House of Essentials, Demonstration of Residential Energy Retrofit, Boulder

Colorado College of Environmental Design, University of Colorado/Boulder, 1978

Professor Holloway's Energy Design Studio 4th-year students "solar-retrofitted" a small University-owned house witih a passive solar food producing greenhouse, and rooftop solar water heater. The passive solar "breadbox" water heater was produced with a recycled hot water heater tank under insulated glass with in-and-out piping connected to the house hot water supply line. An insulated reflective- metal-coated door closed at night kept the system warm.

Construction materials for the project were donated by local Boulder businesses.