Page 39 - Green Builder January 2017 Issue

The Arc House demonstrates
ways to integrate
renewable energy with
connected technology.

SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY and solar technology provide
complementary benefits: reduced energy use, improved
efficiency, and greater comfort and control by homeowners.
The Arc House demonstrates how these technologies can fully
integrate to create an intelligent, efficient home—one that
automatically adjusts to optimize energy use and comfort, and provides
feedback to occupants that encourages them to change their behavior.

These technologies are trending toward wider adoption. Here’s a look
at the home’s thermostat, solar array and energy management systems.

OPTIMIZED HVAC CREDIT: EMERSON

Smart thermostats have been around for several years, but 2015 Ready to go. The Sensi Wi-Fi programmable thermostat is
saw a surge in interest in the technology. And according to a report compatible with nearly all HVAC systems and can be installed in
published by IoT Analytics in March 2016, the global market for smart advance, before the Wi-Fi connection is set up.
thermostats will grow by 35 percent annually over the next six years.
storage battery, and inverters and energy management from
Many of the more-popular smart thermostats include intuitive SMA America (www.sma-america.com). The 2.6-kW solar PV array
controls and a user-friendly interface. The Sensi (http://bit.ly/2h0KaWu) powers The Arc House and charges the storage battery during the
Wi-Fi programmable thermostat from Emerson (www.emersonclimate. day; at night, the home draws on stored energy from the battery.
com) offers the flexibility of programming a different heating or cooling The system can operate on or off grid.
schedule for every day of the week, as well as the ability to easily turn
the thermostat setting up or down from a smartphone. A residential solar system that includes battery storage
demonstrates the next development in residential renewable energy.
The free mobile app also allows the user to control a thermostat Such systems enable greater control over how and when energy is
from anywhere, and to control more than one thermostat in more produced and consumed. Current grid-tied systems must rely on the
than one location. electricity grid when solar energy cannot be immediately produced
and don’t offer much in the way of added value.
Contractors also like the Sensi thermostat, as it is compatible with
most HVAC systems and can be installed before the Wi-Fi connection
is available. The thermostat does not require a common wire (c-wire)
for most electric and gas units.

SOLAR PLUS STORAGE DIRECTING SOLAR ENERGY

The Arc House’s renewable energy concept system includes a solar Energy management is key to maximizing “self-consumption”—
PV array from JinkoSolar (http://jinkosolar.com), a high-voltage using as much of the energy generated by a solar array in the home

www.greenbuildermedia.com January/February 2017 GREEN BUILDER 37