Greenovision designed this 1500 s.f. rural Montana off the grid, passive/active
solar home to be energy efficient, view specific, client specific, and honest
about material usage and buildability. The design methods that were used were
site orientation of solar aspect of the building to derive the largest energy
benifits of the sun and varied overhang depths to reduce over heating in the
summer. All walls heights were determined through computer modeling then redrawn
with exact dimensioning so that very detailed parts lists could be derived
to make this home build like a kit thus reducing waste of material and construction
time. The window schedule included solar gain windows and Low Emissivity glazing
depending on orientation to the sun in order to insulate better and to achieve
maximum solar gain on the radiant concrete slab on the main living space floor.
Passive and active solar home
Montana Fall 2010.