About Paul and Margaret Martin's Solar Pavilion

by Architect, Bill Devlin, William J. Devlin AIA, Inc

Photo by Bill Devlin

Several years ago, Paul and Margaret Martin began discussions with me regarding house changes, with an emphasis on energy conservation/ efficiency.  In 2007, they were ready to start Design for solar-energy work, with the following criteria:

1.                  House’s roof already dismissed, due to poor orientation, plus interfering dormers, etc.

2.                  So – do something in the rear yard, presumably connected to the garage.

3.                  Include some sheltered “gazebo” or “pavilion” area. 

4.                  Minimize loss of yard space.

5.                  Paul’s knowledge of energy systems would allow him to pursue that component of Design, himself.

 

Looking back at the garage from the driveway.  Photo by Bill Devlin

When Design started, it was determined that the garage’s left-end wall was about 36 degrees off an East-West line, for solar orientation.  Contractors are somewhat used to 2 “standard construction angles”, as I call them; these are 45 degrees, then 30 degrees.  We went ahead from there, studying several options:

1.                  The structure would be sited at 30 degrees off the garage’s end wall, giving a 6-degree “declination” to the West.  This slight favoring toward the West fit perfectly into my own preferred angle, of 5 to 10 degrees West, developed during my solar experiments in the late ‘50s/ early ‘60s.

2.                  With the “Solar Pavilion” as an addition to the garage, it got the best possible location in the yard for clear access to the sun.

3.                  And, by “climbing up over” the existing 3-car garage, the pavilion claims a minimal amount of yard area.

4.                  The unusual result of the “climbing over” the garage works, because it was controlled visually.  The beam carrying the front gable meets the garage right at the first “post” between garage doors.  The far end of that gable, up on the roof, aligns with the second post between garage doors, when viewed from the driveway.

5.                  The roof slope is close to the “build to your latitude” angle of 42 degrees.  More would favor Winter, less would favor Summer.  As it is, it’s considerably steeper than the original roof, but with the angles involved, it does not stand out as being different.

6.                  There are 2 solar systems on the roof.  The 16 PV (photo-voltaic) electric panels can generate 2.8 kW (kilo-Watts).  The 3 DHW (domestic hot water) panels support a 105-gallon hot water tank in the cellar, by means of an intermediate “transfer fluid”.  A third solar system is attached to the front gable of the pavilion – it’s a clothesline!

7.                  Trenches connect systems to the house.  They are well-insulated, lined with a foam-board type of insulation which can withstand moisture, freeze-thaw, etc.

8.                  In the cellar, electrical components allow excess electricity generated to be sold back to the utility (WMECO), and the hot water system includes booster heating for when it’s needed, and tubing to allow the water to receive the heat from the transfer fluid.

9.                  Much of the new structure is self-supporting, to minimize weight being added to the existing garage.  A girder runs diagonally over the garage ceiling; the new attic floor spans from there to beams on the new posts at the gazebo.

10.             Design details include brickwork and other materials and colors to relate to the house.  A round attic window in front says “sun”.  This Design was approved by the Springfield Historical Commission.

 

Construction went very well, with Centennial Construction (Tom Sulivan) as G.C. (General Contractor).  Timing of the completion was just right for the larger tax credits of 2009.

 

If you have any questions about the project, please feel free to call me at 732-6197

 

Bill Devlin (William J. Devlin AIA, Inc., Architect),