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crowsnest2002
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# Posted: 12 Jul 2023 01:30pm
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I was reading an article about how to be more conscience and use nature to your advantage when building and designing. In the article the individual used a soap stone countertop on the southern side window of their kitchen. They were talking about the stone top collecting the heat from the sun in the winter. It sounded like a good point and was hoping everyone on here could offer some suggestions that are taking advantage of nature. Please feel free to suggest because I myself and others could really benefit from some suggestions.
Thank you
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ICC
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# Posted: 12 Jul 2023 05:58pm
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Soapstone is a soft stone that will scratch easily. Scratches can be removed with steel wool or sandpaper though. The softness makes it resistant to cracking so that is an upside.
Any stone-type countertop will warm in direct sunlight. So will Formica.
What kind of windows will be used. Energy codes today call for windows to eliminate or greatly reduce thermal conductivity through a window. Heat gain is less but so is heat loss. The number of hours a day that sun will be shining on the glass will be fewer than the number of hours when heat will be flowing outside, in most cases. If you are not building to code you may have trouble finding windows that are not made to reduce heat gain/loss.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 12 Jul 2023 08:45pm
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Orient the structure to take advantage of the solar gain and incorporate as much passive solar as possible.
That orientation is important if you at all are considering solar panels.
Be aware that the passive solar for the cold season can be a miserable thing in summer if you dont have the proper design shading of the glass, etc.
Air tight and well insulated will help in all seasons.
A 'wet room' enclosed entry porch is more than nice.
If off grid dont depend on generating as much power to wastefully run stuff like most of us do in an on-grid home, unless money to gen is not an issue for you.
Conserving energy is far cheaper than producing it on your own.
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crowsnest2002
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 2023 09:37pm
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Quoting: gcrank1 Conserving energy is far cheaper than producing it on your own.
I'll keep this into perspective.
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frankpaige
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# Posted: 12 Jul 2023 11:48pm
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I would ask? What is your primary objective? So much to think of when building your place. One negates the other sometimes. Enjoy the process.
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crowsnest2002
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jul 2023 02:12pm
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Hunting and weekend cabin. Lots of learning on here to get ideas.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jul 2023 05:37pm
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Where is it located?
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crowsnest2002
Member
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# Posted: 14 Jul 2023 10:06am
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Site is between 2 narrow valleyed mountains. Very limited sun exposure. There is a stream that runs by with enough head to get a micro hydro going. Also in Pennsylvania.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 14 Jul 2023 01:58pm
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For a 'hunting and weekend' place you would do well, at least initially (and what we do) by having:
a 2000-3000w inverter generator
a 12v 100ah LFP battery c/w a 500ish w 120vac pure sine wave inverter and an LFP friendly charger (min.20amp) to run off the gen.
or, in place of the above battery 'system' a comparable capacity 'all in one' power supply (often called a 'solar generator, which it aint unless you hook it up to a solar array). This type of unit is truly 'plug and play'.
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