SBS Solar is super excited to show you the latest Habitat for Humanity of Ravalli Co home in Stevensville, Montana. This is an all-electric home with new energy star appliances, LED lighting and a very well insulated envelope.
With a $17,000 grant from NorthWestern Energy, SBS Solar was able to install a 30 module, 7.5kWh array with a grid tie inverter and an air source heat pump. We installed this system in December and made the final tie into the grid and installed a net meter on January 2nd.
As of this writing 5 months later, the system has made more power than what the home used thru the building process. We utilized electric, milk house, resistant type heaters to keep our workers warm and set the drywall mud. We eventually installed an air source heat pump in March, after the coldest period of winter.
Now that the family has moved in we will see how well all the systems preform and the actual electric usage. Depending on this power usage, we will see if they are actually netting the big Zero at the end of the year.
It was a lot of fun, and a honor, being part of the design and building of what is possibly the first net zero home in Western Montana.