Rick Thompson – Architect

House Plans by Architect Rick Thompson

Keep in Touch:

  • Find Us on Facebook
  • Email Newsletter

Menu

  • House Plans
    • Standard Series
      • Green
      • LEED for Homes
    • Sustainable Series
      • Direct Gain Approach
      • Indirect Gain Approach
      • Isolated Gain Approach
      • Passive House Plan Details
      • Active solar
      • Zero Energy Home (ZEH)
      • Site Considerations
      • Orientation
      • Shading
      • Solar References
    • Universal Design
      • Accessible House Plan Details
      • Accessible/Universal Design References
  • About Us
  • Misc. Stuff
    • Personal Projects
      • Lake Junaluska NC
      • The Barn
      • Dianne’s Studio
      • Former Office
      • Rosewood – Atlanta
    • Links
      • Architecturally Responsible
      • Building Resources
      • House Plan Resources
      • IT Resources
      • Miscellaneous
  • F.A.Q.
  • Contact Info.
  • Blog

Browse Plans

or Advanced Search »

  • Standard House Plans
    • New House Plans
    • Under 1000 sqft
    • 1000 to 1099 sqft
    • 1100 to 1199 sqft
    • 1200 to 1299 sqft
    • 1300 to 1399 sqft
    • 1400 to 1499 sqft
    • 1500 to 1599 sqft
    • 1600 to 1699 sqft
    • 1700 to 1799 sqft
    • 1800 to 1999 sqft
    • 2000+ sqft
    • Duplex House Plans
    • Garage Plans
  • Sustainable House Plans
  • Universal Design Plans
    • Under 1000 sqft
    • 1000 to 1099 sqft
    • 1100 to 1199 sqft
    • 1200 to 1299 sqft
    • 1300 to 1499 sqft
    • 1500+ sqft
  1. HOME
  2. House Plans
  3. Sustainable Series
  • Standard Series
  • Sustainable Series
  • Universal Design

Sustainable House Plans

Passive solar design refers to the use of the sun’s energy to heat and cool the living spaces in a home.  Active solar, on the other hand, uses solar panels to produce electricity.  Passive solar design utilizes the southern exposure to allow the sun to enter the home during the winter and warm its interior.  With properly designed overhangs, and/or natural vegetation, the south-facing windows can be shaded, which reduces heat build up in the warmer months when the sun is higher in the sky.  Passive solar homes can generally contribute 30 to 80 percent of heating needs, depending on many factors.

1435 sqft | 3 brs

Plan P1413A

1542 sqft | 3 brs

Plan P1517A


1615 sqft | 3 brs

Plan P1605A

More

Passive solar homes are comfortable to live in, they are full of light and well connected with the outdoors.  They are environmentally responsible.  In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s passive solar design developed as a valuable body of knowledge, lead by architect Edward Mazria who later founded Architecture 2030.  Unfortunately, with the manipulation and reduction of oil prices, the interest in passive solar homes waned.  Today there is no doubt we need to do what we can to live in harmony with our planet, or we won’t be here much longer.  The principles of passive solar design, combined with energy efficient design principles, are capable of producing homes that are not only wonderful places to live, but reduce the load on our energy systems.

maintab2_1.jpg
maintab2_2.jpg
maintab2_3.jpg

Direct Gain Approach Indirect Gain Approach Isolated Gain Approach Passive House Plan Details Active solar Zero Energy Home (ZEH) Site Considerations Orientation Shading Solar References
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Return Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Newsletter
  • Unsubscribe

©2023 Rick Thompson Architect | Web Development by MindPalette