Fossil fuels like oil, natural gas, and coal (used primarily for electricity generation), are no longer the sole sources of energy for homes today. The third millennium is becoming increasingly more focused on renewable energy sources as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. In fact, PV solar power is one of the cheapest and most […] These homes typically have large windows to capture sunlight and other features that reduce the use of natural resources and increase overall efficiency. The goal is to minimize the carbon footprint of the home. We are proud to be affiliated with architects and designers who consider the minimal impact when designing residences.
SolarActivehouse Active House
Solar powered homes are great for the environment and are safer than conventionally powered homes with less chance of fire. These homes can either be active or passive. Active houses use the sun to run it. Clemson University students designed and built Indigo Pine, a solar-powered abode constructed from CNC-milled interlocking pieces that can be put together by hand without a single nail. Since. Efficient Design Passive Solar Homes Passive solar design takes advantage of a building's site, climate, and materials to minimize energy use. A well-designed passive solar home first reduces heating and cooling loads through energy-efficiency strategies and then meets those reduced loads in whole or part with solar energy. 1. Investigate Your Home's Energy Efficiency Before starting the process of powering your home with solar energy, homeowners should investigate their energy use and consider potential efficiency upgrades.
Top 15 Solar Powered Home Designs, Plus their Costs
Step 1: Assessing Your Energy Needs The first step in designing a solar-powered house is to assess your energy needs. This involves determining the amount of electricity your household uses on a daily basis. By understanding your energy consumption, you can properly size your solar panel system and ensure it meets your requirements. Watch on Solar projects are making it easier for Americans to choose solar energy to power their homes. Department of Energy Since 2008, hundreds of thousands of solar panels have popped up across the country as an increasing number of Americans choose to power their daily lives with the sun's energy. Mike Reynolds Comment Homes heated by the sun's free heat! Passive Solar Houses are aptly named because there are no wires, panels or batteries and nothing to break down. It's just about design, and it isn't a new concept. Humans around the globe have been incorporating passive solar design features into their homes for thousands of years. Browse over 150 sun-tempered and passive solar house plans. Click on PLAN NAME to see floor plans, drawings, and descriptions. (Some plans have photos if the homeowner shared them.) Click on SORT BY to organize by that column. See TIPS for help with plan selection. See SERVICES to create your perfect architectural design.
A SolarPowered Home Worth the Investment? Solar Power
Photo by Mattias Hamrén #1 Sweden's Zero Energy Homes Over in Örebro, Sweden, these prefab two-story homes by Street Monkey Architects are almost completely powered by rooftop solar panels. Four houses face east-west while the other six have a north-south orientation however, each home is perfectly angeled to catch as much sunlight as possible. Warm in winter, cool in summer, daylight year-round using natural energy. The leading source for sun - tempered and passive solar house designs. A Sun Plan uses the natural light and heat of the sun to warm and brighten homes. It connects you to nature with carefully placed windows on all sides of the home. It's sun-inspired and nature-inspired!
From an isolated house in a Californian nature reserve, to a rural house in China that encourages villagers to be self-sufficient, here are 10 off-grid homes where people are living sustainably . Zero-Energy Plans, LLC is the leading provider of proven Energy Efficient home designs to mainstream builders and do-it-yourselfers worldwide.Each of the High Performance Home Designs available through this site will use less than half the energy of a home built to the 2006 IECC, and have roof plans allowing sufficient south facing space for at least 4 KW of photovoltaic solar panels.
Top 15 Solar Powered Home Designs, Plus their Costs
New article in Home Power by Sun Plans architect Coleman gives solar design guides and shows 6 nice sample plans to fit a variety of situations. Sun-Savvy Near Zero Energy Demonstration Home. This was a very active time in passive solar home design, and the plans show a high level of innovation. This is the first 30 -- rest to come as time. Another home on the cutting edge of sustainability and green design also has very traditional architecture. This home includes features such as a passive cooling system (proper shading and the ability to take advantage of natural air movement) and Energy Star compliance (third-party-certified to use 15 percent less energy than allowed by the building and energy code).
