Regardless of whether you are grid connected or off-grid most homes ca reduce
electricity and heating costs with a few inexpensive passive solar projects.

The first project I recommend is a solarium porch.

If you have a door on the south side of your house you can create a small
solarium porch that will greatly increase daytime heat on sunny cold winter
days.

The solarium porch is basically a small greenhouse but is used to collect the
heat from the sun and allow it to enter the house either through an open door or
window (thats why its called passive).

If you have ever sat in a car with the windows rolled up on a sunny winter day
you have seen how hot the car can become. This is how the solarium porch works.
It also is used as an air lock to keep cold air from pushing into the house when
you open the house door.

If you already have a porch it should be a simple matter to enclose this in
plastic or glass. Seal all air leaks and install a door. Make a dead air space
by putting one layer of plastic on outside of porch frame and one on inside.
This dead air will act as insulation keeping more warm air inside the solarium.
An old storm door works well or build your own from 2x2s and plastic.

You do not need thermal mass in a solarium porch and any objects painted black
especially metal objects may get very hot and could burn a child or pet.

You could build small 8x8 covered porch over an exterior door or window out of
2x4s for under $50 or free from salvage and storm doors.

HOW IT WORKS:

On sunny winter days the solarium will collect the suns ray as heat and you just
open your door or window to let this heat inside your home. Remember to close
the door when sun goes down or you will lose the heat. The airlock will keep
more heat from escaping when people are coming and going. Also can be used for a
great sunny place to sit on cold winter days.

I use my solarium in winter only and uncover it in summer. I rarely have to use
my furnace for daytime heat.

LaMar
www.simplesolarhomesteading.com