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| 1. |
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
More
than 50% of a conventionally built home's energy is
used for space and water heating. The owners of this
home avoid much of those costs thanks to intelligent
siting that maximizes heating through passive solar
gain in the winter (1, 3). A large solar water heater
provides ample hot water for the household in all
seasons; the heater is designed to be adjusted with
the changing angle of the sun, but the owners found
that this feature made the water too hot and so now
leave it in place (1). A beautifully designed skylight
with adjustable louver allows for manual variations
of light and heat into the house (2). Note the locally
harvested vigas and wood used in the roof design (2).
Green
materials, techniques, & features: insulated,
bermed stone masonry; post and beam; ferro-cement
roof and floor; solar heat; solar hot water; composting
toilet; recycled materials; summer shading via vegetation;
gray water reuse, rainwater catchment.
Utilities
and cost: These homeowners spend approximately
1/5 as much on utilities as a standard, similar-sized
house. Construction cost was $18/sq. ft., (1985$).
Advice
from the homeowners: Spend twice as much time
simplifying your plans as you do initially creating
them. Site for more efficient rainwater catchment.
Design composting toilet for optimal oxygenation by
designing it in an elevated position. The owners chose
not to install a photovoltaic system because they
believe they require more energy to make, buy, and
maintain than hooking up to the grid does.
| Passive-Solar
Earth Villa |
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| 1. |
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
The
creative freedom of the sculpted adobe method allows
for the organic, flowing shapes shown here in the
kitchen and dining room of this passive solar home
(1). South-facing windows along the length of the
house provide most of the heat, while insulated panels
put up during the heat of the day in summer keep the
room cool until they are removed again in the evening.
The wall made from discarded TV's and mud is an example
of creative reuse of waste, and a vivid reminder of
the huge quantities of electronic devices that would
otherwise end up in the landfill (2). The adobe bathtub
was molded by hand into the desired shape then tiled
over using water-resistant grout (3).
Green
materials, techniques, & features: poured
and sculpted adobe; local vigas; salvaged lintels
and windows; recycled materials; passive solar and
wood heat; composting commode used from 1980-2001;
solar hot water "pre-heater"; solar-wood
spa.
Cost
and utilities: Around $15,000 for materials and
construction in 1982. $7/sq foot.
Advice
from the homeowners: On-earth construction requires
attention to drainage that non-permeable footing mostly
avoids. Pay a lot of attention to insulation in the
design process
Facts
and terms from: Green Building: Project Planning
& Cost Estimating, RS Means, 2002.
Photos by Marya
Gendron, except where noted.
View the rest
of the exhibit here:
