We’re excited about the new year and hope that you are, too! The past year has been a busy and productive one for Build Equinox. Our CERV Community has doubled in size and geographical extent over the past year. We released our new website this past summer with increased documentation on CERV automated smart ventilation, added our “CERV Analytics” IAQ metrics to the CERV-ICE app, initiated a new webinar series covering important indoor air quality topics, and started a newsletter in September. These activities will continue along with the release of more CERV features and capabilities being tested in our solar powered laboratory and in the field. We hope you will stay tuned as we publish and release these items throughout the new year.
We are very excited that healthy, comfortable and sustainable living is becoming reality. The cost of solar power is now well below the cost of grid generated electricity without tax incentives. Ty recently toured a high volume homebuilder’s net zero community in California. The home builder told Ty that net zero homes are in demand and sell themselves. From Vermont to California, the invisible hand of economic forces are at work, moving solar-powered homes into the mainstream.
Equinox House, our high performance test bed house in Urbana Illinois (and Ty and Debs’ home) continues to demonstrate the reality of economical solar living. Equinox House just passed it's 6th birthday in November, and the numbers are great. Since it was powered up, the 8.2kW solar PV system has produced 80,000kWh! Equinox House has “donated” 10,000kWh to the utility company. Equinox House has used 60,000kWh over the past 6 years and our two plug in electric vehicles (Ford Focus EV and a Ford C-Max plugin hybrid) have used 10,000kWh. On the dollar side of things, Equinox House’s $16 per month utility bill (customer service fee) is wonderful. Solar powered transportation is even more cost efficient with nearly $3000 in net transportation energy cost savings over the past four years. Equinox House has the first residential rainwater harvesting system approved by the Illinois State Department of Public Health, supplying 12,000 gallons per year of trouble-free, crystal clear water, even when temperatures plunge below 0F! And, of course, air quality in Equinox House is exceptional. You don’t have to take our word for it because you can view live IAQ and comfort data from the Equinox House CERV at any time by visiting our BuildEquinox.com website.
There is still much to do. Our homes, schools and workplaces are impacting our health with poorly controlled ventilation systems. Most homes rely on faulty construction to provide “fresh air”, and we are paying a price with significant impacts on our health and productivity. Now is the time to bring health to the forefront of building design, and that’s where we come in. As the leading developers of residential smart ventilation technology, our mission is to help homeowners, architects and builders construct healthy indoor environments. CERV smart ventilation production continues to accelerate as more and more people find out about us. We continue conducting research in order to further enhance your ability to maintain a healthy indoor environment for your loved ones.
Wishing You a Healthy and Sustainable New Year,
Fresh air generator (cane plant) next to CERV-IR, our new mini-split controller (highlighted in orange) in Equinox House. Watch for our new product release on CERV-IR in an upcoming newletter.
Equinox House is a “zero plus” home in Urbana with an 8.2kW solar PV array providing 100% of house energy needs and over 7000 miles of electric vehicle transportation per year. Rainwater harvesting supplies 50% of house water needs, and CERV smart ventilation automatically keeps the indoor environment healthy.
