Off The Grid

When the Meurers first visited Adaweh Meadows they realized how magical the property was.  They wanted not only an elegantly designed  home with the top of the line attributes, but one with as many green elements  as possible. In view of the location of the home, a plan to build a home off the grid made economic, as well as social sense.

Less than two years ago, when the project was formulated ,the green building industry was in its beginnings.   This project is a case in point of what Jean Paul FIsher says, that  each off the grid solar project is designed on site, as no standard practices have been put in place. 

As the home has evolved, so have the green building practices. When the Meurers interviewed contractors most would tell them they were now taking green classes but had not worked on a green building yet. Cottonwood Homes, general contractors, (Christian Kreer - directing manager), and DMJ/GreenBuilders (owned by the Meurers), have joined their experience and expertise to be on the forefront of the exciting new green building movement.    

The Meurers selected Steve Cuddy, a well -known  local architect.  MCA, his architectural firm, incorporated the Meurer's design ideas with sound architectural practices  that  rose to the beauty and grandeur of the setting,

The solar off the grid planning is no exception.  Jean Paul Fisher Electric and Dennis Meurer designed a unique solar system.

The Adaweh system works off solar panels, with plenty of  room for expansion. Generator and batteries are designed to cover any on-demand or low sunlight conditions. During the star-filled nights, when the sun's solar energy is on the other side of the globe, the energy storage in the  batteries runs the house. If  for any reason the batteries  run low,  the propane generator automatically recharges the batteries. The system is designed to be expanded to wind power.

As the Meurers began the project, they met with Jean- Paul Fisher, an electrical contractor for the Colorado V-Net system. This system is architecturally friendly, and is a smart home company. Home automation,audio,the security system, - is all controlled by touch screen. With the system one can control many aspects of the home including turning off all the lights from one room, programmable music, to opening a garage door.The control system is operated by touch screen mounted on the wall which can control all the systems for a home.

Today the Adaweh Italian Villa is a lovely,generous home which is totally off the grid. The latest technical practices have been used. However, when one visits the lovely site with fabulous views of neighboring vineyards and lush hills, when one tours  this extremely elegant home and sees all the modern conveniences,  the green practices are hardly evident. One only experiences a magnificent villa which blends into the wine country setting, which offers a step into the past of the area's  gracious living now combined with the latest in technology and green practices.