Passive Solar Homes

Passive Solar Homes

From Cecilia

"Carl I want to build a small eco friendly passive solar home. There are so many choices.

Which ones do you think are cheapest to build with the lowest expenditure on utilities?
My goal is to live as softly as possible on the land, and as frugally as possible.

I want to say thanks so much for providing this much needed service!
How very kind of you!

Cecilia,
A ”contractor want to be”.

Hi Cecilia,

Thank you and Good for you!

Yes, there are many choices available.

I think what you need to do is to really study as many of the choices available to the best of your ability, keeping in mind that there isn’t a perfect answer.

Size and design will be the major factors in cost to build as well as energy consumption.

A Passive Solar design need not be any more expensive to build than any other design. Since you will be the General Contractor you can adjust costs in one area to accommodate higher costs in another.

Everything in the building of a house involves and/or requires “tradeoffs”

But, that’s the beauty of being your own General Contractor; you get to study what’s available to you and what’s best for you, your ideals, and of course, your budget.

Here’s a nice Passive Solar plan from Architectural House Plans, Solar Collection.
This particular house is by D.R. Coleman

D.R. Coleman has been a licensed architect since 1984, and has been designing energy efficient and passive solar homes since 1985. In 2002, she received the "Best Practice" Sustainability Award for Residential Buildings from the Sustainable Building Industries Council. Her homes have also been on the National Tour of Solar Homes presented every October by the American Solar Energy Association.

Mountain View
Plan ID Number: DC-007

For some excellent information on Passive Solar, read Passive Solar on www.byoh.com.

As you get further along in your project you may have more questions.
Please feel free to ask.

Best of luck,
Carl