Solar Energy... Anyone have it? Anyone have advic... - Page 2

Drythe · ‎07-09-2011

@momtochloe wrote:
@Drythe wrote:
@I have passive solar. My home gains heat this time of year because of the angle of the eves and the sun coming through large windows and shining on a brick floor. I can come home on a COLD sunny day and with no other heat my home will be @ 70 degrees.

The same eves were calculated to be an an angel to block the sun in the hot months.

Also, there are only 2 windows on the north side.

Of course, angling the eves and planning window locations has to be done when the house is built. I'm not sure I would add anything else at this point.
@Drythe I don't know where you live but it sure sounds fabulous as I would love your set up. How clever the folks were that designed your house, congratulations on a great purchase!

@momtochloe

Thank you! I built the home, but worked with a man who specialized in building solar homes - I can't take much credit! He also had me include things like working transoms over the interior doors to promote both cool and warm air flow, as well as extra thick exterior walls, and a decorative but useful brick wall behind the gas fireplace which holds on the the heat and slowly dissipates it back into the home.

All things that can be done easily when building, require no maintenance afterwards, but are the dickens retro-fit.

"Animals are not my whole world, but they have made my world whole" ~ Roger Caras

Shorty2U · ‎03-09-2010

My husbands sister and brother in law have solar. They had their home built with it but they also have a back up in case of course. They live in the middle of nowhere.

IF we could afford to get our home changed we would too. Hopefully some day.

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make~ The Beatles

MickD · ‎03-10-2010

We had solar put in about a year ago. It has cut our bill in half. We are getting a couple more panels soon as we want to pay nothing. We have enver solar and bought the panels. The rep had statistics specifically rated to our area as well as our electric bill info and he was right on in how much we'd save. Our electric bills were as high as 450 for a few months in the winter. The solar panels were under 10,000 so it is worth it for us.

Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.... ~ S & G