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Frugal and Energy Efficient Living

womanofthehills

(9,326 posts)

8. I live in NM where the sun shines most every day - in a passive solar house

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)

Tue Oct 10, 2023, 09:10 AM

Oct 2023

My boyfriend worked in solar and he helped me build a passive solar house - South side mostly all windows. If the sun is out my house will be 80 degrees or warmer when it’s 20 degrees outside.

You can also collect heat by putting water tubes in front is windows. My bathroom has 6 5ft poly tubes filled with blue dye in front of windows - they heat up in sun and keep room warm when son goes down.

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This Maine home can stay 70 degrees without a furnace, even when it's freezing outside [View all] Jilly_in_VA Oct 2023 OP

Passive solar has been around since the 1970s & it's a shame it wasn't popular bucolic_frolic Oct 2023 #1

I was going to ask about the same thing - don't modern houses need a certain amount of air flow ProfessorPlum Oct 2023 #2

It's not just the toxic gases. canuckledragger Oct 2023 #3

The article explains it a little bucolic_frolic Oct 2023 #4

I've noticed a lot more toxic outgassing as I age. progressoid Oct 2023 #5

Their designs look nice. They even have a 600 sq ft house. progressoid Oct 2023 #6

No drafts, and they use a heat exchanger to bring in fresh air. nilram Oct 2023 #7

I live in NM where the sun shines most every day - in a passive solar house womanofthehills Oct 2023 #8

"...room warm when son goes down"?! Disaffected Nov 2023 #9

Whats out there for those of us that wish to go the opposite direction? quakerboy Nov 2023 #10

Heat pumps are fine Jilly_in_VA Nov 2023 #11

I have a small propane heater - direct vent - safe as there is no combustion in room womanofthehills Mar 2024 #12