Page 37 - Green Builder Jan-Feb 2022 Issue

BEDROOM

BATH
BEDROOM

KITCHEN

At ground level. The Cuyuna
DINING Project is warmed by radiant floor
heat, which eliminates loss of
DECK warmth through air duct use.
CREDIT: COURTESY OF SIPA
LOUNGE
Key Components

APPLIANCES: KitchenAid (all) LANDSCAPING: 330-foot deep well for fresh water
EXTERIOR FINISHES: Benjamin Moore exterior paint LIGHTING: LED

FLOOR PLAN GARAGE DOOR: LiftMaster MyQ garage door opener RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS (SOLAR, WIND,
HEATING: Westinghouse combination boiler ETC.): OutBack Radian system solar inverter;
50kWh lithium ion battery bank; 310 watt REC
supporting in-floor radiant heat.
solar panels; SpaceX Starlink satellite internet.
builders are adopting it,” Puzak noted, HOME CONTROLS: Google Nest Cam IQ; Google Nest ROOF: Galvanized metal
in a report from GearJunkie. “It’s hard thermostat; Lutron Caseta smart light switches; STRUCTURAL: Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs):
Lutron Serena smart blinds
for production builders to adopt new 6-inch and 9-inch walls rated R-30 to R-40-plus;
ideas when the average home buyer HVAC/DUCTS: 23 SEER mini split combined with a ceiling R-60
does not know what is possible.” heat pump; Lunos E2 HRV system WINDOWS, SKYLIGHTS, PATIO DOORS: Andersen
INSULATION: Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs): 100 Series windows with glass upgrades and 0.24
GRID? WHAT GRID? 6-inch and 9-inch walls rated R-30 to R-40-plus; U-Factor; Andersen 200 and 800 series for doors
In keeping with its “no connections to ceiling R-60
the outside world” mantra, the Cuyuna
Project gets all of its energy from an of a typical home, Puzak notes. Bathroom and kitchen fixture are
array consisting of 15 ground-mounted, The only mandatory attachment to water-smart. And, for renters who still
310-watt solar panels, and 80 kWh of everyday life is in the Wi-Fi supplied by need one more connection to society,
lithium ion battery storage (consisting satellite internet provider SpaceX. The Puzak includes a classic “do it your-
of dozens of upcycled batteries pur- Starlink service enables smart control self” product: an espresso machine. GB
chased from a hospital that no longer of everything from indoor lighting to
needed them for emergency backup). the garage door opener, as well as the
Hence the nickname, “Wattage Cottage.” solar array. What’s next?
Off-grid status is a rarity in Min- Other regular home amenities
nesota, given the area’s long, harsh abound. The kitchen features ENERGY TOM PUZAK, FOUNDER, PUZAK PROPERTIES:
winters, which includes numerous STAR appliances, which contribute to “I am building another SIP house in Minneapolis
days with sub-freezing temperatures. the home’s net zero certification from right now. It will be larger and more radical in both
To combat this, the cabin’s insulating the U.S. Department of Energy. The form and function.”
properties are about three times that stove is gas powered, as is the fireplace.

www.greenbuildermedia.com January/February 2022 GREEN BUILDER 35