The countertops are solid surface acrylic made from 41% pre-consumer recycled content. The cabinets are made of a rift cut white oak veneer and a composite made of 100% recycled wood manufactured in Indiana. The walls are painted with zero VOC (volatile organic compound) paint.
Energy star appliances, an efficient heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system and a smart control center make the INhome extremely efficient. In your home, turn down the thermostat when you are away and upgrade to energy star appliances to save on energy.
The master bedroom, bathroom, and guest spaces feature efficient fixtures, clerestory windows for natural lighting, and tray ceilings to minimize energy use. In your home, install low-flow devices on your water taps and showers.
The INhome biowall provides natural filtration for the house, harnessing the power of nature to lower environmental impact. In your home, try growing indoor plants for a naturally clean, fresh home.
An open floor plan, energy-efficient windows, and utilizing natural daylight help conserve energy in the INhome. In your home, look into replacing windows with energy-saving ones – you may qualify for a tax credit!
Midwestern styling, insulated wall panels, indoor/outdoor space, and an attached garage make the INhome energy efficient and comfortable from the outside-in. In your home, think about how you can maximize your energy efficiency, while reducing your energy consumption.
Photovoltaic panels generate a surplus of energy during the day which is sold back to the local electric utility. At night, the INhome draws a small amount of energy from the electric utility. In your home, you can harness the power of the sun by utilizing natural daylight instead of artificial light.
Efficient. Practical. Essential. The INhome (short for Indiana home) features efficient systems and sustainable design without sacrificing modern comforts and amenities. The INhome is a fully functional, yet practical net-zero energy home designed for a typical Midwestern consumer in today’s cost-competitive residential market. With the depletion of natural resources and increasing use of energy worldwide, efficient home design is essential to our country’s energy security and future prosperity. The INhome is one vision for future residential housing. Team Purdue encourages you to use these efficient, practical, and essential ideas, "From INhome to YOURhome". (Roll over the icons on the map to view more information)
The private core includes a master bedroom and office. A notable design feature of the master bedroom is the access to a west-facing porch, where homeowners can peacefully watch the sunset together. The master bedroom also includes direct access to the full bathroom for privacy. The office was designed with consideration of a growing young family in mind. Direct access to a private north porch is ideal for relaxation.
The mechanical core houses the plumbing, HVAC, and controlled systems. The design minimizes connection points and materials by housing the systems close together, thus creating a more efficient design. This core features a biowall, which filters the air through the utilization of plants. A full bathroom completes the mechanical core and includes two sinks allowing multiple occupants to utilize the space simultaneously.
The public core was designed to allow interaction between occupants in multiple spaces. An open floor plan between the living room, dining room, and kitchen areas makes the home feel larger while facilitating a comfortable and inviting space. The vaulted ceilings add to the grandeur of the public core by opening up the space vertically.
INhome's exterior structure is comprised of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS), which provide several benefits in comparison to traditional wood-framed construction. SIPS provide superior insulated properties and prevent unwanted air leakage, resulting in a well-sealed construction.
One practical method to make solar powered residences a reality and cost-effective is to rely on passive systems. Passive design utilizes natural processes for heating, cooling, and lighting. In order to benefit from passive daylighting, the INhome is designed to face south, maximizing sunlight exposure. Passive air ventilation from a mixture of automated and manual windows provides cooling when needed. Passive heating design helps to maintain indoor temperatures during the winter without relying on energy usage from the HVAC system.
YouTube- Walkthrough - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtXfMc5uMYs
YouTube- Fine Homebuilding and Green Building Advisor Meet the 2011 Solar Decathlon - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViF1quOVZHk
YouTube- Lee Causey Discussing INhome's Controls - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O91New6UYz0&NR=1
YouTube- INhomes's Biowall Light Installation - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_ciPiG-08o
YouTube- INhome's HVAC Installation - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrK4Sqjxtho
Project Manual-
A 1300 page document describing everything in the home. It includes specifications, construction drawings, and user manuals.
Construction Drawings-
Complete set of drawing used to build the INhome.
From the approach to the property, a visitor is directed toward the front door via an ADA ramp enclosed by stained wood planters and massing’s of low native Indiana grasses. Once in contact with the entryway, wood decking matching the interior flooring creates a synergistic relationship between the interior and exterior spaces. Planter boxes filled with native Indiana plants soften the space, creating a stage of traditional mid-western experience.
As the tour weaves through the house into the mechanical area and garage, the landscape experience is highlighted by a private rear yard deck accessible through a rear garage door leading to the northeastern, shaded side of the property. Movable wood planters, native grasses, and outdoor furniture create a relaxing retreat away from the houses main exposure to the front yard.
Through the office, past the bathroom, and out the master bedroom, the final phase of tour comes to a close. The guests exit the master bedroom into the private lounge area located on the west. Here again, native grasses, flowering potted vines, and stained wood decking pull together the experience of weaving in and throughout the house in a comfortable garden setting. An exit ramp with ADA railing leads the visitors back down to the front lawn.
The INhome exhibits a number of cutting-edge technologies in its mechanical systems, all of which can be effectively and economically implemented in many residential applications. An air-to-air heat pump serves as the primary heating and cooling source for the INhome, boasting a top of-the-line seasonal energy efficiency rating up to 19 SEER. A variable speed air handling unit modulates air flow throughout the house through carefully placed ductwork within the INhome's conditioned space. The duct layout also allows for conservation of warm and cool air as it is distributed throughout the home.
1- Biowall
2- Trane Hyperion 8 air handling unit
3- Trane FreshEffects energy recovery ventilator
4- Trane XL20i heat pump
To ensure optimum indoor air quality, a multi-process air purification system removes airborne particulate, allergens, and other contaminants. An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) provides fresh-air ventilation inside the home when needed. Additionally, the ERV pre-conditions incoming air, reducing the energy used by the HVAC heat pump to condition this air to room temperature.
The biowall is a home air filtration system that utilizes plants placed in a vertical wall, which remove harmful chemicals that can accumulate in homes that are tightly sealed like the INhome. Click here to learn more about the biowall.
The INhome is powered by a 9.0 kW solar photovoltaic system that annually produces as much electricity as the INhome consumes, allowing the INhome to reach net-zero. The photovoltaic system is driven by 36, 240-watt panels. Excess electricity can be sold back to the power utility company during times of high production.
Throughout the house, high efficiency appliances and equipment give expected modern comforts of a homeowner. For example, a heat pump hot water heater uses the surrounding ambient air inside the home to produce hot water, resulting in energy savings over standard water heaters. The clothes washer and dryer communicate with each other, precisely determining the proper drying time for each specific load.
With the advanced INhome central control system, any smart phone can remotely and securely operate the door locks, change the temperature settings, turn on lighting, and display electrical consumption. A web-enabled touchscreen controller functions as the thermostat, but it can also provide up to date weather information and many other features.
The most unique feature of the INhome is the biowall. The biowall is a home air filtration system that utilizes plants placed in a vertical wall, which remove harmful chemicals that can accumulate in homes that are tightly sealed like the INhome. Air from the home is drawn through the plant wall where the chemicals are removed by the plants and used as a food source. The wall requires very little maintenance and is even designed to water itself. The biowall improves the air quality in the home, saves energy, and provides a calming ambiance by bringing nature inside the home.
Starting in 2009, a dedicated team of Purdue University students started working towards the goal of competing in the United States Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon, a high profile international competition where 20 collegiate teams design, build, and demonstrate solar powered houses. While the competitive aspect of the Solar Decathlon was exciting, the real goal was to educate college students and the general public about sustainable communities. The competition was held in on the National Mall in Washington D.C. from September 23 to October 2, 2011.
The INhome finished in 2nd place overall during the competition, which consisted of 10 individual contests: architecture, market appeal, engineering, communications, affordability, comfort zone, hot water, appliances, home entertainment, and energy balance. In addition to the contests, the INhome was open to the public for tours and hosted more than 18,000 guests during its stay in our nation's capital.
For more information on the 2011 competition, please visit the Department of Energy's 2011 solar decathlon website: http://www.solardecathlon.gov/past/2011/
| Applied Engineering Services | ASHRAE -Central Indiana Chapter | Builders Association of Greater Lafayette | Christopher Management |
| Lacquis Engineering | Ralph Power | Jeff and Marta Kultgen | Arkor |
| Purdue Research Foundation | Scholer | Staging Thru Design | Zoeller Pumps |
| Bill Bombassaro | Curt Hill | Steve Easley | Porter Paints |
| Madmen Creative | Douglas Gard | Homeworks | Clopay |
| Viega | Gilbert Family | Ivy Tech | Nick Agopian |
| Electric Consumer Online, 03.20.12 | Journal and Courier, 04.01.12 | Exponent Video, 08.30.11 | WFLI, 08.29.11 | J & C, 08.27.11 | Lafayette Mag, 08.17.11 (PDF) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| WFLI, 08.08.11 | Times of NW Indiana, 01.29.12 | Ingersoll Rand, 07.15.11 (PDF) | Purdue News, 06.27.11 | WLFI 18 News, 06.17.11 | Difference Makers, 06.01.11 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
"This project has been an amazing experience! It has brought students together from all across campus to work on a project where everyone's input is critical to achieving success. Not only have we as students designed and created an incredible home, but we've also learned how to communicate and work with others outside our colleges and areas of expertise, which has been a valuable opportunity to grow."- Matt Hebdon, Structural Engineer
"The Solar Decathlon is teaching, encouraging, and training an intelligent and proactive group of future professionals. Adapting to live with different forms of energy is essential. This new way of life can come from increasing high costs of electricity or passionate pleas to save the environment. Whatever reason is the cause, it is necessary to prepare for a new way of living. It is possible and can be done through projects just like the Solar Decathlon." – Jordan Wallpe, Engineering Manager
YouTube- Interview with a general audience member http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdt8fnTPGJA
YouTube- Purdue INhome, Hope in the Future- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pEHs4K3V5g
YouTube- Purdue INhome, Impressive Design- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8MOosOxkDA
YouTube- Purdue INhome, Practical Design- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViF1quOVZHk
"I've always said I wanted to have a house like this and I've done a lot of research into it myself, in terms of what techniques and systems I would use in my own house and this definitely used a lot of them." -attendant from Inhome public tour August 26th
May 2011 Newsletter (PDF) |
June 2011 Newsletter (PDF) |
July 2011 Newsletter (PDF) |
Aug 2011 Newsletter (PDF) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Click on an image to open its photo album...
Tips for your Kids (PDF)
Tips for your Teens (PDF)
To maximize savings with a laptop, put the AC adapter on a power strip that can be turned off (or will turn off automatically); the transformer in the AC adapter draws power continuously, even when the laptop is not plugged into the adapter.
Let your dishes air dry; if you don't have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open slightly so the dishes will dry faster.
Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the manufacturer's recommendations on water temperature; many have internal heating elements that allow you to set the water heater in your home to a lower temperature (120°F).
Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
| Architecture | Engineering | Marketing | Walkthrough |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The College of Technology is pursuing several new opportunities for designing and building net zero energy homes in the greater Lafayette area. More information will be posted here as it becomes available.
The INhome was rebuilt in Lafayette’s Chatham Square neighborhood and sold. The homeowners may decide to show the house to the public at times.
The home will be monitored for 5 years after occupancy to assess whether the home achieves net zero energy, which means that the solar panels produce more electricity than the home consumes on an annual basis.
Construction Manager
Eric Holt
eaholt@purdue.edu
Faculty Advisor
William Hutzel
hutzelw@purdue.edu
Purdue University
Knoy Hall, Room 107
401 North Grant St.
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2021
