhibited in the house.
Foundation System
Pin Foundations Inc.
8607 58th Avenue NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98332; tel 253-858-8809
The CU Team used the Pin Foundation system in both the 2002 and 2005 Solar Decathlons. In 2002, CU found that this system provides a solution for building placement on the National Mall where limitations are set by the National Park Service as to the square footage of turf that can be disturbed in siting Solar Decathlon homes. Excavation for conventional foundations results in significant impact to the immediate environment: severed roots, compaction of surrounding soils, and siltation of area. The Pin Foundation system provides a stable foundation with no excavation required.
3 Concrete
Concrete Add Mixtures
Fly Ash
Fly ash concrete is used in CU's lightweight concrete masonry units, FASWALL. (described below). Fly ash is a by-product from coal burning and is ash that is deposited on stacks, or chimneys. Fly ash is generally landfilled but it can be used as an additive to concrete mixes to yield a stronger, lighter concrete product.
4 Masonry
Concrete Masonry Units with Fly Ash and Recycled Wood
K-X Faswell Corporation
PO Box 88, Winsor, SC 29856; tel 800-491-7891; www.faswell.com
FASWALL is a masonry unit (concrete block) produced from waste wood by-products and fly ash concrete. FASWALL is used in the BioS(h)IP as a structural wall on the north face of the building. The block has a 4-hour rating and an R-value of 18 up to 24, depending on the wallform configuration and the thermal mass of the concrete core. In the BioS(h)IP, a FASWALL load-bearing wall is backed by an r-25 insulated frame wall for a super-insulating north living room wall.
5 Metals
Steel Mobile Home Chassis
Genesis Homes of Colorado
2221 Clayton Road, Berthoud, CO 80513, 970-532-2632
Genesis Homes of Colorado, a division of Champion Homebuilders Corporation, part of the World's Largest Homebuilder™, provided the recycled content steel chassis for construction of the CU Team's competition entry. Genesis and CU worked together to create the custom built chassis, which will transport the lightweight, modular BioS(h)IP to and from Washington, D.C.
Structural Aluminum from a Salvage Source
ALRECO, Aluminum Recycling Company
11299 Brighton Blvd., Henderson, CO 80640; tel 303-287-7210; www.alrecoofkansas.com
Salvaged aluminum for the CU Home's structural frame, was purchased from ALRECO, aluminum recycling company, in nearby Brighton, Colorado.
Standing Seam Recycled Content Steel Roofing with Galvalume Finish
Precision Roofing
Box 6738, Longmont, CO 80501, tel 303-651-1374; www.precisionroofing.net
Precision Roofing of Longmont, Colorado installed recycled content steel siding with Galvalume finish on the BioS(h)IP's roof and walls.
6 Woods and Plastics
Building Wall System, Wastepaper Panels and Soy Insulation
BIO-Sips, Developed at the University of Colorado
BIO-Sips consist of 3/4 inch Sonoboard exterior layers and Biobased Soy Systems insulation. The thickness of the soy insulation varies depending on required R-values for wall or roof panels. Sonoboard is an engineered molded fiber structural panel manufactured from 100 percent post-consumer waste paper.
Building Wall Panels, 100% Waste Paper, Engineered Fiber Panels
SonoBoard
Sonoco Products, Corporate Communications A09, 1 North 2nd Street, Hartsville, SC 29550-3305; tel 800-377-2692; www.sonoco.com
SonoBoard is a 3D-honeycomb fiberboard panel made completely from recovered paper or other renewable fiber sources. This resource efficient and environmentally benign product contains no added resins or binders so there is no off gassing during fabrication or use. Sonoboard can be used for wallboards, furniture, and other applications and is being used in the CU Solar Decathlon Home as the outer layer of BIO-Sip, structural insulated wall panels.
Cabinet Doors and Wall Panels
Plyboo
Smith and Fong
375 Oyster Point Blvd, #3, South San Francisco, CA 94080 1-650-872-1184
Plyboo, is a bamboo panel product used in the BioS(h)IP for cabinets, wall panels, and furniture. The cultivation of bamboo is an environmentally friendly, sustainably harvested process. Bamboo is not a tree but a grass that continually rejuvenates from its roots and is a "forester's" dream since no other "tree" can produce as much biomass as bamboo in the same period of time. Plyboo products are manufactured from bamboo strips that are pressed into panels that are strong and lightweight. These characteristics were a perfect fit with the CU Team's philosophies of "green and lightweight" since they contribute to lowered fuel needs in transporting the CU Home. Plyboo also contributes to daylighting in the home, since the product has a high reflectance value.
Decking, Recycled Wood and Plastic
Trex Decking
3229 Shawnee Drive, Winchester, VA 22602; tel 800-289-8739; www.trex.com
Trex decking and railing products are made from a unique combination of reclaimed wood and plastic, giving you the best qualities of both materials. The plastic shields the wood from moisture and insect damage, so there's no rotting or splintering. The wood protects the plastic from UV damage and gives your deck a solid, natural feel. It looks great year after year. And because there is no need to spend hours staining or repairing, the enjoyment of a Trex deck is truly timeless. Trex was used to build the CU Home's decks in combination with arsenic-free structural framing lumber.
Engineered Structural Lumber, Parallams, or PSL's:
Weyerhaeuser Comp., PO Box 9777, Federal Way, WA 98063-9777; 800-525-5440;
Parallam Beams are a product of TrusJoist -- a division of Weyerhaeuser. Parallam beams (parallel strand lumber, or PSL) take advantage of wood fiber on the outermost edges of the log that is often wasted during the milling of sawn lumber. This technology makes Parallam stronger, straighter and longer than sawn lumber. TrusJoist uses high-pressure lamination and a water-based non-Formaldehyde adhesive to minimize VOC's in its laminated products. In the CU home, PSL's are exposed as an architectural feature.
Engineered Structural Lumber, Microllams, LVL's
Weyerhaeuser Comp., PO Box 9777, Federal Way, WA 98063-9777; 800-525-5440;
Microllam LVL's are products of TrusJoist, a division of Weyerhauser. Microllam laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is manufactured to minimize the effects of wood's natural defects so it resists the bowing, shrinking and twisting that are leading causes of wall cracks. This allows Microllam's to support heavy loads with relatively little mass. LVL's are resource efficient since they're made from smaller, younger trees.
Engineered Trusses, Floor and Roof,
TJI's: Weyerhaeuser, PO Box 9777, Federal Way, WA 98063-9777; tel 253-924-2345;
www.weyerhaeuser.com
TrusJoists, or TJI's, are products of TrusJoist
- a division of Weyerhaeuser. TrusJoist
l-beam floor joists are a high-tech combination of a proprietary web material
called Performance Plus and Microllam flanges. They are a superior replacement
to joists made from ordinary sawn lumber - they resist the effects of weather
and moisture and don't bow, shrink, twist or warp. They use up to two-thirds
less wood than sawn-lumber joists.
Framing Lumber, Sustainably Harvested
CU used framing lumber purchased from a local supplier of sustainably harvested wood products.
Furniture and Wall Panels, Recycled Newsprint, Sunflower, and Soy
Phenix Biocomposites
221 Mohr Drive, ManKato, MN 56001; tel 507-388-3434; www.environbiocomposites.com
Phenix Products were used by the CU Team on their 2002 home as cabinets and countertop. On the 2005 project, the team used Phenix "Environ Biocomposite" panels from soy and newsprint as an interior windowsill material. Environ Biocomposites offer the beauty of granite and the workability of fine hardwood in a material that respects the environment by using recycled and renewable biobased ingredients. One and one half times harder than oak, Environ Biocomposite is a revolutionary material made from recycled paper products, soybeans and color additives.
Particleboard, wheat
Cathy Kumar, 189 Continental Court, Breckenridge, CO 970-547-0147 buyrecycled@colorado.net
WheatSheet is environ-mentally responsible, industrial-grade particleboard made from recycled wheat straw and an emission-free binder. WheatSheet can be used in any application where particleboard is applicable - cabinets, shelving, countertops, closets, and underlayment. It's main constituent is recycled wheat chaff, an agricultural by-product that reduces demand for tree fiber. WheatSheet uses an alternative binder called MDI Rubinate, which replaces formaldehyde. creating an EFB (emission-free board) surpassing industry standards set for the highest grade of particleboard.
Re-Used Wood and other "Experienced" Materials
Resource 2000
Located on 63rd Street, 1/2 mile south of Valmont Road in Boulder, Colorado, 303-419-5418; www.resource2k.org
Reused wood for the CU Home was purchased from local Resource 2000, Boulder's "experienced materials" yard. The CU Team even purchased one of their main structural beams, which holds up the eastern section of roofing, from R2K. This beam, exposed as an architectural feature of the home, is a GlueLam, which provides roofing support at the Bedroom, Office, and Bathroom, as well as providing bracing for the eastern hinged area of the movable roof.
Siding, Fiber Cement
James Hardie Industries
26300 La Alameda, STE 100, Mission Viejo, CA 92691; tel 948-348-1800; lowes.jameshardie.com
HardiPanel by James Hardie Building Products is a man-made composite alternative to wood siding. It is composed of Portland cement, ground sand, cellulose fiber, select additives and water. It contains no asbestos, fiberglass or formaldehyde. HardiPanel will not warp, twist or rot. It is non-combustible and warranted for 50 years. Hardi products are used for the BioS(h)IP's Battery Rack.
Salvaged Wood and Sawmill Services
TC Woods, LLC
Sawmill Services
Dan Odell, 9776 Arapahoe, Lafayette, CO 80026, 303 666-8989, tcwoods@tcwoods.com
TC Woods is a tree-recycling center in Boulder County. This environmental business takes the waste products of the local tree care industry & turn logs, branches and trees into usable materials and furnishings. The company also specializes in custom sawing of hardwood lumber. In addition, TC Woods has an in-house woodshop where they make and sell both stock and custom furniture. Dan Odell, the company's owner says, "…we are releasing some of the beauty of trees back into the community from which they came, and meeting a lot of other like minded individuals who are working to support eco-businesses". The CU Team designed an elegant bathroom counter top from TC Woods "urban wood waste" to support the Kohler bathroom sink basin. TC Woods is a favorite shopping spot for CU students.
Treated Lumber, Arsenic-Free
The CU Team purchased arsenic-free treated lumber from Home Depot for deck construction and where needed for exterior framing on the BioS(h)IP'.
7 Thermal and Moisture Protection
Insulation, Soy, Expanded Foam
BioBased Systems, Soy-Based Foam Insulation
BioBased soy-based insulation
is a spray-in-place, soybean oil-based, polyurethane, foam insulation. This
water-blown foam does not contain formaldehyde, and it does not emit chlorofluorocarbon
or hydrochlorofluorocarbon. The use of these chemicals may contribute to a
depletion of our atmosphere's ozone layer, which contributes to global warming.
BioBased soy insulation contains significantly less polyurethane foam than
standard foam insulations and performs as effectively. It utilizes the renewable
resource of soybeans, a crop grown by more than 600,000
Recycled Denim Insulation
EcoProducts
3655 Frontier Avenue, Boulder, CO
80301
303-449-1876; www.ecoproducts.com
EcoProducts is one of Boulder's
environmental and recycled building products stores. The CU Team purchased recycled denim insulation
for their home from this supplier.
8 Doors and Windows
Door, Entry
Boulder Door and Millwork
Boulder Door and Millwork sponsored both the CU 2002 and 2005 Solar Decathlon Projects. This local company worked with the 2005 Team by providing the BioS(h)IP's new insulated steel front door as well as interior doors.
Door, Bedroom
Resource 2000, Boulder, Colorado
The Bedroom door, which separates the public spaces of the CU Home from the more private spaces such as Bathroom and Home Office, is a re-used door from Resource 2000, Boulder's local "experienced materials yard". The wood hollow core Bedroom door was hand painted in colorful layers of yellow, green, and red low to no toxin paints by members of the CU Team. The door operates on space saving sliding barn door track.
Window Frames and Window Glass
Alpenglass
5400 Spine Road, Boulder, CO 80301; tel 303-530-1150; http://apeninc.com
Alpen Windows of Boulder worked with CU on both the 2002 and 2005 Solar Decathlon projects. Alpen makes some of the highest tech, most energy efficient glazing available. Their Heat Mirror glazing products go far beyond "low-e." Heat Mirror allows window glass to block summer heat, retain winter warmth, eliminate harmful ultraviolet rays and maximize the passage of natural daylight. It reduces energy consumption and minimizes the expense of air-conditioning, heating and artificial lighting. Each window is "tuned" (with a different Heat Mirror film) according to its orientation and need for solar gain or to block heat. Fiberglass frames, one of the most energy and resource window framing materials available, are used in combination with Alpen's glazing systems.
Windows, High R-Value Clerestory Windows at Movable Roof
Polygal Inc.
PO Box 410592, Charlotte, NC 28241; tel 800-537-0095; www.polygal.com
Polygal and Nanogel products were integrated as a highly insulating glazing system for the home's upper window slices. This combination of products yields a translucent, removable window system between the home's movable roof and the interior walls below.
Windows, High R-Value Clerestory Windows at Movable Roof
Nanogel
Nielson Building Systems, 4820 Six Mile Road, Racine, WI 53402; tel 262-681-1812
Polygal and Nanogel products were integrated as a highly insulating glazing system for the home's upper window slices. This combination of products yields a translucent, removable window system between the home's movable roof and the interior walls below.
9 Finishes
Countertops from Recycled Paper and Cellulose Fibers
Richlite Company
624 E. 15th Street, Tacoma, WA 98421; tel 888-383-5533; www.richlite.com
The Richlite Company manufactures paper-based fiber composites, which are used for a variety of architectural, food service, recreational, and industrial applications. Fitting with CU's biobased philosophy, Richlite products are used in the home as kitchen and laundry countertops. Richlite materials are manufactured from environmentally sustainable resources harvested from certified managed forests in North America. The company's products are attractive, durable, and long lasting.
Flooring, Natural Linoleum
Forbo Linoleum, Inc.
PO Box 667, Humboldt Industrial Park, Hazleton, PA 18201 1-800-842-7839
Forbo is the main flooring
material used in the CU Home. It can
be purchased at flooring and environmental products stores throughout the
Floor Protection Mat
GlassMat, Recycled Floor Mat
5249 Quail Hollow Court, Boulder, CO 80301; tel 303-516-4014; www.glassmat.net
GlassMat is a material for use as a floor mat under office chairs. Developed in Boulder, Colorado, GlassMat offers optical transparency and clarity while providing a tough, durable flooring surface for high use areas.
Paint Additives, Heat Barrier
Heatshield-R20 Radiant Barrier Paint Additive
2615 Appian Way, Roman Forest, TX 77357; tel 281-399-9334; www.heatshield_r20.com
Heatshield is a very fine white powder that combines selected hollow ceramic microspheres, which reflect and dissipate heat. When mixed with any paint or coating, Heatshield transforms the paint into a radiant barrier coating which reflects and dissipates radiant heat, reducing heat transfer through roofs, attics exterior and interior walls, ceilings, or any other paintable surface that absorbs heat. Radiant barriers reduce summer heat gain and winter heat loss.
Particleboard, Wheat, Chemical-free
Wheatsheet Panels
Wheatsheet is an environmentally responsible, industrial grade particleboard made form recycled wheat straw and an emission-free binder. Wheatsheet can be used in any application where particleboard is applicable. The CU Team used Wheatsheet for the Sleeping Loft platform.
10 Specialties
(Not used)
11 Equipment
(Not used)
12 Furnishings
Bedding and Pillows, Cornstarch
INGEO
Visit Amazon.com and search "INGEO cornstarch plastic"
Ingeo fibers are a unique, renewable and environmentally friendly option to polyester bedding fiber. These unique fibers are manufactured from cornstarch plastic. They are durable, hypoallergenic, and chemical free and are used to provide types of bedding products. The bed in the CU home is outfitted with INGEO pillows, mattress pad, and comforter.
Blankets, Cornstarch Fiber
Ingeo Cornstarch Fiber Blankets: Faribault Mills
1500 2nd Avenue NW, Faribault, MN 55021; tel 800-533-0444; www.faribaultmills.com
Faribault Mills is the
first company in the world to offer woven blankets made from Ingeo fibers,
which are fibers from corn grown in the fields of
Bamboo, Coconut, and Rattan Dishes and Flatware
Sur La Table, Internet Mail Order, www.surlatable.com, 800-243-0852
The CU Team served Judge's meals using bamboo, rattan, and coconut flatware, dishes, and serving pieces. Bamboo, Bambu™ products are a beautiful biobased alternative to disposable paper and plastic, and they biodegrade in six months time. Bambu™ dishware is reusable and stronger than wood, and it has a satiny hand-finish. It can be washed and reused several times, however, the CU Team disposed of their Bambu™ ware in the Team's portable composting unit. The Team's bamboo, coconut, and rattan kitchenware were purchased from Sur La Table's Internet mail order service.
Drinking Glasses, Recycled Bottles
Made by CU Students from Local Restaurant's Recycled Wine Bottles
CU students made their home's reused glass drinking glasses from a local restaurant's discarded wine bottles. Student's in Faculty Advisor Julee Herdt's Green Technology seminar hand cut a series of green wine bottles and then sandblasted the CU Solar Decathlon Aspen leaf logo onto the bottles to create a set of beautiful and practical drinking glasses.
Household Supplies and Cleaning Products
Cleaning supplies for the CU Home were selected from a range of citrus and vegetable-based products. Murphy Oil vegetable soap was purchased from Home Depot. Orange-Glo cleaning products, also from Home Depot, were provided by Orange-Glo, which is headquartered in nearby Littleton, Colorado. Another locally based company, Wild Oats, provided household products such as dish and laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, and paper products.
Mattress, Pillows, and Sheets, Organic Cotton and Natural Latex
Boulder Mountain Futons, BMF, 2125 Pearl Street, Boulder CO 80302, 303-938-9800
Boulder Mountain Futons is Colorado's largest locally owned futon manufacturer and alternative sleep center. The CU Team selected products from this sponsor's range of organic and natural products. The BioS(h)IP's wicker bed is outfitted with an organic cotton mattress, a natural latex and wool pillow, and organic cotton sheets from Boulder Mountain Futon. These healthy and logical sleep alternatives are ideal for those with allergy problems.
Soaps, Organic
Pangea Organics,
5660 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80308, 877-679-5854; www.pangeaorganics.com
Soaps that fit the CU Team's biobased theme were selected from local producer Pangea Organics. Pangea's 100% vegan products include such celestial-sounding ingredients as herbal extractions of Marshmallow, olive oil, chocolate, green tea, cinnamon, mint, oats, peppermint, sage, grapefruit, lemon, fennel, rosemary, elderberry, French lavender, rose petals, Indonesian essential oils, pine and others. The company works with fair trade suppliers, they support organic farmers, and healthy workplaces and their products are packaged using renewable, recycled and recyclable resources.
Soy Candles
Lumia
Organic Inc. 5680
Central Avenue, Boulder
CO
80301 Phone: 303-440-1295
www.lumia.us.com
Lumia Organics produces beautiful candles using the finest essential oils combined with the world’s first organic soy and non-GMO organic vegetable waxes. These candles are earth-friendly, they are naturally-colored and fragrance-free. Lumia products fit with the CU Team's biobased philosophy so you will find these products used throughout the BioS(h)IP.
Towels, Bamboo, Bath
Metaefficient on Amazon.com
Bamboo Fiber Towels from Metaefficient are made out of 100% bamboo fiber and are soft as silk. They come from the fastest growing plant on earth and there is no fertilizers, pesticides, or chemical treatments involved in producing them. You will find these in the CU Home's Bathroom.
13 Equipment
Cooktop, Induction
Diva
http://www.divainduction.com/index.php
The Diva cook top’s induction burners deliver 20,000 BTU's, which is more power than conventional gas or electric cooktops, while remaining cool to the touch. The Diva cooktop heats up faster using less energy and has an efficiency of over 90% compared to 50% for gas or even 60% for other electric technologies.
Dishwasher
Asko
http://www.askousa.com/dishwashers/
An Asko water and energy conserving dishwasher was donated and is featured in the BioS(h)IP. This appliance is Energy Star Qualified, it complies with ADA height guidelines, and includes a Quiet System Plus insulation package. Its energy usage is 231 kWh/yr.
Oven, Microwave, Convection
General Electric
GE Website: http://www.geappliances.com/advantium/about/adv_120.htm
The space-saving Whirlpool convection microwave oven is an under cabinet model which was donated to the project and is installed under the Kitchen’s bamboo shelves. It cooks food four times faster than a conventional oven and has four-way cooking features from “speed cook”, traditional oven cooking, microwave or warming modes.
Refrigerator by Whirlpool
Whirlpool donated an Energy Star Qualified refrigerator to the CU project. This equipment includes such special features as an Accu-Chill™ temperature management system, contoured door styling with inside storage and flexibility, and stainless steel finish. Energy usage for the refrigerator is 417 kWh/year.
Television
Samsung
The CU Team installed their Samsung television on pivoting hardware on a structural column so that it serves the Kitchen, Living Room, and Sleeping Loft. Their Energy Star Qualified TV has an extra-wide viewing angle of 170 degrees, it is HDTV ready and has both analog and digital inputs and a low power consumption feature during use and in standby mode.
Washer/Dryer
LG Combination Washer/Dryer
King@creativelaundry.com http://www.creativelaundry.com
An LG combination washer/dryer, model # WD3245RHD was donated to the CU project by Creative Laundry. This water and energy saving appliance exceeds Energy Star Qualifications by at least 39%, it is user friendly and easy to operate, and has low decibel operation.
15 Mechanical and Plumbing
Auxilliary Water Heater
A.O.Smith Corporation, 11270 West Park Place, Milwaukee, WI 53224; tel 414-359-4000; www.hotwater.com
Conservationist maximum efficiency electric water heaters are suitable for vented or non-vented use and are well insulated. In the CU Home, water is heated initially by the solar thermal collectors, but if it not heated to a sufficient temperature, the electric water heater will complete the heating.
Energy Recovery Ventilator
RenewAire LLC, 4510 Helgesen Drive, Madison, WI 53718; 800-627-4499; www.renewaire.com
The RenewAire BR70 ERV provides simultaneous exhaust and fresh air supply, reduces the concentration of harmful pollutants in indoor air, controls excess moisture and recaptures energy by either heating or cooling indoor air using the air exhausted.
Glycol-Water Heat Exchanger
McMaster Carr, 6100 Fulton Industrial Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30336; 404-346-7000; www.mcmaster.com; atl.sales@mcmaster.com
Copper Coil Heat Exchanger (17 Coils @ 18" diameter), 100 ft of 3/4" cleaned and capped copper tubing runs inside the Solar Storage Tank to heat water from the solar thermal collectors.
Liquid to Liquid Heat Exchanger
FlatPlate, Inc., 2161 Pennsylvania Ave., York, PA 17404; tel 717-767-9060; www.flatplate.com
FlatPlate
is the leading
Plumbing Fixtures and Sinks
Kohler
444 Highland Drive, Kohler, WI 53044; tel 800-456-4537; www.kohler.com
Kohler, Wisconsin
Kohler provided the kitchen and bath plumbing fixtures used in the CU home. All beautifully designed and engineered Kohler products are manufactured in Kohler, WI. Kohler sinks and faucets are elegantly integrated with recycled content and salvaged wood countertops in the CU Home.
Pump for Domestic Hot Water Heat Exchanger
Taco, Inc., 1160 Cranston St., Cranston, RI 02920; 401-942-8000; www.taco-hvac.com
The Taco 008 is designed for a wide range of Residential/Light Commercial higher-head water circulating applications. The unique replaceable cartridge contains all of the moving parts and allows for easy service, instead of replacing the entire circulator. Compact, direct-drive, low power consumption design is ideal for high-efficiency jobs.
Potable Water Pressure Tank
Flexcon Industries, 300 Pond Street, Randolph, MA 02368; tel 781.986.2424; www.flexconind.com
Challenger tanks are one of the more popular water tanks on the market. Efficient and cost-effective, Challenger tanks are designed with a patented controlled action, double diaphragm assembly that is completely contained in a pre-pressurized air cushion that reduces condensation and regulates diaphragm action. The CU Home uses a Flexcon Challenger tank to maintain proper pressure in the domestic water system.
Radiant Panels and Subfloor
Warmboard, Inc.; 8035 Soquel Dr. Suite 41-A, Aptos, CA 95003; tel 1-877-338-5493; www.warmboard.com; info@warmboard.com
Warmboard combines a structural subfloor and a thermodynamically sophisticated radiant panel into one simple component of a radiant heating system. Warmboard begins with a stiff, strong, 1-1/8" thick, 4' X 8' sheet of tongue and groove, weather-resistant plywood. A modular pattern of channels is cut into the top surface. A thick sheet of aluminum is stamped to match the channel pattern and is permanently bonded to each panel. Warmboard in the CU Home is heated using the solar thermal collector system.
Solar Potable Water Pressurization Pump
Conergy Inc., 1730 Camino Carlos Rey, Suite 103, Santa Fe, NM 87507; tel 505 473-3800, www.conergy.com; info@conergy.com
Solar Water Pumps require no fuel deliveries and very little maintenance. In the CU home, a Conergy Solar Water Pump is used to pressurize the domestic water system.
Solar Storage Tank
A 200 gallon custom built stainless steel unpressurized water tank built by Swift Systems. It is used in the CU Home to store water heated by the solar thermal collector heating system.
Split System Ductless AC
Trane, Fort
Collins, CO Sales Office, 2416 Donella Court,
Unit D, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524; tel 970.490.1052;
www.trane.com
Ductless
air conditioners (commonly referred to as mini-splits) follow the same principles
as traditional air conditioners, with the benefit of no ductwork being required.
Therefore, installations are quick and easy. The system consists of a condensing
unit (XB1000, XB10, or XB12) matched with an evaporator (MCW). This system
not only provides air conditioning, but also offers features such as dry (or
dehumidification) mode, as well as a fan-only mode to circulate room air.
Solar Thermal Collectors
Thermomax Industries; 3181 Kingsley Street, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8P 4J5; tel 250-721-4360; www.solarthermal.com
Mazdon evacuated tube solar thermal collectors are used in the CU Home to heat a glycol solution which is then used to heat domestic hot water and the radiant floor heating system. A Thermomax Solar Collector consists of manifolds and tubes. The manifolds come in two sizes that will accept up to either 20 or 30 tubes. Collectors can be used individually or connected together for larger systems.
Toilet, Composting
Sancor, 140-20 Milner Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M1S 3R3; tel 800-387-5126;
www.envirolet.com; info@envirolet.com
An Envirolet Waterless Remote composting toilet system is used in the CU Home. This resource efficient toilet provides a water savings for the CU Home of approximately 100 gallons a day when compared to a standard home with flush toilet. The toilet's composting unit is installed directly below the unit and is attached to the home's steel chassis. The future owner of the CU 2005 Home, Prospect New Town, plans to market the house as a self-sufficient, New Urbanist home.
16 Electrical
Batteries
East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc., Deka Road, Lyon Station, PA 19536, tel 610-682-6361; www.eastpenn-deka.com; eastpenn@eastpenn-Deka.com
The Deka series of batteries is designed to offer reliable, maintenance-free back-up power for renewable energy applications where frequent deep cycles are required and minimum maintenance is desirable. The CU Home makes use of 40 Deka batteries that are designed to provide the house with up to four days of power.
Charge Controller, Inverters, Combiner Boxes
Outback Power Systems, OutBack Power Systems, 19009 62nd Ave NE, Arlington, WA 98223; tel 360-435-6030; www.outbackpower.com
OutBack Power Systems, Inc. is a global designer and manufacturer of cutting edge power conversion solutions that provide reliable electric power for the renewable energy, mobile and backup power markets.
Lighting Fixtures
Metalux Residential, Brand of Cooper Lighting, 1121 Highway 74 South, Peachtree City, GA 30269; tel 770-486-4800; www.cooperlighing.com
Metalux fluorescent lighting from Cooper Lighting will be used in several locations within the CU Home to provide energy efficient, diffused lighting in several spaces.
Lighting, Pendant
Eureka
Lighting, 225 de Liège Ouest,
# 200. Montréal (Québec).
Eureka
pendant lights are used in the CU Home kitchen to illuminate the space efficiently
using compact florescent lamps.
Lighting, Wall, Spot
Artemide Inc., 1980 New Highway, Farmingdale,
NY 11735; tel 631-694-9292; www.artemide.us; info@artemide.us
Artemide’s Tolomeo wall lighting
are used in the CU Home to provide ample spot lighting in the bedroom.
Lighting Sensors
WattStopper Legrand, 2800 De La Cruz Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95050; tel 408-988-5331; www.wattstopper.com
WattStopper lighing controls sense the occupancy and daylighting in a room and adjust electric lights to appropriate light levels.
Low Voltage Halogen Transformer
Hatch Transformers, Inc., 5403 West Gray Street, Tampa, FL 33609; tel 813-288-8006; www.hatchtransformers.com; sales@hatchtransformers.com
Hatch transformers are used in the CU Home to properly power halogen bulbs in some of the light fixtures.
Solar Panels
Sunpower. 182 Mill Street, Athens, OH 45701; tel 740-594-2221; www.sunpower.com; info@sunpower.com
34, SPR-200 solar panels make up the photovoltaic array that produces electricity for the CU Home. Touted at the most efficient mass-produced solar panels, the powerful array provides over 100% of the electricity that is expected to be needed for the home. SPR-200 solar panels’ black, matt surface also provide an attractive alternative to most shiny, blue solar panels.
Solar Panel Mounting System
UniRac, Inc., 3201 University Blvd SE, Suite 110, Albuquerque NM 87106; tel 505.242.6411; www.unirac.com
Unirac’s SolarMount/S-5! captures the PV potential of standing-seam metal roofs, without penetrations and at the lowest possible installed cost. With only two basic components, SolarMount/S-5! clamp sets are easy to install and align.