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The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 9, 2006 - 27 SPRING HOME & GARDEN How about a life of sunshine and straw? Building an energy-efficient, solar-powered home in the country Lots of people talk about how they'd between one- and two-inches thick. For site-felled trees, and others are clad in love to build an energy-efficient, solar- esthetic reasons, the interior plastered barn board reclaimed from a tumblepowered home in the country some day. wall surfaces have a finish coat of lime down barn on the property. "There's also Few manage to complete the project with mixed with marble dust. Wood frame some drywall in the back rooms and en style, elegance and the kind of attention interior partition walls are covered with suite, but we hate it and try to pretend to quality than Glen Hunter and Joanne tongue-and-groove boards milled from it's not there," says Hunter. Sokolowski. When Hunter and Sokolowski traded the bustle of their Toronto lifestyle for a place in the country, they were determined to build a durable, energy efficient straw bale home using expert input and leading-edge technologies. The first thing you need to understand is the home's energy systems. The site is 1,000 metres from the nearest power lines, but that doesn't interfere with Hunter and Sokolowski's modern lifestyle. A 1kW SouthWest Wind Power H80 wind each turbine and an array of photovoltaic panels deliver electricity to a bank of eight, deep-cycle 1,100 amp-hour Surrette batteries, wired in series to Centro create a 48-volt DC power supply. An 4000 inverter changes this into 110 volt 3-burner AC power that's fed into a convenBBQ tional breaker box and wiring system 64,6000 total BTU. 776-sq in total that extends throughout the house. Picnic Table/Bench cooking surface. The batteries are stored in a ventilatMaximixes yard space when Stainless-steel, Uyou're entertaining guests with burner. Electronic pulse ed box to safely deal with the hydroits unique 2-in-1 design. Changes from a picnic ignition. 85-1102-0. gen off-gassing that's produced while table into a 3-person bench in one simple motion. Natural-gas model. Only at Canadian Tire. 76-1433-4 charging the lead-acid batteries. 85-1106-2 ...549.99 Domestic hot water is heated in two glycol-charged rooftop panels each that capture sunlight over a 64 square foot area. Space heating is mostly solar, too, thanks to the south- facing window wall built into Muskoka Chair Roses this super-insulated, straw bale White. 76-1412-4. Reg. 59.99 Rose lovers! We Other Muskoka Chairs structure. have a wonderful 76-1422X. Reg. 49.99-69.99. Straw bales were used for infill selection of Each 39.99-55.99 assorted rose material within wood frames. bushes, shrubs or The Mosquito climbing varieties. Interior and exterior surfaces of the Strong, healthy, Catcher straw bale walls on the beautiful and ready A specialized blue light to attract and to thrive in your trap those flying pests! No flame, propane Hunter/Sokolowski home are plasor pesticides needed, making it safe to use garden. All in around kids and pets. 2-gallon pots. tered with two coats of stucco Only at Canadian 33-5300X Tire. 59-3680-4. cement, creating a protective layer 9.99 "We're doing things like using LED lights and putting all our appliances and electronics on switches to eliminate phantom electrical loads caused by transformers and adaptors." - News Canada Lets get started Annuals, Vegetables, Perennials, Trees & Shrubs Now in stock! $ $ 499 99 99 99 $ 19 99 each set 10piece BBQ set Stainless steel. With case. 85-1898-6. Reg. 49.99 $ 11 99 $ 47 99 $ 137 99 Tulip Gazebo 10'x10'. Scalloped taupe canopy. 88-1354-4. Reg. 229.99 Tulip Arbour With gate. Sturdy metal with antiqued finish. 62 x 20 x 84"h. 59-1708-4. Reg. 199.99 $ 29 99 May not be exactly s shown. $ 3 99 $ 79 99 DUNDAS & TRAFALGAR ROAD 400 Dundas St. East · 257-TIRE STORE HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8:00am-9:00pm Sat. 8:00am-7:00pm Sun. 9:00am-6:00pm OAKTOWN SHOPPING PLAZA 550 Kerr Street · 844-0202 STORE HOURS: Mon. -Fri. 8:00am-9:00pm Sat. 8:00am-7:00pm Sun. 9:00am-6:00pm Sale prices in effect Saturday, June 10 to Friday, June 16, 2006. While quantities last.