Resource Efficient Homes Across America
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Demonstration-Home Marketable-Home     Chez Soleil - The Sun House
Overview
 
 

 

Overview

Features

Innovations

Climate

Partners

Gallery

 

 


17%

26%

3%

20%

14%

14%

6%

(This house reported 35 resource efficient features.
Percentages above indicate the distribution of features and total 100%)

 

Location:

Austin, Texas

Chez Soleil - its rooftop solar collectors and water heater have excellent views.
Type of Project:

New Construction

Home Completed:

2000

Setting:

rural

Energy Source:

- solar
- propane
- wood burning

Layout:

Single-Family
3 bedroom
Attached garage

Lot Size:

4 acre

Square Footage:

3000

Sales Market:

Middle-income

Cost/Square Foot:

$ 50.00


Southfacing windows and high thermal mass walls and floors made the home an ideal solar collector.
  Goals
  1. To build a resource efficient, off-the-grid solar home, with no connected public utilities other than a phone line.
  2. To use the home to generate performance data that would document how well the home's design and materials performed to keep the house cool in summer and warm in winter.

 
 

Primary Contact

Paul Breaux ,  Physicist/Solar Consultant and Designer
Breaux Consulting
Phone: (512) 249-1976
pbreaux@myway.com
- Builder- Designer- Homeowner

Special information

According to Paul Breaux, a physicist, Chez Soleil performs much better than he expected. The home's temperature is comfortable year around, there is little home maintenance and operating expense, and the many people who tour the home can see and feel the benefits of "green" construction. Chez Soleil has been written up in several publications including Environmental Design & Construction, the Austin American-Statesman, Southern Living, and Solar Today. Chez Soleil was selected by the American Solar Energy Society for the society's solar home tours, and was featured at the 23rd National Passive Solar Conference.

Paul Breaux, an engineer and solar energy design consultant, is a frequent presenter at renewable energy conferences. He also periodically teaches solar design classes at the University of Texas. He consults mainly for people in the Texas region who are interested in passive and active solar house design, with an emphasis on cooling strategies. To arrange a tour of Chez Soleil, contact Paul at pbreaux@hotmail.com.
The main rainwater collection tank.
 

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