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Solar Harvest Farm Steve & Michelle Heyer Richie, Sheri & Sarah 7432 Marsh Road, Waterford, WI 53185
Phone: 262-662-5278 · Email: solarharvestfarm@yahoo.com Website: www.solarharvestfarm.com

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Living & Farming With Energy Produced Onsite
Note: This page is historical, referencing our first PV system, bought in 1992 then moved to this farm.
Additional PV has since been added with performance notes found here.

Year Home Built

1996

Home Heating System

Solar/Geothermal

Home Electrical System

Solar/Wind Hybrid

PV Array Peak KW

1.3 KW

Wind Generator Peak KW

1.0 KW

Conventional Furnace

None

Backup Heat

Wood Parlor Stove

Hot Water

Instantaneous LP

Avg Monthly Home & Farm Elec Bill

$19

Avg Monthly Home LP Bill

$18

Avg Monthly Farm LP Bill

$23

Home Occupants

2 adults, 3 Teens

Farm Energy Demand - # Beef

45 Head

Farm Energy Demand - # Hogs

100 Hogs

Farm Energy Demand - # Chickens

3000

South Glass Btu gain/sunny day

732,000 Btu’s

Summary: The energy demands of 2 adults, 3 teens, 65 beef, 100 hogs and 3000 chickens, (including energy required to brood and process these chickens) equates to an average monthly expenditure of $60. For the sake of comparison to non-farm households, segregating farm from household , our combined household electric/LP expense is $20/month. Energy efficient design, conservation, solar electric, wind energy, passive solar, geothermal and wood backup heat are the factors which have been combined to make this happen.

This home design can be left unattended indefinitely in the coldest winters of Wisconsin with no solar or backup heat. The interior temperature will not drop below 50 degrees F (typically 56-60F) as it moderates to the geothermal temperature of the soil below it.