LOCATION
Suncroft House is located on two infill lots within the city limits of Eugene, Oregon. The sunny upper lot holds the home and the planned vegetable gardens. The mostly wooded lower lot will be the site of a productive forest garden.
NET ZERO ENERGY HOME
Suncroft House produces as much energy in a year as it consumes. Energy consumption is minimized by using a superinsulated, tight building envelope and energy-efficient equipment, appliances, and lighting. Solar panels capture enough energy for all space heating, water heating, cooking, lighting, and household electricity, with additional passive solar contributions to space heating. Excess production of electricity during sunny weather goes into the grid, and this "banked" electricity is later used during the cloudy heating season. A modest battery bank keeps the refrigerator, ventilation, and some lights working during power outages. A small woodstove is installed as a backup for heating and cooking during extended grid failures.
ZERO CARBON
Since no fossil fuel, firewood, or burning of any kind is required, normal year-round operations of the house are considered "zero carbon".
POTABLE RAINWATER (WHOLE HOUSE)
6,000 gallons of rainwater storage provides all water uses (including drinking water) for most of the year. Rainwater is purified using multiple filtrations and ultraviolet light. A city water hookup is used as backup.
SIZE AND SPACES
Two bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, on three levels totalling 912 square feet of indoor living space for a family of four. A large front porch and two decks make additional "semi-outdoor rooms". A storage "loft" is above the upper level. The water tank enclosure is integrated with the building design, and "crawl spaces" are used for storage and mechanical equipment.
PLANS FOR THE SITE
Car-free living within an evolving permaculture setting including raised bed food production and a forest garden.
UPDATES
The house construction was completed in 2007, and the exterior will be painted in 2008.
The gardens and site will be ongoing projects.
WEBSITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
See links to pictures and additional pages
