Duke Energy Village

Cliffs Cottage, an ultra-energy-efficient house on Furman University's campus in South Carolina, gives a feel for what the future holds when applying green technologies to residential use. The facility was made possible, in large part, due to Duke Energy's support.

Key Energy Features

A home energy management technology, called GridPoint, is used to monitor energy. The customer and the utility company can check circuits in the house at any point to determine the most efficient use of energy. For example, the customer can tell the computer to turn off those circuits when the family is away.

Multiple solar technologies are used to generate up to 35 kilowatts of electricity and augment water heating. Using the home energy management technology, power can be stored in a battery for use during outages or other emergencies. Power the customer doesn't use can be sold to the utility company – through a net-metering agreement.

Energy efficient appliances and sustainable products are used throughout the house and the surrounding grounds. Double-insulated windows and doors, Icynene spray-foam insulation and spider fiberglass insulation made from recycled materials help create a draft-free facility. Sustainable products range from bamboo flooring and fabrics, to tiles and counter surface materials made from recycled materials, to pervious concrete and pavers that reduce water runoff.

Cliffs Cottage was featured in the June 2008 edition of Southern Living magazine. It will remain open to the public through June 2009. After that, it will serve as Furman's Center for Sustainability.

Check the Cliffs Cottage's Web site for more details.

• Get directions to Furman.
• Schedule a guided tour.
• If you can't get there, take a virtual tour of the architectural rendering.
• Download an audio tour of the site.