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el Fierro is a home designed from the ground up

to be an upscale, energy-independent, passive solar

residence. The intention was to create a structure

capable of lasting centuries and one in which interior spaces

can be periodically updated as technology, lifestyles, and

trends change. The theory is that this would result in lower

lifetime costs with less overall environmental impact than a

similarly sized conventional home. Much of the project was

experimental with an eye on future scaled-down versions for

affordable housing projects.

64 home power 148 april & may 2012

High-DesertPerformanceDesigning & Constructing Del Fierro

Story & photos

by Edward Marue

D

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deserttech

Developed by Paul Schwam, a local architect/builder, lava concrete (LC) is a made from a

porous, lightweight volcanic aggregate called scoria, which is mixed to form a self-supporting

semi-fluid. When cured, it becomes a lightweight stone. Scorias porosity holds pockets ofwater to help cure the cement. Once the water has evaporated, tiny air cavities remain to

provide sound and thermal insulation. LC is used for foundations, floors, walls, and roofs. It

provides the structure, insulation, thermal mass, and the finishall in a single and seamless,

raw-to-finish process.

Because LC starts as an easily workable semifluid, any shape or detail can be added to

architectural elementsplanes and curves; textures and details; and accessories, such as

fireplaces, furniture, moldings, drip edges, window/door trim, niches, and artwork. Builders

can integrate details such as ledgers, beam pockets, utility raceways, and block-outs

eliminating material and labor steps along the way.

LC helps optimize the sequence of construction. Electrical, plumbing, and other utilities install

first into empty forms. The structural wall is cast as the final step. The permanence of the

concrete and stone structure will remain fresh, even with periodic future upgrades to utilities,

internal layout, and furnishings.

What isLava Concrete?

The thermal mass and trapped air space of lava concrete lends itself to tempering the thermal swings of a desert climate.

The lava concrete mix is pretty dry, and

needs minimal hand work.

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After site preparation and installation of subgrade utilities and

footings, rebar and forming went directly on top of the concrete

foundations. Forms were constructed from treated 4-by-8 plywood

with cut-outs for window and door openings. Once utility raceways

were installed, pouring was done by three people: one operatedthe delivery chute; another tended to the formed details, lightly

compacting the LC to assure no voids; and the third monitored the

mixing machine and conveyors.

The mixing machine was key to the process and specifically

designed to combine the cinder sand (scoria) and Portland cement

with injected water to form a relatively dry mix. Conveyors delivered

the LC to the forms, where it was poured 2 to 8 feet high in lifts. A

24-foot-tall wall may require three to 12 pours.

The lava sand used was a deep red color, from Flagstaff, Arizona.

Blended with about 20% Portland cement, the poured fill cures

similarly to regular concrete. Sandblasting the surface restored much

of the natural volcanic color that was grayed by the cement. Once

sealed (water-based Okon was used for Del Fierro), the exteriorrequires no additional maintenance.

One of the advancements developed during our project was a post/

anchor bolt system, which eliminated the need for precast anchors, and

greatly simplified the hand-off to other trades. It allowed operations,

such as attaching ledgers, to be done simply by pre-drilling and

insertion of large bolts. During construction, tests were performed

on the strength of the attachment system, under the supervision of

structural engineers to comply with the local building department.

Windows and doors were installed in the blanked-out openings and

secured with polyurethane foam and an LC-based grout.

Due to the complexity and volumetric size of this house, the cost

per square foot for the basic shell was about $85. For modest-scale

projects, LC can be constructed more cost-competitively.

Right: Because lava concrete starts as

an easily workable semifluid, any shape

or detail can be added to architectural

elements.

Below right and lower right: Scaffolding

is set up to accommodate pumping lava

concrete in lifts.

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PV Tech SpecsOverview

System type:Batteryless, grid-tied solar-electric

Location:Tucson, Arizona

Solar resource:9 average daily peak sun-hours (for dual-axistracking system)

Record low temperature:6F

Average high temperature:100F

Average monthly production:1,104 AC kWh

Utility electricity offset annually:87%

Photovoltaic System Components

Modules:32 BP SX170B, 170 W STC, 35.4 Vmp, 4.8 Imp,

44.2 Voc, 5.0 Isc

Array:Four eight-module series strings, 5,440 W STC total,

283.2 Vmp, 19.2 Imp, 353.6 Voc, 20.0 Isc

Array combiner box:Square D HU361RB

Array installation:Array Technologies AZ-225 Wattsun dual-

axis trackers on pole mounts

Inverters:Two Xantrex GT 3.0, 3 kW rated output 600 VDC

maximum input, 195-550 VDC MPPT operating range, 240

VAC output

System Cost

Initial cost:$45,064

Less incentives:$16,320 TEP utility rebate

Final installed cost:$28,744

Major Load Information

Space heating:Electric forced-air heat pump

Cooling: Electric forced-air heat pump; evaporative cooling

tower (electric fan)

Water heating:Solar hot water system, with propane backup

Cooking:Electric

Clothes drying:Electric

Refrigeration:Electric

For keeping a home cool, it is critical to reduce its exposure

to the sun, keeping the surface temperature of the shell as

low as possible. This reduces thermal conduction through the

envelope and minimizes charging of thermal mass. This can

be accomplished by shading with overhangs, vegetation, the

use of reflective coatings, light colors, and radiant barriers.

Compromises for cooling over heating are made, since saving

energy on cooling was the deciding objective. Tucson has almosttwice as many cooling degree days (the number of days where

mechanical cooling is needed) as heating degree days (2,954 vs.

1,678). Compare this to Ann Arbor, Michigan, which has 7,864

heating degree days and 289 cooling degree days, and youll see

the drastic differences in passive design requirements.

An Inherently Cool DesignReadily available earthen-based building materials, such as

adobe and rammed earth, have been used in the Southwest

throughout history. Modern performance-driven designs

fully benefit from their inherently high thermal mass, fire

resistance, and durability. I originally intended to use rammedearth, which involves compressing a mixture of earth, chalk,

lime, and gravel (and sometimes a cement stabilizer). But at

3,450 square feet, costs for rammed earth were prohibitive

due to the volume and complexity of the house, with its high

ceilings, parapets, and intricate architecture.

A member of my design team introduced me to lava

concrete (LC), a lightweight cast-in-place concrete made from

volcanic cinder sand, very abundant in Arizona and other

parts of the world. The construction is similar to casting

rammed earth, but much less labor-intensive. Once cured,

the steel-reinforced structure is strong and considerably

more durable than rammed earth or other earthen building

systems. With an R-value of 3.27 per inch, our 18-inch-

thick walls would be nearly R-59. The LC also provides

thermal mass and soundproofing. The inside was finished

with a natural clay plaster from American Clay, which also

contributes to the homes thermal mass.

A cooling tower provides evaporative cooling and much-

needed humidity in the dry months of March through June.

A mister injects moisture at the top of the tower, wherein the

cooler, dense air falls by gravity, displacing warmer household

air out through open windows at each end of the house, and a

small electric fan augments the airflow. The cooling tower also

works at night when the outside ambient air temperature is

cooler than the displaced inside ambient room air.

Another passive cooling techniquedeep (8- to 12-foot)

overhangshelp shade south- and west-facing walls and

windows in the warmer months. Helping overall building

efficiency, the roof includes a 2-inch, R-14 sprayed-on layer

of urethane foam over a double layer of OSB over I-joists and

trusses filled with loose-fill fiberglass insulation, for a value

of R-45 to R-60. A white polymer reflective paint was sprayed

over the urethane. Pella InsulShield triple-pane, argon-filled,

low-e windows and doors retard heat transfer.The cooling tower uses evaporative phase-change and

reverse-chimney convection to draw cool air into the house.

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Mechanical SystemsAll appliances (range, oven, microwave, dishwasher,

refrigerators, washer, and dryer) are Energy Star-rated, and

CFL and LED lighting is used throughout.

Two 40-gallon batch solar water heaters are backed up

with two Bosch 2400E LP on-demand propane-fired units.

The SHW system can either feed the backup unit or send the

solar-heated water directly to the house. We have it route

through the backup units, which are temperature-modulated.When needed, mechanical cooling and heating is provided

by three high-efficiency (16 SEER-rated) fresh or recirculated

air-source heat pumps, 2-, 4- and 5-ton units, respectively.

A grid-tied 5.44 kW, dual-axis, tracked PV array provides

most of the homes electricity. (The array size was based on

the most PV modules I could get on a pair of Wattsun AZ-225

trackers.) PVWatts calculates that our system should generate

13,253 kWh annually. Since PV module prices have dropped,

I plan on adding a ground-mounted PV system to cover the

propertys entire electricity requirements, including the guest

house and shop.

For the first year of data gathered, ending in July 2010,our usage exceeded our original energy budget. During that

H2G H1

H1 H2G

100 KWH

100 KWH

100 KWH

AC Service Entrance:

To 120/240 VAC loadsProductionMeter (Array 1)

ProductionMeter (Array 2)

GroundGround

Ground

Lightning Arrestors:Two, LA302 MOVs

kWh Meter:Utility

Combiner Boxes/DC Disconnects:

Single-pole,single-throw switch

Inverter 2:Xantrex GT 3.0,

600 VDC max input,3 kW at 240 VAC output

Inverter 1:Xantrex GT 3.0,

600 VDC max input,

3 kW at 240 VAC output

AC Disconnect(Array 2)

AC Disconnect(Array 1)

To/From Utility

Two PV Arrays:Each with two series strings

of eight modules,BP SX170B, 170 W each,

wired for 5,440 W totalat 283 Vmp

PV Mounting:Two Array

TechnologiesAZ-225Wattsundual-axistrackers

20A

20A

Note:All numbers are rated,manufacturers specifications, or nominal

unless otherwise specified.

Del Fierro Batteryless Grid-Tied PV System

Two identical PV

systems, each

using a 3 kW

Xantrex grid-tied

inverter, combine

at the main AC

service entrance.

The meters here

are, left to right,

an auxiliary circuit

used during

construction and

testing, the utility

main meter for net

metering, and the

solar production

meter for the

utility.

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SHW Tech Specs

OverviewSystem type:Integrated storage tank system, 80 gal. total

capacity

Solar resource:6.5 average daily peak sun-hours

Production:UnknownPercentage of hot water produced annually:95%

(estimated)

EquipmentCollectors:Two Thermal Conversion Technology PT 40 CN,

40 gal.

Collector installation:Roof-mounted; south-facing; 34 tilt

Backup DWH:Two Bosch 2400E-LP, propane-fired,

tankless

period, thermostats were set for 80F in summer and 68F in

winter. The HVAC system measured 2,382 kWh over what

was anticipated.

To evaluate the buildings thermal performance,

thermocouples were embedded in eight strategic locations

one inch from the inner and outer surfaces of the exterior

walls. Data was recorded on a computer every 15 minutes

over a period of a year. This was helpful in understanding

where heat transfer was significant so adjustments could be

made. One zone with south and west exposure consumedpower disproportionately29% of the HVAC power used

for 11% of the building floor space. Planting shade trees on

Three-Way

Valve

Three-Way Valve(Solar bypass)

DrainValve

DrainValve

DrainValve

DrainValve

T&PReleaseValve

T&PReleaseValve

VacuumBreaker

Solar Collector / Storage:Thermal Conversion Technology,

PT 40 CN,4 x 8 ft., 40 gal.

Backup Heater:Bosch, 2400E-LP,

170,000 Btu,propane-fired,

on-demand(tankless)

ExpansionTank

TemperingValve

ColdSupply In

Hot toHouse

BOSCH

Note: Only one completesystem shown

Del FierroSHW System

Above left: At first glance, this collector looks like a typical flat-plate unit. However, this is a batch-type collectora progressive-

tube, integrated storage/collector. Two (only one shown) each hold 40 gallons of water, eliminating the need for a separate storagetank. (Note: These are only used in nonfreezing climates.) Above right: The system has only a few simple components beyond the

collectorsan expansion tank and backup tankless heater.

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those sides of the house largely corrected this problem. It

was also found that the default settings on the heat pumps

caused the variable-speed fan motors to operate all the time,

which was unnecessary for comfort. Filters were changed

more frequently and a fan was added to the cooling tower,

and used in the spring and early summer months, providing

needed humidity. Implementing these strategies reduced the

zone to 19%.

About a cord of wood was burned in the fireplace during

the coldest months, reducing the nighttime heating load.These changes had no effect on lifestyle and helped keep us

under the winter HVAC budget by about 4%.

PV production was improved by fixing a tracker problem

and replacing several defective PV modules. Three module

failures affected three strings of modules. With two identical

systems, its easy to spot a problem. Trees were removed

that had grown and shaded one of the arrays during the late-

afternoon hours. We also cleaned the surface of the modules

more frequently, resulting in improving PV production from

12,317 kWh annually to 13,307 kWh.

The SHW systems consist of two 40-gallon ICS batch units at

each end of the house, backed up by Bosch propane on-demandunits. The systems performance can be measured by the backup

fuel that hasnt been used. The 300-gallon underground propane

tank was filled to 80% of capacity at

move-in. It has never been refilled, and

today its just under 60% full. That means

about 60 gallons of LPG was used in 32

months (or 1.9 gallons per month). This

consumption also includes a frequently

used gas grill, which I suspect accounts

for most of the gas usage.

This put us within 2% of our objective

of meeting 90% of our energy needs

without any compromise in lifestyle. We

could squeeze out the last bit by managing

computer systems, entertainment systems,

and the phantom loads.

AccessA UCLA physics graduate, Edward A. Marue

designs off-grid power systems for remote

communications and border security sites. He

is also a principal in Solar Lava Development

Company, specializing in advanced green

design and construction.

Deep roof overhangs provide ample shade for outdoor spaces.

Additional thermal mass in the concrete floors and earthen clay wall finish helps

mitigate temperature swings in interior spaces.

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HP148 Pg64 Marue