Originally built in 1984, this superinsulated home has R 38 walls and R 80 ceiling. The homeowners added a 3.42 kW photovoltaic, grid-tied solar system with battery backup in 2006.

• 18 Kyocera 200W solar PV panels
• 16 6V, 800-amp hour Rolls deep-cycle solar batteries
• Outback power systems controls