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Green Living is (Almost) Always Sunny and 72 Degrees year round, the temperature inside the Bole home is a pleasant 72 degrees during the day and 68 degrees at night. And there’s a constant flow of fresh air and hot water. The home’s near-constant temperature is achieved through a three-part system that’s housed in the basement: a geothermal unit, a modulating on-demand water heater and boiler, and an Energy Recovery Ventilator that runs non-stop. The geothermal unit (also known as a ground-source heat pump) taps into the ground temperature of 56 degrees some 175 feet below the surface. The constant ground temperature maintains the temperature of the geo’s propylene glycol-filled tubes, which are used as the heating and cooling source for the house. (Most traditional homes use air or water as a heating or cooling source.) Even more impressive than the technology needed to maintain the temperature is the monthly cost of comfort. “For February, it was $48 on our electric bill and $30 in gas for all of our usage,” says Richard. “Our goal is to get to net-zero energy. It’s achievable.” Next are the on-demand tankless hot water heater and boiler. The water heater heats water as it enters the house, rather than storing it in a tank, like traditional water heaters. The benefit? “You could take one hundred hot showers in a row and still have hot water,” Richard says. “And for all the periods that no one is at home, we’re not using any energy. It saves 70 percent over even the most efficient tank systems.” The boiler can also be used to help heat the house in times of extreme cold. Finally, the Energy Recovery Ventilator in the basement pumps fresh air into the house. Strategically located vents (in the three bathrooms and near the stove) draw in “dirty” air, and funnel it to the basement, where the ventilator vacates the bad air and brings in fresh air. This combats air quality issues that were common in early airtight green homes. So do the Boles ever open their windows? “It’s a really bad idea to open a window if it’s really cold or really hot,” Richard says. “But if it’s neutral, it’s fine.” The Bole’s Home Takes Shape, 2012–2014 40 ShAKerONLINE.COM | SUMMER 2015


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