House of DU Law Professor KK DuVivier Featured October 3 on Colorado Renewable Energy Society Solar Home Tour

The Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) Solar Home Tour on Oct. 3 will feature the house of DU Law Prof. KK DuVivier and her husband Lance Wright. The house (the building details can be seen by clicking here) was designed to meet the very strict standards of the Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS). If it passes the final energy inspections, it will be among the first officially certified “passive houses” in the United States.

According to Prof. DuVivier,

"The PHIUS was established in January of 2008 in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois to promote the European building technique called 'Passiv Haus.' Passive House standards go way beyond the well known passive solar gain techniques of the United States. Their combination of super-insulation (R-40 walls and R-70 ceilings), energy efficient heat recovery ventilation, minimization of thermal bridging, passive solar heat gain, and the careful utilization of highly efficient windows and doors produces a house that is more than the sum of its parts. The typical European Passive House is heated through a combination of: passive solar gain, waste heat from appliances and people, and supplemental heat from devices that use about as much energy as a hand-held hair dryer."

Building a green house was a natural fit for the couple. Lance majored in forestry and began his career as a ranger with the U.S. Forest Service. Later he was involved in politics and served as a member of the Parker, Colorado, City Council. In 2002, he ran for a seat in the U.S. Congress. While he was not successful, his campaign raised the issue of the link between U.S. national security and its energy policies, an idea that has now been adopted nearly everywhere in American politics.

Prof. DuVivier also has had a long-time interest in energy-related issues. She began her career as a geologist for a French uranium exploration company before she attended law school. Today she teaches Energy Law (and Mining Law as well) and writes about renewable energy and energy efficiency.

CRES has sponsored the Denver Tour since 1996. According to CRES, the tour showcases "the latest and greatest in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable green building practices." Among the sponsors is the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which is located in Golden, Colorado, about 25 minutes from the DU campus.

Those interested in seeing Prof. DuVivier's house (and the other houses) can click here to register. I have visited her house several times and it is indeed impressive. Individuals interested in seeing what future homes will look like -- including an electricity meter that often runs backwards meaning that the house is generating electricity that is being returned to the grid! -- should not miss this opportunity. Seldom do we get to see today what tomorrow will look like.