From Farmhouse to Passive Solar Modern

It is stunning to see the transformation from an old farm house to a modern, efficient passive solar house.

Yes, it’s the same house!  (Tour the inside of the passive solar house.)

Farmhouse Before Passive Solar Retrofit

From Farmhouse…

Contemporary Passive Solar House

To Modern Passive Solar

The Original Farmhouse

The original house measured at approximately 700 square feet and was built in 1909.

In the process of converting the house, they first took off the front porch and readied the area to pour a slab.

Brickwall added for mass

They added a brick wall for thermal mass and poured a slab of concrete for even more thermal mass.

Roof taken off house

They tore the roof off the house and built a window wall onto the existing house that faces to the south.

Second story added

The back north facing wall was insulated, with insulation blown into the cavities of the house.  A second story was added to the whole structure.

clerestory windows built into the top floor

Clerestory windows were added to the south facing top portion. (The tree will be going soon too, since it blocks southern gain.)

siding added to protect the structure

Siding was added to protect the outside of the structure.

Amazingly, this transformation happened in 1 month. The owner-builder was a teacher and completed this portion with the help of the shop teacher and three others. The remainder of the finish work was completed over 2 years.

The house at it currently is today.

Passive Solar House that went through a retrofit

The house is an efficient passive solar house, enjoyed by its occupant-builders.

This is part 1 of a 2 part series. In part 2 we tour the inside the passive solar house to see its cool features.

The Thomas’ house

Designer / Builder – Jim and Nancy Thomas

Time – Main conversion show above – 1 month, Inside finished in 2 years

Square Footage – 2430

Keya Lea

Keya Lea likes to spend time outside, enjoying the sun.

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