Revised and Expanded Edition - Includes CD-ROM with Custom Design Software For the past ten years The Passive Solar House has offered proven techniques for building homes that heat and cool themselves, using readily available materials and methods familiar to all building contractors and many do-it-yourself homeowners. True to this innovative, straightforward approach, the new edition of this best-selling guide includes CSOL passive solar design software, making it easier than ever to heat your home with the power of the sun. Since The Passive Solar House was first published, passive solar construction expert James Kachadorian has perfected user-friendly, Windows-compatible software to supplement the design process explained in the book by allowing homeowners/designers to enter the specifications of their design and see how changing a variable will affect its energy efficiency. This is the building book for a world of climbing energy costs. Applicable to diverse regions, climates, budgets, and styles of architecture, Kachadorian's techniques translate the essentials of timeless solar design into practical wisdom for today's solar builders. Profiles of successful passive solar design, construction, and retrofit projects from readers of the first edition provide inspiration to first-time homebuilders and renovators alike.

"Learn just what you need to know about passive solar house design for western states"--Page 4 of cover

While heat from sunlight and ventilation from breezes is free for the taking, few modern architects or builders really understand the principles involved. Yet "natural conditioning"--Heating and cooling with passive solar techniques -- is a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Acknowledging the good intentions of misguided solar designers in the past, the author highlights certain egregious errors and shows how to avoid them. The author shows how to select a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly backup heating system; how to preserve indoor air quality in an airtight, energy-efficient home; and ways of employing green building materials in a naturally conditioned home.

This report consists of two parts: Part I - Design Manual and Part II - Design Examples. Part I, the Design Manual, is a step-by-step guide for passive solar house design, tailored to New Mexico climatic conditions and containing all necessary supporting information: (1) New Mexico climatic data; (2) discussion of passive solar heating methods; (3) factors determining appropriate plan and lot selection; (4) energy conservation;(5) building specifications, including manufacturers' information on window night insulation; (6) thermal storage; (7) design calculation procedures in worksheet format; (8) backup heating; (9) solar water heating; (10) costs, codes and taxes and (11) sources of further information and recommended reading. With this design manual, a builder or homeowner should be able to develop his/her own plans for a good passive solar home or to adapt one of the example designs to specific needs and local conditions. Part II, the Design Examples, consists of a descriptive brochure containing information about the sample designs and blueprints developed in this research project. Included for each design are: possible lot orientation, recommended lot plan and landscaping, floor plan and perspective, description of suitable climatic ranges, locations and Specifications and details of the passive solar heating system. In addition, a discussion of some conceptual designs is given for which calculations have been made. Information about some TVA and HUD award -winning designs which may be suitable for New Mexico locations is also given together with ordering information. Completed sets of the design calculations for all example designs and two TVA designs are included, as are sets of plans for the seven example designs.