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HOUSE 070801 on Google Earth Map

Private residence Taos County, New Mexico USA

Solar Features:

• Passive Solar Heating via south thermopanes, clerestories and Trombe walls
• Passive "Batch" Solar hot water
• Active Solar Radiant Floor via DC pump powered directly by PV
• Small stand alone 12VDC PV system for all water pumping and some outlets and lights, all outdoor lights 12VDC solar powered

Beyond Solar - the "GREEN" features:

• Super insulation and interior thermal mass[home uses less than a half cord of wood for backup, and a total of 100 gallons of propane for cooking and backup hot water]
• Rainwater catchment system for all water needs [no well or municipal water]
• Composting toilets, low water use fixtures
• Regional and natural or recycled content building materials throughout [timbers and ceilings harvested within 50 miles, adobe mud plaster,
  recycled cedar, redwood, some windows and doors]
• Citrus based oil sealers or water based sealers
• 12VDC lighting, fluorescent and halogen AC lighting; no microwave, no DW

Land Use

• North, East and West sides are bermed into the natural southslope terrain
• Most of the house materials were hand brought in to minimize compaction and natural vegetation on site

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HOUSE 070805 on Google Earth Map

The Heavenly Retreat. Colfax County, New Mexico

Solar Features:

• Passive Solar Heating via 3 south facing greenhouses
• Active Solar Radiant Floor for 10 zones from 11 flat plate solar collectors (180,000 BTU/hr)
• Solar Domestic Hot Water via same collector system
• 3.6KW grid tied PV system - BIPV integrated glass in greenhouse and a passive tracker outside
• 1600 amp/hr battery bank, 2 parallel Trace 4048 inverters and Outback MX-80 charge controllers

Beyond Solar - the "GREEN" features:

• Food producing gardening year around with the 3 greenhouses and outdoor beds at 9000 ft.
• Regional and natural or recycled content building materials throughout [local timbers, adobe walls,
  recycled materials]

Land Use

• Careful site planning and design by owner to accomplish solar integration on a NW oriented wooded hillside
• Preservation of natural setting and connection with wilderness areas

Download PDF file for eloquently described spirit of place and additional details of "The Heavenly Retreat"

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