Passive Solar Home Plans Now Available From Sierra Solar Systems

We have dozens of designs at prices starting from $1,100 for a complete set of architectural drawings.

These passive solar and energy efficient plans are designed by David Wright of the Solar Environmental Architecture Group. David is an early passive solar architecture pioneer and award winning architect. His books, THE PASSIVE SOLAR PRIMER and NATURAL SOLAR ARCHITECTURE are the bibles of passive solar design throughout the world.

Each of these homes, some of which have been seen in national publications like SUNSET MAGAZINE and MOTHER EARTH NEWS, are award winning designs that have been built, are tried and true, and adaptable to nearly any climate zone.

Each set of plans is completely drawn and detailed to meet the demanding California Building Code and the International Building Code standards. All the information you need for construction including: heating, plumbing and electrical plans are included in this complete plan set.

Each set, and sheet, is custom titled to your personal name and location; along with equipment options to make the home perform perfectly in your climate.

The designs are approximately two times more energy efficient, and energy conserving, than the California Green Building Code requires. This means that the cabin or house will take little energy to heat or cool while maintaining an interior temperature of 65 to 75 degrees F year round.

We have teamed with SIERRA SOLAR SYSTEMS to engineer and specify a Solar Electric Package suitable to each design. There are upgrade versions of each Package to work with battery storage or grid-tie interface. Sierra Solar System has several equipment options for each design to provide solar water heating, auxiliary water heating, wind or hydro power generation; as well as a wide range of energy efficient equipment and appliances to meet your needs.

Solar Farm House

1,920 S.F. — 57’ x 48’ — $3,000

A craftsman style home with fine detailing. 3 bedroom, 2 bath. (Highly Energy Efficient Passive Solar)

High Sierra Cabin

1,018 S.F. — 37’ x 20’ — $2,500

A small, off-grid, high sierra cabin. 2 bedroom, 2 bath. (Off-Grid, Solar Electric, Passive Solar) Published in Sunset Magazine, August 2006 and Tahoe Quarterly Magazine Mountain Cabin Awards, 2005.

Sierra Studio Cabin

810 S.F. — 20’ x 32’ — $1,500

A modern, mountain cabin.  Studio with loft, 1 bath. (Passive Solar)

Sunset Cabin

810 S.F. — 20’ x 32’ — $1,500

A modern, mountain cabin.  Studio with loft, 1 bath. (Passive Solar)

Other Designs:

Each design can be modified to suit your site and the exterior look you desire. You can change room sizes, exterior materials or type of foundation. Our plans are on computerized 3-D software and we will make any reasonable modifications to the drawings that you request at a reasonable hourly rate.

Your building department will require site specific structural calculations and may require energy compliance for a building permit. We can provide these at minimal cost in California. In other states you will need to have a locally licensed architect or engineer review, approve and stamp the working drawings, provide calculations and fill out forms as required.

The Site Plan must be provided by a locally licensed architect, surveyor or engineer to show the location, sewage system, water system, setbacks, and other site specifics required in your building jurisdiction.

Out of respect for our former clients we cannot provide you with names, addresses or visitation opportunities to the original building. In some cases we can provide digital photographs.

Each set of construction documents contains:

• Title Sheet
  Title, index, engineering data, project data
• Site Plan & Location Map
  (You provide)
• Foundation (& Floor Framing) Plan
  Code compliant with dimensions, details and schedules.
• Floor Plan
  Code compliant with structural callouts, window and door sizes, etc.
• Exterior Elevations
  Showing all sides, calling out materials, heights, etc.
• Cross Sections
  Fully noted cross sections to illustrate building assemblies and key details.
• Roof Framing Plan
  Roof structural sizing, layout and structural detailing
• Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing Plan & Schedules
• Specifications
  Qualifications of major construction items.

Solar Environmental Architects will design passive solar residential and small commercial buildings for any climate zone worldwide. We have in-depth knowledge of the most suitable passive solar designs that will perform well in any part of the world. We also have expertise in alternative building technologies including construction methods, materials, and structural systems; whether high tech or traditional, whatever is the most appropriate for your country and climate. Our passive solar designs are conceived to naturally heat, cool, ventilate, daylight for all seasons and conditions. David Wright Architect has designed buildings for North America, North Africa, West Africa and the Middle East; and all climate zones cold, hot, humid and arid. We have designed buildings using adobe block, rammed earth, straw bale, compressed earth bricks, timber, bamboo, concrete, rubble, wood frame, structural insulated panels and even recycled materials like cans, bottles and shipping containers.

We will work with you to conceive appropriate sustainable designs and systems for your needs and budget. Our goal is to design buildings that are self-sufficient, energy independent and in harmony with nature. We team with SIERRA SOLAR SYSTEMS to engineer, supply and install complete stand alone alternative energy systems-solar, wind or hydro- for your project. Whatever your architecture and energy needs are we can work with you to create the best independent sustainable design for your project.