Philippe and Thao Jeanty build their dream home in Fairview using Google Sketchup, a modeling program. The home is 2,700 square-foot and cost $350,000. It is powered by a rooftop 5-kilowatt solar array. The couple still uses some electricity from the gird at night, but Philippe says the bill is only pennies per day due to the fact they sell extra electricity back to the grid during the day!
Other environmentally friendly aspects of the home include:
- Windows along the south-facing roofline let in warm sunshine during the winter. During the summer, they are shaded
- Lighting is provided by LED bulbs, which use little electricity
- The water supply comes from ponds and year-round springs
- Heating and cooling are provided by a geothermal system although a wood stove, which burns fallen limbs they collect on the property, provides all the heat they need
- Exterior walls are extra thick and tightly sealed with corn-based foam insulation
- A drip irrigation system waters the garden
Philippe says, “People were complaining about the price of oil last year and are worried about nuclear energy now. This is the solution.”
(Read the full USA Today story here)
Ready to go solar in your home? Check out our Sustainable Resources page for lists of solar power companies in Tennessee!
