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We're in the midst of residing our house (though the contractor failed to show up today--not a good sign). But despite my confidence that we'll be in this home for several years at least, I still spend many minutes of the day dreaming of my "ideal" future home.
I've always tried to be environmentally friendly (including using cloth diapers on my first child for several months!), so my dreams tend toward building my own solar house. And with the rising cost of energy, it sounds like a rather wise choice!
In researching solar homes online, I've learned a lot. One thing that surprised me was the fact that our current home is somewhat suited for a solar adaptation, at least in some areas. The main feature we have going for us now is our site--our home sits in the middle of a large lot, with the back of the house facing south. Since that's the side of the house with the largest windows and where most of the activity lies, it's just right.
To maximize our solar capacity, I found out that we should have a tile or masonry floor in the rooms on the south side. The tile floor is supposed to absorb the sun's rays during the day, when you open the window coverings, then release that heat in the evening when the temperature outside cools.
Too bad we just redid the kitchen floor last year with laminate "hardwood." Of course, it's crappy stuff, we found out too late. With all the scratches it already has on it, I wouldn't be surprised if we decide to refloor sometime in the next few years. (That's another project for me . . . I know that Home Depot and Lowe's have classes to teach you how to lay tile!)
Ideally, you're supposed to have masonry walls in those rooms, too (we don't), deciduous trees that shade those windows in the summer and let the sun through in the winter (got that one), and insulating shutters (we have plantation shutters, but I don't know if they're insulating).
What I do know is what I already figured out myself during the past 10 years of living here. In the winter months, I open the shutters during the day and warm myself with the sun streaming through them in the kitchen and living room. Even the dogs like to bask in the warm rays.
It also helps that when I'm home during the day, my computer is upstairs. So I can keep the thermostat lower during the day and still stay comfy upstairs with the rising heat.
If we ever get the money to upgrade our windows (which we desperately need to do), I'd love to enlarge them and get a solar-quality glass. That, plus the tile flooring, should boost our solar capability substantially.
As for now, though, I guess I'll continue to enjoy the sun that does make it through. Except on days like this--we're setting record high temps for November, and I'm wearing shorts!
I've always tried to be environmentally friendly (including using cloth diapers on my first child for several months!), so my dreams tend toward building my own solar house. And with the rising cost of energy, it sounds like a rather wise choice!
In researching solar homes online, I've learned a lot. One thing that surprised me was the fact that our current home is somewhat suited for a solar adaptation, at least in some areas. The main feature we have going for us now is our site--our home sits in the middle of a large lot, with the back of the house facing south. Since that's the side of the house with the largest windows and where most of the activity lies, it's just right.
To maximize our solar capacity, I found out that we should have a tile or masonry floor in the rooms on the south side. The tile floor is supposed to absorb the sun's rays during the day, when you open the window coverings, then release that heat in the evening when the temperature outside cools.
Too bad we just redid the kitchen floor last year with laminate "hardwood." Of course, it's crappy stuff, we found out too late. With all the scratches it already has on it, I wouldn't be surprised if we decide to refloor sometime in the next few years. (That's another project for me . . . I know that Home Depot and Lowe's have classes to teach you how to lay tile!)
Ideally, you're supposed to have masonry walls in those rooms, too (we don't), deciduous trees that shade those windows in the summer and let the sun through in the winter (got that one), and insulating shutters (we have plantation shutters, but I don't know if they're insulating).
What I do know is what I already figured out myself during the past 10 years of living here. In the winter months, I open the shutters during the day and warm myself with the sun streaming through them in the kitchen and living room. Even the dogs like to bask in the warm rays.
It also helps that when I'm home during the day, my computer is upstairs. So I can keep the thermostat lower during the day and still stay comfy upstairs with the rising heat.
If we ever get the money to upgrade our windows (which we desperately need to do), I'd love to enlarge them and get a solar-quality glass. That, plus the tile flooring, should boost our solar capability substantially.
As for now, though, I guess I'll continue to enjoy the sun that does make it through. Except on days like this--we're setting record high temps for November, and I'm wearing shorts!
posted by Tif at 8:24 PM
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