Introduction
The Leonard House sits on a hilltop in Veneta, OR.
This residence takes elements from Japanese architecture, exposing the
timber frame and the intricate joinery. This home is entirely off
grid, utilizing solar photovoltaic panels to supply all electrical power.
Other sustainable features include solar hot water, composting toilets,
grey water recycling for irrigation, and rain water storage in cisterns.
Designed for optimal solar gain, the south facade is primarily glazed to
provide the main living space with some solar heat. During the summer
the large roof overhangs on the south facade provide shade from the high
sun. In addition, a massive masonry wood burning stove is used during
the winter months as the primary source of heat for the Leonards.
Our interest in selecting this house was sparked
by the Eugene Solar Homes Tour 1999. Being an elegant example of
sustainable design, this home offers a variety of opportunities for case
studies. We chose to focus on the on-site combustion heating system
due to it's sparse applications in modern buildings. Our initial
interest after visiting the site was the overall effectiveness of the system
in it's ability to produce a comfortable thermal environment.
Hypothesis
Independent of the outdoor temperature, firing the
wood burning stove for an hour and a half produces a consistent
level of radiant heat for the central living space for a twenty-four
hour period.
