What makes your home a Green or Healthy Home?
All heating costs (wood) and electric appliance usage averages $800/year, about 1/4th that of a similar sized house in the area. No mechanical air conditioning is necessary due to the design and siting of the house. All of the above makes Solargain environment friendly. Composing and recycling are routine. The property (3.86 acres) has a fenced 1000 sq/ft raised bed organic vegetable garden, plus an organic fruit orchard of 23 trees (apples, peaches, pears, plums and cherries). Other edible landscapingî includes cultivated blueberry and raspberry beds, mulberry trees, Chinese chestnuts and hardy almond trees. Wildlife habitats are maintained via a shallow pond (Frog Haven), a wildflower meadow of native grasses and plants, an on-purpose brush pile, five bluebird boxes plus companion boxes, and a delightful small babbling stream.Property Description
Solargain is an unique earth-bermed passive solar home which is effectively heating and cooling self sufficient. Appropriate landscaping augments this with shading maples on the south and a substantial mixed conifer windbreak to the north west. The north wall is deeply bermed. The carefully designed overhang, especially over the south-facing windows, optimizes the seasonal sun angles. A wood stove assists on the cloudy winter days and cold nights of central Pennsylvania. This one story home is designed for low maintenance with Italian tile floors, natural pine woodwork and ceiling, and cedar siding. It is handicapped accessible. An attached greenhouse (235 sq/ft) is a special feature, as is the root cellar. A 200 sq/ft workshop for the amateur woodworker and hobbyist, has work benches and abundant electrical outlets.
Neighborhood Description
The few adjacent properties range from 4 to over 15 acres. The house itself looks out on wooded hillsides and cultivated farm lands where flocks of wild turkeys are seen occasionally. Deer are present, of course, but offer no problem unless you run into one on the road. Five miles away to either side of the property runs the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers respectively; ideal venues for fishing and canoeing. The region is rural and agrarian.Market Area
Solargain is located 35 miles northwest of the capitol city of Harrisburg, in central PA. Distance to major cities are Washington, DC ñ 154 miles; Baltimore ñ 110 miles; Philadelphia ñ 136 miles; Pittsburgh ñ 204 miles. Other cities in the local region are Hershey, Lancaster, Gettysburg and York.School District
Location of Home or Land
Rural
Air Quality
| Agriculture in Area | yes |
| Industry in Area | no |
| Air Pollution in Area | no |
| Pesticide Free | yes |
| Fragrance Free | yes |
| Cleaned with Green Products | yes |
Interior Environment
| Heating System | Solar - Passive |
| Cooling System | Passive Cooling |
| Ventilation System | Other |
| Whole House Filtration | None |
| Whole House Vacuum | no |
Energy & Water
| Water System | Well |
| Wastewater System | Septic System |
Construction Information
| Exterior Finish | Wood |
| Interior Finish | Gypsum Board - Sheet Rock |
| Interior Paint | Other |
| Floor Material | Tile |
| Roof Material | Other |
| Window Material | Metal Dual Glazed |
| Insulation Material | Other |
Garage / Car Port
| Garage / Carport | yes |
| Garage Type | attached |
| Number of Cars | 1 |
| Garage Area | 280 sqft |
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