General Information
A new house is growing in Urbana Illinois in the Beringer Commons subdivision at 2908 E Haydon Dr. Called the Equinox House because
of the special “equinox” overhang design for its passive solar windows, the superinsulated, supersealed house will be fully powered by
solar energy. In addition to powering the house, the solar energy collection system will also provide sufficient energy to power an electric
car 6000 to 9000 miles per year. And if that’s not enough, the solar energy system will supply electrical power to build the house.
The Equinox House is a building project undertaken by the Richardsons and Newells of Urbana. Ivan Richardson and his sons Brian and
Brad, are progressive home builders who construct high quality, energy efficient homes. The Richardsons continually strive to use the
most modern construction methods such as “insulated concrete forms”, or ICF, that is known for being an exceptionally well insulated,
sealed and sturdy building construction method. Ben Newell is a mechanical engineer and President of Newell Instruments, an
engineering research and development firm in Urbana involved in the design, construction and testing of air conditioning and refrigeration
systems ranging from ice makers for appliance manufacturers to high tech air conditioning systems for military fighter jets. Ty Newell, also
a mechanical engineer, is Ben’s father and Vice President of Newell Instruments. Ty is Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering,
retiring from the University of Illinois in 2007. He has worked in solar energy and building energy systems for 35 years.
Together, the Richardsons and Newells are building the Equinox House for Debra and Ty Newell, who will own and live in the Equinox
House. The Equinox House demonstrates that a solar powered home can be constructed in the Midwest in a cost effective manner. The
Midwest is one of the most challenging climates in the country with summertime heat and humidity that rivals New Orleans, and arctic
blasts plunging down from the north in the winter.
Jean Ascoli, an Urbana-based architect, designed the Equinox House. Jean is a LEED AP Architect (US Green Building Council’s
Leadership in Energy and Environment Design Accredited Professional) and a Passive House certified design professional with many
years of experience ranging from Taliesin Associates (an architecture firm established by Frank Lloyd Wright) to working as an architect at
the University of Illinois where she oversaw the UI’s first building to apply for LEED accreditation.
Jim French, a Civil and Structural Engineer located in Urbana, designed the structural elements required to combine the ICF foundation
with the SIPs (structural insulation panels) wall and roof elements together. Among Jim’s recent green design projects are the two-axis
solar tracking array structure that powers Newell Instruments laboratory facility and the upcoming green roof structure for the Art and
Design Department on the University of Illinois campus.
Description of the Equinox House
The Equinox House is a four bedroom, two and a half bath, single story floor plan with an open kitchen, dining, and living area. ICF wall
construction is used for the foundation walls. Above ground level, 12 inch thick SIPs wall panels are mounted on top of the ICF foundation
walls. The metal covered roof is also constructed with 12 inch thick SIPs panels, which allows the roof to span up to 16 feet without
intermediate support. The 8.2kW solar collector array is mounted on a berm at the north end of the yard, however the Equinox House
design has been developed for accommodating roof mounted solar arrays as well.
A primary market for the Equinox House design are retiring baby boomers who would like an easy to maintain home with sufficient space
to entertain family and friends. The cost effective solar powered home also provides the baby boomer generation with the ability to
achieve their long desired goal of a sustainable lifestyle.
Primary design features of the Equinox House are:
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=2524edd7f6d04cd7421a5613ca768ac0
Visitors can “tour” the interior and exterior of the house using Google Sketchup.
A new house is growing in Urbana Illinois in the Beringer Commons subdivision at 2908 E Haydon Dr. Called the Equinox House because
of the special “equinox” overhang design for its passive solar windows, the superinsulated, supersealed house will be fully powered by
solar energy. In addition to powering the house, the solar energy collection system will also provide sufficient energy to power an electric
car 6000 to 9000 miles per year. And if that’s not enough, the solar energy system will supply electrical power to build the house.
The Equinox House is a building project undertaken by the Richardsons and Newells of Urbana. Ivan Richardson and his sons Brian and
Brad, are progressive home builders who construct high quality, energy efficient homes. The Richardsons continually strive to use the
most modern construction methods such as “insulated concrete forms”, or ICF, that is known for being an exceptionally well insulated,
sealed and sturdy building construction method. Ben Newell is a mechanical engineer and President of Newell Instruments, an
engineering research and development firm in Urbana involved in the design, construction and testing of air conditioning and refrigeration
systems ranging from ice makers for appliance manufacturers to high tech air conditioning systems for military fighter jets. Ty Newell, also
a mechanical engineer, is Ben’s father and Vice President of Newell Instruments. Ty is Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering,
retiring from the University of Illinois in 2007. He has worked in solar energy and building energy systems for 35 years.
Together, the Richardsons and Newells are building the Equinox House for Debra and Ty Newell, who will own and live in the Equinox
House. The Equinox House demonstrates that a solar powered home can be constructed in the Midwest in a cost effective manner. The
Midwest is one of the most challenging climates in the country with summertime heat and humidity that rivals New Orleans, and arctic
blasts plunging down from the north in the winter.
Jean Ascoli, an Urbana-based architect, designed the Equinox House. Jean is a LEED AP Architect (US Green Building Council’s
Leadership in Energy and Environment Design Accredited Professional) and a Passive House certified design professional with many
years of experience ranging from Taliesin Associates (an architecture firm established by Frank Lloyd Wright) to working as an architect at
the University of Illinois where she oversaw the UI’s first building to apply for LEED accreditation.
Jim French, a Civil and Structural Engineer located in Urbana, designed the structural elements required to combine the ICF foundation
with the SIPs (structural insulation panels) wall and roof elements together. Among Jim’s recent green design projects are the two-axis
solar tracking array structure that powers Newell Instruments laboratory facility and the upcoming green roof structure for the Art and
Design Department on the University of Illinois campus.
Description of the Equinox House
The Equinox House is a four bedroom, two and a half bath, single story floor plan with an open kitchen, dining, and living area. ICF wall
construction is used for the foundation walls. Above ground level, 12 inch thick SIPs wall panels are mounted on top of the ICF foundation
walls. The metal covered roof is also constructed with 12 inch thick SIPs panels, which allows the roof to span up to 16 feet without
intermediate support. The 8.2kW solar collector array is mounted on a berm at the north end of the yard, however the Equinox House
design has been developed for accommodating roof mounted solar arrays as well.
A primary market for the Equinox House design are retiring baby boomers who would like an easy to maintain home with sufficient space
to entertain family and friends. The cost effective solar powered home also provides the baby boomer generation with the ability to
achieve their long desired goal of a sustainable lifestyle.
Primary design features of the Equinox House are:
- 1) Superinsulated construction with ICF (insulated concrete form) foundation and 12 inch thick SIPs (structural insulated panels)
for roof and walls.
2) Passive solar design featuring high performance clerestory windows with “equinox” overhang design for maximizing winter
solar gain while minimizing summer solar heating. The clerestories provide excellent quality interior daylighting that avoids direct
solar glare into the living space.
3) “CERV” (conditioning energy recovery ventilator) home conditioning system, an efficient multi-function heat pump technology
developed by Newell Instruments for fresh air ventilation, heating, cooling, dehumidification, and water heating.
4) Barrier free construction with no steps or stairs and with ADA room and bathroom access designs.
5) “Clean surface” interiors (no wall-to-wall carpets or draperies) and low VOC (volatile organic compounds) furnishings and
finishes for reduced allergenic and asthmatic indoor environment and improved indoor air quality.
6) LED lighting throughout the house for efficient, long lasting, mercury free illumination.
7) No natural gas combustion appliance sources for reduced indoor air pollution and increased occupant safety.
8) 8.2kW solar photovoltaic array for providing all house energy and sufficient energy for 6000 to 9000 miles of electric vehicle
transportation per year. The solar panels are “ground mount” and will provide the energy required to build the house.
9) A rainwater collection system and a 1700 gallon underground cistern designed to provide 80 percent of a family of four’s
annual water requirements in central Illinois.
10) Drought resistant gardens featuring native prairie plants throughout the yard.
11) Minimized construction site waste using material efficient construction technologies (ICF and SIPs), and extensive
construction site materials recycling.
12) A novel equinox sundial feature incorporated into the cedar siding of the east and west sidewalls that allows one to
determine the time of year and time of day during sunny conditions.
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=2524edd7f6d04cd7421a5613ca768ac0
Visitors can “tour” the interior and exterior of the house using Google Sketchup.
Equinox House construction blog here
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| © 2009 Newell Instruments |
Access Equinox House drawings below