the upstairs.” In the summer, the sun sits high enough above the roofline that the Trombe wall does not heat up at all. Feldman situated the second roof line to ensure a nearperpendicular placement of the solar panels, the optimal position to catch the low winter sun’s rays during the season when energy demand is highest. This is imperative for the couple, since they are entirely off the electrical grid, having made the decision not to plug into PNM at all when they realized that the cost of bringing electricity to the property would be nearly as much as going solar—not to mention paying a monthly bill. As it stands, the 5kW solar photovoltaic system, designed and installed locally, keeps the lights on just fine while powering a high-efficiency German gas heater in the winter and two minisplit (ductless) cooling units in the summer. Although the City of Albuquerque requires all residents to hook up to gas and water, the couple reports their gas bill is only about $20 per month, thanks in part to a passive-solar water heater that’s installed on the roof. Rainwater is directed from three points off the roof to irrigate the garden, and Guinn and Collins also dug a well to feed the pond and provide supplemental irrigation. The inside of the two-story, 1,600-square-foot home feels at once spacious and compact, balancing, like the exterior, elements of mid-century modern with a subtle Southwest-style aesthetic.
The home’s off-grid 5kW solar photovoltaic system was designed and installed by a local Albuquerque company using American-made Solar World panels and an Outback inverter. The energy storage system consists of 12 8D8A sealed lead acid batteries. Left: Although the couple wanted an age-in-place home, they did decide to build a second story. This allowed them to achieve extra space from the same footprint, as well incorporate some metal and wood elements, utilized to sleek effect in the staircase. To compensate, Feldman designed an accessible downstairs room and bath that could eventually become the master suite. trendmagazineglobal.com
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