Posted by Pete C. on September 17, 2009, 12:57 am
Curbie wrote:
>
> Pete,
>
> I also have been planning retirement along the same lines for a few
> years now, your request is kind of vague, so:
>
> DIY log cabins:
> http://www.penndutchstructures.com/logcabins.htm
>
> DIY Country home:
> http://countryplans.com/
>
> DIY Monolithic Dome:
> http://www.monolithic.com/topics/homes
>
> I also like solar thermal heat and wind.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Curbie
>
> >Building a super insulated cabin in particular. I have a good handle on
> >the power system end of things. No having anything installed, 150% DIY.
I'm not really looking to buy plans, I know construction, so I can
produce my own plans. What I'm looking for is ideas from folks currently
doing similar on what works well and what doesn't.
Posted by Morris Dovey on September 17, 2009, 1:12 am
Pete C. wrote:
> I'm not really looking to buy plans, I know construction, so I can
> produce my own plans. What I'm looking for is ideas from folks currently
> doing similar on what works well and what doesn't.
Solar heating works well (an admittedly biased opinion - I manufacture
passive solar air-heating panels). Since you're construction-capable,
you might find these installation photos interesting:
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/SC_Madison/
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
Posted by Pete C. on September 17, 2009, 1:55 am
Morris Dovey wrote:
>
> Pete C. wrote:
>
> > I'm not really looking to buy plans, I know construction, so I can
> > produce my own plans. What I'm looking for is ideas from folks currently
> > doing similar on what works well and what doesn't.
>
> Solar heating works well (an admittedly biased opinion - I manufacture
> passive solar air-heating panels). Since you're construction-capable,
> you might find these installation photos interesting:
>
> http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/SC_Madison/
>
> --
> Morris Dovey
> DeSoto Solar
> DeSoto, Iowa USA
> http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
Yes, like I said, solar thermal and solar PV with possible wind as well.
With good insulation I shouldn't need a whole lot of heating in the
winter months. Hot water of course year round.
Posted by amdx on September 17, 2009, 1:43 am
> Martin Riddle wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > I'm getting serious about retiring to a small off-grid cabin in the
>> > next
>> > few years. Can those of you who are off grid and or in small high
>> > efficiency homes provide some recommended reference materials for the
>> > design? I'm thinking ~400 sq. ft. of so, with solar thermal, solar PV
>> > and possibly wind generation. This is for TX, so plenty of sun here,
>> > and
>> > probably the need for a very small air conditioner presuming high R
>> > insulation and good thermal mass.
>>
>> What type of reference materials? Building a system? Having one
>> installed?
>>
>> Sandia has lots of useful info. <http://photovoltaics.sandia.gov/>
>>
> Building a super insulated cabin in particular. I have a good handle on
> the power system end of things. No having anything installed, 150% DIY.
Does anybody build earth bermed homes anymore?
http://www.earthshelters.com/Other_const.html
http://www.hollowtop.com/cls_html/limited.htm
http://www.lifeunplugged.net/greenbuilding/earth-berm-and-earth-sheltered-home.aspx
Loads more to find.
Mike
Posted by Pete C. on September 17, 2009, 2:16 am
amdx wrote:
>
> >
> > Martin Riddle wrote:
> >>
> >> >
> >> > I'm getting serious about retiring to a small off-grid cabin in the
> >> > next
> >> > few years. Can those of you who are off grid and or in small high
> >> > efficiency homes provide some recommended reference materials for the
> >> > design? I'm thinking ~400 sq. ft. of so, with solar thermal, solar PV
> >> > and possibly wind generation. This is for TX, so plenty of sun here,
> >> > and
> >> > probably the need for a very small air conditioner presuming high R
> >> > insulation and good thermal mass.
> >>
> >> What type of reference materials? Building a system? Having one
> >> installed?
> >>
> >> Sandia has lots of useful info. <http://photovoltaics.sandia.gov/>
> >>
> >
> > Building a super insulated cabin in particular. I have a good handle on
> > the power system end of things. No having anything installed, 150% DIY.
>
> Does anybody build earth bermed homes anymore?
> http://www.earthshelters.com/Other_const.html
> http://www.hollowtop.com/cls_html/limited.htm
>
http://www.lifeunplugged.net/greenbuilding/earth-berm-and-earth-sheltered-home.aspx
> Loads more to find.
> Mike
That's certainly a consideration should I find property that lends
itself to that type of construction.
XML site map
> Pete,
>
> I also have been planning retirement along the same lines for a few
> years now, your request is kind of vague, so:
>
> DIY log cabins:
> http://www.penndutchstructures.com/logcabins.htm
>
> DIY Country home:
> http://countryplans.com/
>
> DIY Monolithic Dome:
> http://www.monolithic.com/topics/homes
>
> I also like solar thermal heat and wind.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Curbie
>
> >Building a super insulated cabin in particular. I have a good handle on
> >the power system end of things. No having anything installed, 150% DIY.