Green building techniques save energy and money

When John and Jean Keenan decided to build a new home on the edge of Pine Meadow, at the west end of Sisters, they knew they wanted to be as green as they could be without trying to go off the grid entirely. They also knew they had a lot that was perfect for tapping into the power of the sun.

"We had a solar designer design the house," John Keenan said, noting that the configuration of the lot made it "a solar designer's dream."

The sun comes through the windows in the morning to warm the house, and channels in the foundation circulate air so that the well-insulated house maintains a consistent temperature of 64-65 degrees all the time.

They have a heat pump, and Jean allows that "in the winter we'll probably up the heat a little bit, because I like it 70."

Part of the insulation comes from dual-pane windows, with the window shades between the panes. There's very little carpet in the home to maximize the efficiency of the floor's air circulation. The Keenan's installed energy efficient appliances.

The centerpiece of the energy savings is the solar panels on the roof. The Keenans opted for two separate uses of solar power: They use it to heat their water and they use it to generate electricity.

"I guess the greatest thing was when I got my first electric bill on my house and I got a credit," John said. "We created more energy than we used May-June."

Keenan estimates a seven- to eight-year payback on the investment in electricity-generating solar, and three to four years to pay for the heating system.

"The exciting thing for me is that this house will generate 80-90 percent of its own power use," John said.

But for him it's not just about savings. He and Jean had the opportunity to build in a sustainable way and it was what they wanted to do.

"We always wanted to try to give back a little bit," he said. "If you can do it, we just think it's the thing to do."

The company that installed the Keenan's solar system, Sunlight Solar Energy, will host a free informational event on Tuesday, August 25, at 5:30 p.m. at Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill and Saloon. Representatives of the company will provide information about options for solar power. For more information, call 322-1910.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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