Property Description
752 Willow Patch Lane, Bellvue, Colorado
from the owner:
This custom designed and custom built 4000 sq. ft. passive solar home is located on 35 private
acres. It is "off-grid", meaning no outside utility providers or utility bills. Completely
self-sufficient living! No concerns about power outages or utility rate increases.
This two-story reinforced concrete structure, with 10 to 12 inch thick walls, was built into the
hillside creating earthen berms on three sides providing thermal control of the living space. The
south facing solarium contains a heat absorbing Trombe wall which together with the heavy concrete
walls and floor, stores thermal energy keeping the space warm. This highly efficient thermal design
stabilizes the home's interior temperature keeping it at approximately 70 degrees year-round. For
this reason, there is no need for a conventional furnace or air conditioner and the associated
maintenance and costs. In the event the home's temperature drops into the 60's, there is a propane
fueled stove in the living room offering a secondary heat source.
Adjacent to the rear of the house, is a detached 1000 sq. ft., two car garage which also houses the
active solar power system. The solar electric system consists of eighteen 200 Watt Sharp solar
panels producing a total of 3.6 kW of power managed by a top-of-the-line Outback Power control
panel. It contains power circuit breakers, charge controllers for the battery bank, and inverters.
Power supplied to the house includes both 120 VAC through a standard 200 amp circuit breaker box
and 24 VOC for the water pumps. Most of the high efficiency appliances and services like lighting
and TV run on 120 VAC. The exceptions are a few higher power appliances like the cooktop, oven,
clothes dryer and fireplace/stove which run on propane. However, very little propane is used. The
Absolyte battery bank backup consists of twelve 2 VDC batteries in a stack for a 24 VOC system. For
the total house power that we use, this battery bank provides enough capacity to run the house for
about 4 days when there is less than fun sun, like cloudy or rainy days.
Lifespan expectations for the solar panels is at least 25 years, with later life output at least
80% of the rated power. The panels were installed and were functional and operational in early
2007.
The Absolyte battery bank has a life expectancy of 20 years and was replaced in 2016.
Hot water is supplied by two solar thermal panels and line pumps that circulate hot water into a
110 gallon hot water tank in the mechanical room where the temperature is automatically controlled.
Water is supplied by a 500 foot deep well with a DC deep well pump that uses only 200 watts of
electricity. It is stored in a 500 gallon cistern in the mechanical room. The water is transferred
by a DC surface pump into a 25 gallon pressure tank for household use.
Wastewater goes into a 1000 gallon septic tank and into a leach field.
Additional features:
This site was selected not only for its favorable orientation for passive and active solar systems,
but also for its proximity to Loveland and Fort Collins as well as the views over the valley and
the Rockies.
The 35 acres provides privacy as well as ample space and grazing for horses or other livestock.
Full masonry construction, concrete, stone and stucco along with a full metal roof make this home
highly fire resistant and insurance friendly.
The open floor plan with its large primary bedroom and adjacent bath allow for single level living.
The upper 2ⁿᵈ "bunk room" easily sleeps 4 adults. The upper level holds several options for
creating a third bedroom. The current septic system is adequately sized to accommodate a third
bedroom.
Adjacent to the two-car garage on the main level is a 500 sq. ft. workshop and a 200 sq. ft.
mechanical room holding a 500 gallon cistern and 110 gallon hot water heater.
Willow Patch Lane is a private road used only by the adjacent landowners. There is no formal road
use agreement. The road does provide access to the Eagle Canyon State Trust, a section of land
owned by the State, referred to locally as the "school property". It is available for hiking or
trail riding and creates a connection to national forest lands.
There are elk, deer and turkey hunting opportunities in the area, including on your own property,
however, hunting is regulated by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department.
Energy Cost Breakdown
| Other | Value: 0 Description: Both passive and active solar systems |
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