Free Passive Solar House Plans (Tue Tip)

NC Energy Alliance Logo

Are you familiar with the North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance (NCEEA)?  The Alliance is a non-profit organization (funded by a federal grant through the NC State Energy Office) which “aims to educate all stakeholders in the home building industry about the benefits of ENERGY STAR homes.”

Among the resources on its website, the NCEEA offers a downloadable 59 page white paper entitled “Affordable Passive Solar Handbook for North Carolina“, which includes 12 different house plans that incorporate passive solar concepts.  Some of the plans are converted from a variety of sources including Habitat for Humanity; others are original designs.

Solar Features include:

  • 6-11% of floor area is south facing glazing
  • 2 foot overhangs
  • slab on grade construction with incorporated thermal mass
  • main living areas on south side of home

Affordable Features include:

  • even exterior dimensions, to eliminate construction waste
  • 900-1300 square feet footprints
  • simple roof lines than can be built with trusses

According to the white paper, full sets of working drawings are available for free online at www.energync.net  or www.ncenergystar.orgHowever, if you can find the applicable link at either of those sites, you are better than I am.   I’m sure that if you contact the NCEEA they will point you in the right direction.  (And if you do, please drop me a line as to where they can be found).

Have you reviewed the white paper?  What do you think of their design concepts?  Share in the comments below.  And, if you are new here, be sure to sign up for regular email delivery of blog posts to your inbox so you never miss anything.

Photo:  NCEEA Logo

One thought on “Free Passive Solar House Plans (Tue Tip)

  1. Pingback: Energy Inc. Conference: the Future of Energy (Tue Tip) « Construction Law in North Carolina

Got a comment? Please share!!!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.