What makes your home a Green or Healthy Home?
This is a double envelope solar heated house in a country setting. Partially earth sheltered on 3 sides. Two stories of windows on the true-south facing side. Property has been lovingly maintained in an organic manner (no herbicides, pesticides, or commercial fertilizer) for 24 years. Many mature trees.
The foundation is 8 inch thick poured concrete resting on a solid limestone rock shelf. The exterior is of cedar and fieldstone. The east and west walls are 8 inch construction with no windows for maximum insulation value. With no furnace or blowers and a double shell to damp outside noises, the house is extremely quiet.
The double envelope house is a “house within a house” construction. On the south side is a solarium (solar collection space) 46 ft. wide by 9 ft. deep and over 2 stories high. These windows allow a huge amount of light and solar heat to enter the solarium with a two story full brick wall facing the interior house (to act as a thermal sink). This 9 ft. wide, 2 story mass of warmed air rises and is compressed into a 2 ft. wide double insulated channel passing over the top of the inner house. This air is further compressed to follow a 1 ft. wide channel on the north side of the house. This relatively cooler air “falls” down the north face, creating a natural convective cycle. The air then returns for the next warming cycle via “hallways” on the east and west sides of the house. A major addition that was made was the installation of state of the art Window Quilt® insulating shades on all 18 south facing windows. These maintain heat gain in the winter and keep heat out during the summer. Day/night temperature variations in the hating space were reduced by 10-15 degrees after installation. Even on the coldest days the solarium temperature stays above 40 degrees during the night.
The heating system is a combination of solar gain, state of the art wood stove and electric baseboard. Average electric bills for the last 4 years are $106/month. This covers primarily, hot water, all kitchen appliances, washer and dryer, well pump and water softener, septic system and lighting. For 2013 (one of the coldest winters on record) $400 of firewood kept the woodstove heating the house for the whole cold season. A new wood stove was installed in Nov. 2013. The stove is an Appalachian Model No.: 52BAY with a Heating Capacity: 1500-2700 Square feet; Up to 58,000 BTU’s; Up to 24 inch log capacity; 77-90% efficient in normal operating conditions; A 3 speed front mounted blower, 300cfm; Burn up to 15 hours with hard wood; air wash glass door and easy access ash pan; catalytic convertor. The pipe is Duratech Class A, double insulated, stainless steel interior and exterior. It runs through the solar collection space for extra heating efficiency.
For cooling in the summer, there is a geothermal cooling tube entering on the lower level of the air circulation space. Natural thermal siphon distributes the cool air around the house. In addition, the two exterior overhangs are designed so that no sun enters the circulation space during the height of summer. Openable windows on the south and north walls also create a natural cooling air flow. In addition, since the house is built on a 12” concrete slab, directly on rock, earth cooling is a natural consequence.
A new highly insulated (R-10) steel front door and storm door were installed in 2010.
There is a large organic grape arbor with 4 mature Concord grape vines, 3 Frontenac Gris wine varietal vines and 2 Himrod seedless green grapes; large 36X72 foot organic garden plot (grow a year’s worth of food for you and to share!!).Property Description
This is a uniquely designed, energy efficient, and solidly constructed house in a beautiful location. Nestled between farmland, highways, and woods, it is relatively close to everything - 20 minutes from Oshkosh, Neenah, or Appleton and just minutes from state highways 45 and 10. This is a double envelope solar heated house in a country setting. Partially earth sheltered on 3 sides. Two stories of windows on the true-south facing side. On 1.28 acres. Property has been lovingly maintained in an organic manner (no herbicides, pesticides, or commercial fertilizer) for 24 years. Many improvements have been made to landscaping.
About the house: Designer, builder, and first owner, Pete Zwirchitz of Oshkosh (a local homebuilder) purchased the land in the spring of 1981 and began the construction shortly thereafter. The attention to detail and quality of construction materials is evident. The foundation is 8 inch thick poured concrete resting on a solid limestone rock shelf. The exterior is of cedar and fieldstone. The east and west walls are 8 inch construction with no windows for maximum insulation value. With no furnace or blowers and a double shell to damp outside noises, the house is extremely quiet.
The double envelope house is a “house within a house” construction. On the south side is a solarium (solar collection space) 46 ft. wide by 9 ft. deep and over 2 stories high. These windows allow a huge amount of light and solar heat to enter the solarium with a two story full brick wall facing the interior house (to act as a thermal sink). This 9 ft. wide, 2 story mass of warmed air rises and is compressed into a 2 ft. wide double insulated channel passing over the top of the inner house. This air is further compressed to follow a 1 ft. wide channel on the north side of the house. This relatively cooler air “falls” down the north face, creating a natural convective cycle. The air then returns for the next warming cycle via “hallways” on the east and west sides of the house. A major addition that was made was the installation of state of the art Window Quilt® insulating shades on all 18 south facing windows. These maintain heat gain in the winter and keep heat out during the summer. Day/night temperature variations in the hating space were reduced by 10-15 degrees after installation. Even on the coldest days the solarium temperature stays above 40 degrees during the night.
Heating and Cooling: The heating system is a combination of solar gain, state of the art wood stove and electric baseboard. Average electric bills for the last 4 years are $106/month. This covers primarily, hot water, all kitchen appliances, washer and dryer, well pump and water softener, septic system and lighting. For 2013 (one of the coldest winters on record) $400 of firewood kept the woodstove heating the house for the whole cold season. A new wood stove was installed in Nov. 2013. The stove is an Appalachian Model No.: 52BAY with a Heating Capacity: 1500-2700 Square feet; Up to 58,000 BTU’s; Up to 24 inch log capacity; 77-90% efficient in normal operating conditions; A 3 speed front mounted blower, 300cfm; Burn up to 15 hours with hard wood; air wash glass door and easy access ash pan; catalytic convertor. The pipe is Duratech Class A, double insulated, stainless steel interior and exterior. It runs through the solar collection space for extra heating efficiency.
For cooling in the summer, there is a geothermal cooling tube entering on the lower level of the air circulation space. Natural thermal siphon distributes the cool air around the house. In addition, the two exterior overhangs are designed so that no sun enters the circulation space during the height of summer. Openable windows on the south and north walls also create a natural cooling air flow. In addition, since the house is built on a 12” concrete slab, directly on rock, earth cooling is a natural consequence.
Recent Improvements:
The complete exterior was professionally caulked and painted in Oct. 2014 by Action Painting of Appleton. The complete interior of the house was also repainted in Oct. 2014 by Action Painting. All interior lights, light switch covers, and outlet covers were replaced in April 2015.
The mound system septic system was inspected and the lift pump was replaced in Nov. 2014.
A new highly insulated (R-10) steel front door and storm door were installed in 2010.
A new Trex lumber deck was installed in June 2008 with improved 16” support stringers.
Landscaping of note: custom designed red cedar swing set; 4 wire outdoor clothes drying lines; 4-tree blue spruce windbreak on NW corner of house; 2 beautiful Scarlet Oak trees; large grape arbor with 4 mature Concord grape vines, 3 Frontenac Gris wine varietal vines and 2 Himrod seedless green grapes; large 36X72 foot organic garden plot (grow a year’s worth of food for you and to share!!).
Summary: This is a lovingly cared for property with a wonderful view and unique, efficient heating system.
Room design and dimensions:
The front entry (north and street side of the house) is into the living room (21’X14’4”) having a cathedral ceiling that rises from 8’ to 12’ and triple wide sliding windows on the north side. Up a set of stairs to the dining room (16’X10’). The dining room north side has a half wall so that you can look down into the living room. Directly south is the kitchen (13’2”X11’) which looks into the dining room on the north via a half wall for an open concept area. The kitchen south side opens into the upper solarium area by a large sliding glass door. Down the hallway from the dining room is a coat closet; bedroom (13’8”X11’) containing a large closet (2’X8’) and south facing windows; bathroom (10’8”X6’) with a full tub, large closet and openable windows facing north. At the end of the hallway is the master bedroom (14’6”X15’6”) having a huge walk-in closet (6’X6’) and attached bathroom (shower) with openable windows facing north. The south side of the bedroom has a large sliding glass door opening onto the upper story of the solarium area. Returning to the living room, there is a stairs going down to the large family room (18”X20’’) on the lower level. There is a door going into the east hallway (and then up 4 steps into the garage). The south side of this room has a large double sliding glass door into the lower level of the solarium. Also on the south side is the state of the art woodstove on a 8” riser. The stove pipe goes through the south wall into a two story riser stove pipe in the solarium. Off of the family room is a nice sized bedroom (13’7”X11’4”) having two openable windows on the south side into the solarium and a good sized closet. Also off of the family room is a bathroom (shower) having a large linen closet. Off of the bathroom is the laundry room (6’4”X8’) containing the hot water heater, wash tub, washer and dryer. Off of this room is a door entering into the north and west hallway (air return space). The north and west return hallway/space is 4’X25’ along the north side and 4’X23’ along the west side. In the west space is a sump pump to raise the effluent from the lower bath room and wash room several feet for gravity feed to the outdoor septic system. At the south end of this space is a wooden hot tub, heater and pumps for the hot tub. The solarium is a two story space measuring 9’X46’. A custom built spiral staircase connects the lower to the upper solarium floors. The east air return space consists of a large craw-space (15’X21’) containing the water pump controls and pressure tank, hallway (4’X20’) containing the water softener, and another hallway (4’X21’) returning to the solarium. A door off of this hallway goes to an unheated, 2 car garage (22’X24’). The original builders drawings are available.
The total area of the “inner house” is 1,934sf. The solarium area (2 floors) is 828 sf. The area of the return air spaces (on the north, west and east sides) is 663 sf. All three of these spaces total 3,425 sf. The garage area is 528 sf.
Neighborhood Description
Country living on 1.28 acres but only 1 mile from state roads 45 and 10. Winchester township zoned mostly agriculture R-1 single family homes. No commercialization without rezoning. The farmland to the south owned by long time family running a fruit (apples, pears, grapes) and veggie stand with no interest in selling. The house overlooks a gentle rolling valley. The soil is glacial deposited rich loam maintained strictly organic by current owner. Classic red barn across the road. Nice neighbors.Market Area
Winnebago County is mostly rural farm land with some small industry near state highways. There are many quiet country back roads. Small creeks and streams feed to Lake Poygan to the west and Lake Winnebago to the east. The Rat River estuary has been maintained as natural marsh land for preservation of birds and wildlife. The town of Winchester is quaint and scenic with a good mix of "century" homes and farmsteads and more modern small developments. Taxes are low and living is good.School District
The district has 3 school buildings, compact, friendly accessible. 1 elem, school, 4K – fifth grade 725 students large staff and faculty. Middle School 6-8 grade an Exemplary Middle School (Association of Wisconsin School Administrators) high growth in reading and math scores ranking top 10% all Wisconsin, 376 students. High School, 500 students, newest facility in the district. constructed late 1990's career center, activities, athletics, strong music program with great caring teachers.Community
We live on a country road. The lot to the west is an apple orchard. To the east is an earth sheltered house. To the south are farmer's fields. To the north is a farmette with newly roofed 100 year old barn. On this property is a grove of pine trees that house a flock of wild turkeys and deer. The neighbor to the south and west has 30 varieties of heirloom apples that he sells at a stand for ridiculously low prices. Most varieties are not found in stores, Good living and good eating!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 | Cool Pipes |
| Ventilation System | Other |
| Whole House Filtration | None |
| Whole House Vacuum | no |
Energy & Water
| Water System | Well |
| Wastewater System | Septic System |
Construction Information
| Exterior Finish | Masonry Wood Other |
| Interior Finish | Cement Plaster |
| Interior Paint | Low VOC |
| Floor Material | Carpet |
| Roof Material | Asphalt Composition Shingle |
| Window Material | Other |
| Insulation Material | Fiberglass |
Garage / Car Port
| Garage / Carport | yes |
| Garage Type | attached |
| Number of Cars | 2 |
| Garage Area | 528 sqft |
Add to Favorites