Passive Solar Straw Bale House Plans

Passive solar straw bale home illustrates solutions to ecological living.

Passive solar straw bale house plans. As a feature and to combat glare a pergola growing a deciduous vine is a wise and beautiful feature to the north. This passive solar straw bale house is situated in one of the coldest places in the nation. Finding alternative ways to stay warm in the coming post fossil fuel age is a task we shouldn t take lightly. A good example of thermal mass in action is the foxhole where modern day pioneers ben and mae are experimenting with animal husbandry in the age of peak oil.

Common characteristics of passive solar house plans. Deciduous vines to the east and west walls shade from low morning and afternoon sun during summer and add to the value and beauty of a straw bale house. The passive solar roof has a generous overhang on all sides to keep the tiny home cool in summer warm in winter and to protect the cob walls from the elements. Passive solar design and straw bale construction are two methods that when combined offer a completely natural heating system.

We offer a wide variety of passive solar house plans. Simple passive solar strawbale home in crestone posted on january 30 2018 by owen geiger january 30 2018 many readers ask about simple designs that are suitable for unskilled workers who are working alone on a tight budget. Straw bale homes for the future. Although the current home is oriented on a north south axis to maintain neighbor s views the interior temperature of the home stays within 5 of 68 f without additional.

This strawbale house was originally designed around a prominent oak tree resulting in a spatially interesting floor plan that has a passive solar orientation for winter heat gain. Gunnison colorado ranks within the top 5 cities with the average coldest temperatures in the united states yet the insulating properties of the straw bales make this an efficient and comfortable passive solar home. Insulation of one form or another straw bales rigid foam slag wool whatever you decide is best in your situation is a vital ingredient in any passive solar recipe. When combined with passive solar design a well built straw bale home may.

A generous eave is also wise for straw bale buildings as a matter of policy. Natural round wood columns and timber elements grace the exterior. All were created by architects who are well known and respected in the passive solar community. Properly oriented to the sun homes built from passive solar floor plans require much less energy for heating and cooling.

A compact four bedroom plan also allows for a future office addition in the cupola. Requires proper orientation to the sun with one highly glazed wall. The truth window reveals the straw bale secret behind the home of krisin and mark sullivan.