A solar community: Eldorado at Santa Fe

Journal Article · · Solar Today; (United States)

OSTI ID:6937586

Conkling, M ^[1]

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1. Sierra Homes, Inc., Santa Fe, NM (United States)

This article describes the successful promotion of passive solar design and construction in a community near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The builder of Sierra Homes uses two meters on each house: one is read for the total electric bill and one tracks the heat use. In a typical 1500 sq ft house the electric bill is one-third to one-half that of the non-solar house. The houses have a minimum of R-25 exterior wall insulation, R-38 ceilings and an R-15 rigid perimeter wrap around the stem walls. The houses are tight with a potential for indoor air pollution so window placement and ventilation are important design components. Sunspaces, massive floors and partition walls, and Trombe walls are included. Passive solar has been so popular that non-solar houses have been difficult to sell. Even the elementary school was designed for passive solar use.

• OSTI ID: 6937586
• Journal Information: Solar Today; (United States), Journal Name: Solar Today; (United States) Vol. 5:7; ISSN SOTOEV
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140901* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320106 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Equipment-- (1987-)
320107 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Systems-- (1987-)
320900 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Education & Public Relations-- (1980-)
BUILDINGS
CONSTRUCTION
DESIGN
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
EQUIPMENT
FEDERAL REGION VI
HEATING SYSTEMS
HOUSES
MASS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
THERMAL INSULATION
THERMAL MASS
TROMBE WALLS
USA
VENTILATION
WALLS