Foundation:
The foundation is an insulated slab on grade utilizing a shallow frost design.
The concrete slab works as solar thermal storage as well as a good medium for placing the tubing of the radiant heating system.

Framing:
The framing has been designed for simple quick cost effective construction.
Wall and roof framing are modeled after Advanced Framing Techniques. Utilizing a stacked 2-foot on center wall studs and roof truss design which minimizes lumber resources and cost while insuring an extremely strong building frame.
All wall heights are set at 9 feet, utilizing 104 5/8 precut studs.
The window and door headers are designed with laminated veneer lumber inner and outer structural members sandwiched around a foam-insulating core, resulting in a sturdy, stable substitute for traditional large dimension lumber.
The roof framing is accomplished by simply stacking prefabricated trusses directly over the wall studs.

Insulation:
2 x 6 exterior walls give a big cavity for a choice of green insulation materials.
The raised energy heal roof truss design also gives a large space for achieving an extremely high ceiling insulation value at a reasonable cost.
All door and window headers are designed for prefabricated insulated headers.
The exterior stucco finish is low maintenance and designed to be constructed with 2” of ridged foam giving the entire wall assembly approximately R-30.

Space Heating and Domestic Hot Water :
The space heating is a radiant infloor system and is accomplished by using a high efficiency closed combustion gas fired boiler circulating hot water through the concrete floor.
Domestic hot water is designed to use a tankless on-demand ultra high efficient boiler.
The utility room is configured to have space for solar equipment and a storage tank.
Active solar assisted heating systems are effective and a very worthwhile investment.
Backup heat and wintertime ambience is supplied by a gas or wood fueled freestanding stove adjacent to the thermal mass wall.
In emergency situations the stove can also be used for cooking.

Summer Cooling:
Summer cooling needs are greatly reduced and in most climates, totally eliminated.
The design incorporates several strategies.
1) Proper site orientation
2) Correctly sized South eve overhangs
3) Many vent able windows.
4) Ceiling fans in living room and bedrooms.
5) Vent able skylights.
6) Whole house attic fan.
7) Thermal mass.
8) West façade porch shading.

Solar Home Plans

Plans For Sale Little Sunshine Sunburst Ranch

These passive solar home plans reflect my effort to create a simple, cost effective way for people to build beautiful, easy living, low maintenance, living spaces that are synchronized with the seasonal movement between the earth and sun.

The architectural style is reminiscent of the historical ranch homes of the rural West. The basic traditional architecture has been updated to create functional living spaces that reflect the principles of modern passive solar design.

The homes are intended to be constructed with a total green building program. The program includes using resources efficiently, high levels of insulation, energy efficient boilers and appliances, low toxic and recycled materials. Appropriate landscaping and low water use drip irrigation.

The primary focus in this green design program is the use of passive solar features and an optional active solar element. With proper solar orientation, these home designs will automatically create warm sun bathed winter spaces and cool shaded rooms during the summer months. The ideal ratio of south facing glass to floor area, as well as thermal mass and roof overhangs, has been calculated into the design.

The thermal mass wall that runs through the center of the living space and the concrete slab floor store solar heat during sunny winter days and slowly release it back once the sun has set. The floor and wall thermal mass can also be cooled with night air during the summer months greatly reducing the indoor daytime temperature. My favorite material for constructing the mass wall with is adobe blocks; 10” x 14” x 4” earthen bricks, each course of adobes lay in a bed of clay and sand mortar. The mass wall could just as easily be constructed out of concrete blocks, brick or stone for a different look.

Patios and covered porch areas are integrated into floor plans to extend the living spaces into the great out of doors. The outdoor living spaces are located on different facades of the house creating comfortable use at different times of the day or season. A sunny or shady patio is only a step away.

Storage is another important feature of these designs. Numerous closets are located around the home as well as built–in utility shelving and a kitchen pantry. A large storage area in the attic is accessed by a pull down ladder in the utility room.

Please contact me with any specific questions you may have on the construction of these simple solar homes.

I am available on a consulting basis to guide builders or owner builders in the construction of these plans.

The following text gives a brief explanation of the specific building techniques incorporated into these designs.

Foundation

Framing

Insulation

Space Heating and Domestic Hot Water

Summer Cooling