| When you think about living off the grid or | | | | |
| solar power with connection to the grid, you | | | | So, when you plan your solar home, plan for |
| have already made a basic decision to save | | | | the future. You want to consider designing a |
| planetary energy by using renewable energy | | | | solar system that can constantly grow and |
| resources. Off the grid means not being | | | | change as your needs change and new solar |
| connected to a utility company that delivers | | | | technology becomes available. For instance, |
| electricity over a wide area which means you | | | | if you want to plan a 2,000 square foot |
| are self sufficient. But you could also use | | | | independent family dwelling, you need to |
| solar power and have a connection to a | | | | remember that a builder could make the |
| utility company. | | | | mistake of placing the living room on the |
| | | | wrong side of the house, which may increase |
| To make it simple, a solar home has to be as | | | | the heat in the house. |
| efficient as it can be for things to work in | | | | |
| a balanced manner. It should be built in a | | | | Planning especially involves your personal |
| passive solar style. You probably live in a | | | | habits. If you are a morning person, have |
| passive solar home right now and don't even | | | | your living and or bedroom face towards the |
| know it. Passive solar homes use a room or | | | | southeast so they warm up early with the |
| another part of the structure as a solar | | | | morning sun. If you have a spectacular view |
| thermal energy collector, and in fact, your | | | | to the north, and you must have your living |
| home's windows, walls, and floors collect, | | | | room facing this direction, try to connect |
| store, and distribute solar energy every day. | | | | your north facing living room with a south |
| However, your home may not be very efficient | | | | facing sun room which is situated slightly |
| at using the sun's energy. Your house should | | | | lower than the living room. The warm air will |
| be sealed and insulated top, bottom, and | | | | rise into your living room. |
| sides. A passive solar home has three times | | | | |
| as many windows as a normal home. In your | | | | For every situation, there are a number of |
| home you might have one room that gets toasty | | | | different advantages. Compromises may have to |
| while another is chilly. That's because the | | | | be made in the design of your solar home, but |
| typical home isn't designed to use solar | | | | the results are well worth it. |
| energy to its advantage. | | | | |