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Our Cool House
A Maryland adventure in Energy Smart, Not So Big living.

Welcome to Phil and Lisa Malone's Home Page...... literally!  
This web site is all about our cool house at Deep Creek Lake (Mc Henry) in Garrett County,  Maryland.  

You can also see how to use my Web Energy Logger system to monitor your own home, school or business.

Our Adventure: Rather than building a traditional Energy-Hog home, or even a non-traditional Energy-Efficient home, our new home is a unique fusion of energy efficient techniques, and environmental sanity. Our goal was to create a home that uses the sun, earth and water to create a pleasant living environment where we can enjoy the wildlife, and which also reduces our demands on non-sustainable resources.  I think we succeeded!

 Our COOL design integrates the following energy systems:
Passive Solar heating and cooling.
Earth Sheltered design.
Geothermal Exchange for active heating and passive cooling.
Radiant Hydronic Slab for energy storage and distribution.
Fresh air system using Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV).
  Real-Time online HVAC system monitoring (see live data).
Construction is complete.  
View the
Exterior and Interior pictures.
 

Spring Update    

Despite a couple of below-freezing overnights (and a day of snow) spring finally seems have arrived at Garrett County.  The Daffodils are blooming and the Golden Finches are appearing on the feeders.  We've seen our resident Groundhog climbing trees around the yard, but we're not sure exactly why (food or surveying).  No bears yet, so we fear that two years of hunting has trimmed their numbers to the point that they aren't showing their faces around population centers any more.  I know that was the reason for the hunts, but it's disappointing that man has so easily reverted to the behavior that nearly made them extinct many years back.

1) WEB Energy Logger applications are continuing to expand.  The new design is working well, and people are starting to add their locations to the new interactive "WEL World" map I've created.

2) Garrett Engineering And Robotics Society (GEARS) is continuing it's success supporting local robotics activities.  I'm about to head of to Atlanta Georgia with two of my teams to compete in the FIRST Robotics Championship taking place in the Georgia Dome.  10,000 kids will be competing in three different competitions over a three day period.

Phil.

To find out more about our goals and how we got to where we are now, use the left-hand menu to navigate the site.  Starting at the top of the menu and working down is a great way to get oriented. The newest site features are usually indicated by a flashing finger.  If you are considering a similar construction project, MAKE SURE you check out our Links Page. (We have some great resources listed there.)   To listen to some of my specific Energy Efficiency Audio Feeds, check out my Podcasting page.

BTW.... if you know someone that might also find this site interesting, use the button in the menu to pass on our address and your own comments. 

 

© 2000-2008, Phil and Lisa's relaxed lifestyle home.
An exercise in Energy Smart, Not So Big living.
www.OurCoolHouse.com - Ideas@OurCoolHouse.com

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Web OurCoolHouse.com

This site is all about building a cool, energy efficient house, that makes maximum use of earth sheltered design, passive solar heating and cooling, geothermal exchange energy management, and right sizing of the house for it's designated use. The home's placement is on a south-facing hillside in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. This site describes the design process, the technologies used and the expected results. We also have a comprehensive Links Page for anyone who is also interested in designing a similar project.