The Real Problem
The creation of additional clean solar energy is a good thing. If we’re ever to break free of fossil fuels and reduce our carbon emissions, we need an abundant green alternative. So in this way, the Solar Panel Mandate is a critically important component to reigning in man-made climate change. But how we handle and utilize solar energy/electricity is equally, if not more, important. So how do we solve the real problem? The answer is one self-powered home, and one self-powered community, at a time.
THE SELF POWERED HOME: PART 1
Conserve
Our thoughtful approach starts with a strong emphasis on conservation through maximum home efficiency. We engineer our homes based on the underlying premise that producing homes that require significantly less energy to operate will reduce the total energy needed to power the home. With this goal at the forefront, producing a self-powered home becomes much more attainable.
The Building Envelope
Heating and cooling a home is one of the largest energy uses, so naturally, this is an area of great opportunity in terms of energy efficiency. And the underlying element that drives this efficiency/inefficiency is airflow. We believe that home efficiency begins with the building envelope.
Dvele's Airtight Envelope:
A sophisticated ventilation strategy that still maintains the integrity of the envelope.
Continuous exterior insulation.
Connective free wall cavities.
The Self Powered Home: Part 2
Ultra-Efficient Systems
At Dvele, we design our homes to be ultra-efficient from the foundation up by utilizing a combination of state-of-the-art construction techniques and materials. Our homes are equipped with lighting, appliances and electronics that achieve the maximum level of energy efficiency.
Driving Down Consumption with Efficiency
Dvele’s ultra-efficient home designs utilize available renewable energy systems to generate electricity and heat. The benefits of designing and producing one of these homes include superior performance, lower utility bills, a smaller carbon footprint and an increased level of indoor health and comfort.
How A Dvele Reduces Consumption With Efficiency
Heat Pump Heating & Cooling
Heat Pump Hot Water Heating
Circuit by Circuit Monitoring
LED Lighting
The Self Powered Home: Part 3
Solar Power Generation
Due to the fact that our homes require significantly less energy to operate, and the simplification that comes from electrification throughout the home, the ability for solar power generated from a rooftop array to completely offset the home’s energy needs are within reach. For this reason, each Dvele home after January 1, 2020 includes Sunflare solar arrays as a standard component.
Solar Power Generation
The solar array that’s included with each Dvele home is capable of capturing clean renewable energy each day. Dvele utilizes panels that produce more power in low light conditions so more clean energy is created earlier in the day and later into the evening. These panels also are designed in such a way that if shading occurs on one panel, it does not degrade the production on the rest of the array.
Benefits of Powering With Solar
Localized Output
Lower Temperature Coefficient
Improved Performance In Lower Light
Lower Global Warming Potential
The Self Powered Home: Step 4
Energy Storage System
While solar power generation alone on-site is great, unfortunately, it does not protect a home from power outages. A solar panel-only home still needs the grids as its “battery.” At Dvele we feel that in today’s climate, battery storage is now more of a necessity rather than a luxury. As such, we have incorporated a solar panel system and a battery backup system into the price of every home.
Solar Power Storage
Beyond resiliency, Dvele homes with battery storage store the energy they produce, and self-consume that clean energy to get through peak power without any draw from the grid. The batteries can also store excess energy that can charge an electric car at night, and be exported onto the grid to provide clean energy to your neighbors even when the sun is down.
How A Dvele Achieves Grid Independence
Increased Energy Efficiency
Lower Carbon Footprint
Demand Response Ready
Auto Transfer During Grid Outages
Beating The Duck Curve
Beyond resiliency, Dvele homes with battery storage will reduce the effects of the duck curve by being able to store the energy they produce, and self consume that clean energy to get through peak power without any draw from the grid. The batteries can also store excess energy that can be exported onto the grid to provide clean energy to your neighbors even when the sun is down, as well as a potential payback from the utility company for contributing the excess power.
View our updated catalog
If you’re considering the idea of building a new, self-powered modern home, please start by looking through our catalog. Knowing which type of home you want to build is a critical step at the beginning of the process. This way we know how to analyze your land and project.
After you've downloaded a floor plan that suits your needs, contact our team to get started