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Collection by Zach Edelson

Solar-Sensitive Eco-Friendly Homes

Above every building—during daytime hours, at least—sits the solar system's largest power source: the enormous, roiling fusion reactor that is our sun. Depending on its latitude and the landscape, every site is affected by the sun differently. These seven designs were carefully calibrated to their surroundings to achieve comfort and energy efficiency.

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The Damianos’ house, located in Denver’s Highland neighborhood, runs completely on solar energy.
The Damianos’ house, located in Denver’s Highland neighborhood, runs completely on solar energy.
Both the white facades and modules' orientations are crucial in maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures. Designed with the sun path in mind, each part of the home shades the courtyard year-round for residents.
Both the white facades and modules' orientations are crucial in maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures. Designed with the sun path in mind, each part of the home shades the courtyard year-round for residents.
The structure has a 60/40 ratio of walls to windows, a figure that was achieved through computer modeling. "This ratio balances the amount of high R-value solid wall to glazing to create an overall building envelope for optimum thermal performance," Tedesco says. "This ratio was fine-tuned and tested using computer modeling that incorporated site-specific information such as building orientation, and the surrounding infrastructure such as neighboring houses and trees. The end result was an envelope design and window placement strategy that optimizes seasonal daylight cycles, maximizes solar gains in the winter, increases the level of interior natural daylighting, and considers views of the surrounding neighborhood." Because the residents are sensitive to noise, the walls feature extra insulaton, especially in the bedrooms and media rooms.
The structure has a 60/40 ratio of walls to windows, a figure that was achieved through computer modeling. "This ratio balances the amount of high R-value solid wall to glazing to create an overall building envelope for optimum thermal performance," Tedesco says. "This ratio was fine-tuned and tested using computer modeling that incorporated site-specific information such as building orientation, and the surrounding infrastructure such as neighboring houses and trees. The end result was an envelope design and window placement strategy that optimizes seasonal daylight cycles, maximizes solar gains in the winter, increases the level of interior natural daylighting, and considers views of the surrounding neighborhood." Because the residents are sensitive to noise, the walls feature extra insulaton, especially in the bedrooms and media rooms.
The designer added a 500-square-foot third floor—hidden from the street—with a small, bluestone roof deck, to create a master suite. The roofline was reoriented due south and covered in a combination of solar thermal panels by Stielbel Eltron (to heat the domestic hot water) and Unirac SolarMount SunFrame with 190w photovoltaic panels (for electricity).
The designer added a 500-square-foot third floor—hidden from the street—with a small, bluestone roof deck, to create a master suite. The roofline was reoriented due south and covered in a combination of solar thermal panels by Stielbel Eltron (to heat the domestic hot water) and Unirac SolarMount SunFrame with 190w photovoltaic panels (for electricity).
When midcentury enthusiast Margaret Riley purchased a rundown Los Angeles ranch, she turned to architect Cory Buckner to remodel the home after nearby modernist icons. Along with redwood siding, sliding glass doors, and a butterfly roof, Buckner added a second floor balcony with views of Santa Monica Bay.
When midcentury enthusiast Margaret Riley purchased a rundown Los Angeles ranch, she turned to architect Cory Buckner to remodel the home after nearby modernist icons. Along with redwood siding, sliding glass doors, and a butterfly roof, Buckner added a second floor balcony with views of Santa Monica Bay.
With its bold, upswept profile, the roof gives this otherwise simple house its distinctive character. But those curves are not merely for show. The concave forms are integral to the dwelling’s self-sufficiency because they act as water collectors and sun protection. When rain hits the roof, it runs down into holes punched into the valleys created by the tilt of the corrugated-steel sheets. Underneath these holes, which are too small for leaves to penetrate, the water collects in a concealed gutter and is piped down the side of the house and underground to the nearby water tanks. Using a combination of computer technology and onsite observation, the architects calculated how far the main roof would have to overhang the north elevation to let in as much low winter sun as possible, while shielding the interior from the more extreme summer sun. The nearly 13-foot-high expanse of glazing that embraces the views really needed protecting—and the four-foot eave created by the sweep of the main roof does the job well.
With its bold, upswept profile, the roof gives this otherwise simple house its distinctive character. But those curves are not merely for show. The concave forms are integral to the dwelling’s self-sufficiency because they act as water collectors and sun protection. When rain hits the roof, it runs down into holes punched into the valleys created by the tilt of the corrugated-steel sheets. Underneath these holes, which are too small for leaves to penetrate, the water collects in a concealed gutter and is piped down the side of the house and underground to the nearby water tanks. Using a combination of computer technology and onsite observation, the architects calculated how far the main roof would have to overhang the north elevation to let in as much low winter sun as possible, while shielding the interior from the more extreme summer sun. The nearly 13-foot-high expanse of glazing that embraces the views really needed protecting—and the four-foot eave created by the sweep of the main roof does the job well.