sun, wind and water - an elemental retreat

compact cabin embodies 'small is beautiful' while achieving a zero-energy status

The Tofte Cabin, Minnesota

Location: MN USA Client: Medora Woods Use: Private year-round vacation residence

Background:
For this vacation retreat on the shore of Lake Superior, SDA worked cooperatively with Minneapolis architect Sarah Nettleton to fulfill the owner's goal of reducing the ecological impact of the building to as close to zero as possible.

The highest priority was zero on-site use of fossil fuels. The client also gave high priority to natural materials selection, site protection and enhancement, and the building's environmental footprint.

The energy needs of the all-electric house are met by a hybrid photovoltaic, wind and geothermal system, which was integrated into the design of the home and its outbuilding.

Special Features:

To meet the client's energy goals, SDA specified aggressive energy efficiency measures, to complement the hybrid solar/wind system.

The cabin's energy-efficient features include:

• an air-to-air heat exchanger
• radiant floor heating
• a super-insulated envelope
• high-R value glazing.

Outcome:
Built with locally-sourced, durable materials and thoughtful planning, the cabin is a comfortable, light-filled retreat that meets the owner's design and sustainability requirements. It will provide worry-free enjoyment for years to come.

• The site features a roof-integrated PV array and a 3.5 kW wind turbine
• Space and water heating is provided by a high-efficiency geothermal heat pump
• The hybrid electrical system is interactive with the local utility grid
• Should the utility fail, the power system will operate in stand-alone mode, using the wind and sun with a battery bank for storage.

Contact SDA about integrating renewable-energy systems into your residential or commercial building project.

View Solar Design's Entire Project Portfolio

Learn more about solar electricity, solar thermal and wind energy