Sustainable Home Building

Living Off The Grid with a “Hybrid” Energy-Efficient Home

Pouwel Gelderloos of Billings, Montana calls his innovative, energy-efficient home design a “hybrid”. The reason: this home is capable of being completely self-sustaining, (off the grid), but is also connected to the grid should the need for additional energy resources arise.

Taking his 30 years of building experience to the next level, he endeavored to design a home that “harvests the elements”. And it does, with great style and without sacrificing modern conveniences. Gelderloos’ goal was to construct an energy-efficient home that would blend in with the community; one he felt had “curb appeal”. The tri-level central structure is octagonal: with wings on each side and an atrium that wraps around the front. The only obvious “green’ elements are solar panels and a wind generator.

Some of the methods employed in the construction of this 3,000 square-foot, energy-efficient home: superior insulation, passive as well as active solar heating, rainwater harvesting, grey water reclamation and redistribution, and energy efficient plumbing products.

The creation of his personal “hybrid” off the grid home has led Gelderloos to form a new company, Oasis Hybrid Homes, which offers floor plans and consultation to others who wish to consider this option. One of the company’s “important ideas” is that “technology is simple, without expensive or hard to get parts and pieces”. This is a quite a story, so be sure to visit the Oasis Hybrid Homes website for detailed information.

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