The Solfire Approach

The world around you and your world within. Your home is an extension of you and your family. Little details, a walk-in kitchen pantry, under the stairs storage hidden in plain sight, pre-wired conveniences in high traffic areas, clever connections tucked out of sight, but readily available… modern conveniences and storage solutions all work themselves into your level of comfort. Unseen technology maintaining your home, easing your costs and reducing your maintenance. Features and special touches at work. An environment of change to lower energy usage, strengthen your home, streamline your savings.

Solfire crafts each and every quality construction project with thoughtful detail over not only new technology, but helpful aids and conveniences that make a house a home.

Solar Hot Water | Solar Electric (Photovoltaics) | Geothermal Heating and Cooling | Blown-In Insulation | James Hardie Siding

America today is going through a green Renaissance, but it all begins with a growing sense of community and social responsibility. When you buy a Solfire Home, you’re supporting this change in consciousness and the global benefits that result from it.

With a special emphasis on environmental friendliness, we place a premium on sustainable technology in the home. This focus has allowed us to build smarter, providing greater comfort and convenience for our customers. Many recent advances in evergy efficiency also help you save big money on energy bills.

Just as important are the long term benefits to the planet. As Americans become increasingly conscious of minimizing carbon emissions with their cars, we aim to significantly reduce our carbon footprint on the home front. By building awareness for these techniques and practicing what we preach, we are getting our customers involved in a global community.

Learn more about the technology we can incorporate into any home:

Solar Hot Water

To heat water in your home using solar energy, a collector is fastened to your roof or on a wall facing the sun. The collector absorbs heat, then transfers that heat to the water supply, after which the heated water is stored until it is used. This process uses simple, proven technology – one reason it is one of the most popular choices in renewable energy.

Worldwide Benefits
The average residential solar water heater offsets greenhouse gas emissions by about 1,500 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year – equal to the CO2 released by an average car every 1,600 miles.

An investment in a solar hot water system is an investment in America, because solar keeps our energy dollars at home and reduces our dependency on others.

In many northern European countries, systems that combine hot water and space heating are used to provide 15 to 25% of home heating energy.

More Economical Over Time
Many environmental experts agree that a solar water heater is the easiest initial investment in renewable energy.

While the typical American household spends 15-20% of its total energy outlay to guarantee hot water when they need it, that same household can save thousands of dollars in the long run by installing a solar water heating system.

Compared to a conventional gas or electric heater, a solar water system costs more to install but is much less expensive to operate, and you home equity will increase instantly. At the same time, you’ll save more money every time electric or gas rates go up. Many homeowners experience overall savings in just a few years.

Solar Electric (Photovoltaics)

Photovoltaics – or PV for short – is a technology that converts sunlight into electrical power. Solar panels on your roof absorb solar cells to produce direct current electricity, which can then be used to power equipment, pump water, provide light, charge batteries and much more. For these reasons, building integrated photovoltaics are one of the fastest growing segments of the photovoltaics industry.

Global Impact
Photovoltaics have very little impact on the environment, making them one of the cleanest power generating technologies available today. Unlike fossil fuel based technologies, solar power does not lead to any harmful emissions during operation. As it quietly generates electricity from light, PV produces no air pollution or hazardous waste. It also doesn’t require liquid or gaseous fuels to be transported or combusted.

And the impact goes beyond just environmental. As a domestic source of electricity, it contributes to the nation’s energy security as we strive for self-reliance. As a relatively young, high-tech industry, it helps to create jobs and strengthen the economy – particularly in Chicago, a prominent green oriented city.

Leading the Way with Technology
Along with Japan and Germany, the United States is one of the world leaders in research, development and economic incentives associated with photovoltaics – triggering a huge global growth in demand. American policymakers and business leaders are constantly developing new incentives for the spread of PV, and Solfire Homes recognizes the potential to contribute on the home front.

As it costs increasingly less to produce and use, PV has only recently become available and affordable on a domestic level. Take advantage of this amazing technology as it increasingly improves the quality of life worldwide.

Geothermal Heating and Cooling

Most people don’t realize it, but your own backyard is an excellent energy source or heating and cooling comfort.

Even though outdoor temperatures fluctuate with the changing seasons, ground temperatures 4-6 feet down remain relatively constant and moderate all year. That is because the earth absorbs almost half the heat energy that reaches its surface from the sun.

How Your Geothermal System Works
To take advantage of these constant temperatures, a geothermal system circulates a water-based solution though a buried top system.

During the heating cycle the fluid circulates through the loop, extracting heat from the ground and transferring it to the geothermal unit. The unit compresses the extracted heat to a high temperature and delivers it to your home through a normal duct system or radiant heat system.

For cooling, the process is simply reversed. Because the earth is much cooler than the air on a hot day, the geothermal system removes heat from the home and deposits it into the ground. The fluid is then cooled by the ground temperatures and returned to the unit for cooling your home.

Benefits and Byproducts
Geothermal heating is one of the most efficient ways to heat a building, delivering unsurpassed comfort, environmental benefit and energy efficiency – potentially saving up to 70% on monthly utility bills. Modern systems are generally so quiet and so inexpensive to operate, you will forget they are there.

As a byproduct of the heat exchange process, a large amount of excess heat is generated, which can be used to heat domestic hot water before it is dissipated into the ground. A single unit can heat and cool your entire home while also providing some or all of your home’s hot water as well.

It has the added benefit that it requires no burning of fossil fuels at the heating site, as opposed to systems that use natural gas or heating oil fired furnaces. But in order to achieve the most comfort, it can be paired with a natural gas heater to dramatically reduce, but not eliminate, the amount of fuel needed to heat a building.

Geothermal heating also greatly contributes to the global effort to reduce carbon emissions. Taking steps to reduce these emissions from your home is a big step towards reducing the amounts of carbon launched into the atmosphere.

Blown-In Insulation

If you add up all the possible air leaks in a typical home – around frame joints, windows, doors, pipes, ducts, vents and electrical outlets – it can have the same effect as leaving your front door open, and can account for as much as a third of heat loss in a home.

Unlike conventional fiberglass, Solfire Homes incorporates thermal insulation that is blown into place – an application technique that better prevents gaps and stopping air leaks. This blown-in insulation is two to three times denser than comparable fiberglass batts, so heated air has a harder time getting through.

Blown-insulation also provides the added benefit of reducing outdoor noise… with a Noise Reduction Coefficient of 0.90, that means 90% of all sound energy is absorbed.

Protect Your Home From the Elements
In addition to keeping cold and warm air separate, blown-in insulation also acts as a fire retardant for your home. Its increased density restricts the flow of oxygen and prevents the passage of flames and hot gasses, increasing a wall’s fire resistance by around 25-50%.

At the same time, the insulation fibers have a natural ability to handle moisture. Moisture vapor in the air is absorbed and released depending upon the relative humidity of the surrounding air.

Help the Environment
Solfire Homes uses non-toxic insulation made from at least 80% recovered, post-consumer paper fiber, reducing landfill waste. The product is processed by electrically-driven mills that consume relatively little energy when operating, and which can be shut down easily when not in use. This reducing energy consumption at the factory can hold down utility rates.

James Hardie Siding

Solfire Homes incorporates James Hardie siding, a world leader in the development of building products and the innovator behind fiber-cement. James Hardie siding and roofing comes in a variety of forms, with a range of planks, panels, shingles and trim to enhance and protect every angle of your home – all backed by a 50 year warranty.

James Hardie products are designed to protect the inside of your home as well. Fiber-cement backerboard is installed under tile floors and behind walls to prevent hidden water damage common to most homes.

The Advantages of Fiber-Cement
Made from Portland cement, clay, sand and wood fiber, fiber-cement siding has a natural texture and grain finish for the appearance of real wood. Unlike wood, fiber-cement requires virtually no maintenance (holding paint 3-4 times longer), resists insects and the elements, and rarely needs to be repaired or replaced.

When compared to common vinyl siding, a popular low maintenance alternative, fiber-cement’s obvious first advantage is its woodlike appearance, which retains its texture and color considerably longer. Fiber-cement also resists fire and weather with greater durability, and is generally much thicker and stronger to prevent damage from hail or harsh winds.

The Green Side of Siding

The thriving fiber-cement industry is good news for forests, which even today suffer as the most common source of siding. Unlike vinyl, fiber-cement is composed of natural elements that can largely be broken down and reapplied after use.

But the main environmental benefit of James Hardie siding comes from its remarkable durability – the less often you need to replace siding, the less material and energy you need to expend in the long run.