Norfolk homes part of an Eco-Tour

By Veronica Burns

The Green Technology in this Norfolk house will be on display on May 16.

On Saturday, May 16, two Norfolk houses will take part in an Eco-Tour co-sponsored by People’s Action for Clean Energy, Inc (PACE) and the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF). One of the homes is that of architect Kate Johnson, who also designed it. This residence features both passive solar and active photovoltaic energy, counters of PaperStone (made from recycled paper) and a standing seam metal roof, which integrates both electricity and hot water. There is also a heat recovery ventilator, which warms up incoming air. Johnson’s house is on the tour because she wants to share the knowledge that she gained in designing and building the home. “I was interested in furthering green building principles and wanted to be able to integrate those into new and existing homes.” The hope is, she adds, “that people will be inspired to think green.” The second Norfolk house, that of Kate and Alex Persons, was designed by architect Lindsay Suter. This house, which won a Green Building Council award in 2007, includes a recycled wood composite exterior, a precast insulated concrete foundation, bamboo floors and a water line made out of flexible plastic tubing instead of the traditional copper pipes. The house also features a ‘heatsink’, which, in this instance, is the brick wall behind the wood stove and the tiled floor on a gypcrete layer. These both absorb heat and gradually release it. “People will see that there are various ways to go green,” says Alex Persons about the tour. “Your entire house does not have to be green, but if you do one or two things it really helps.” He says his home generates about 65 percent of their power each year. “It’s affordable and it’s doable,” he adds, “and every little bit helps.” During the tour, PACE organizer Judi Friedman says participants will have the opportunity to meet not only the homeowners, but will also be able to chat with installers, architects and representatives from solar companies. “There will be lots of opportunity to ask the experts questions,” she says. “I am hoping people will get lots of new ideas for their own homes, or for the homes of friends or relatives.” Friedman believes that people can make “benign conservation changes” in their homes or offices, “to make them more efficient and place less demand on energy.” Such ideas could include opening a home more to the south side or using more insulation. Friedman also recommends that homeowners check out the new solar leasing program being offered by CCEF. The tour will be the 52nd for PACE, an all-volunteer public health and environmental organization, established in 1973. The group is dedicated to promoting the development of alternative sources of energy, particularly passive solar and photovoltaic. Norfolk is a member of CCEF’s Clean Energy Communities. The tour will also include houses in Falls Village and Canaan. Tickets, which include a map with directions, cost $15, and are available at the Corner Store. More information can be found on the PACE Web site, pace-cleanenergy.org.