Best Of 96+ Captivating Solar Type House Design Trend Of The Year

Passive solar house designs are the most cost-effective type of solar house design. Passive solar homes use natural channels such as windows, skylights, and doors to direct sunlight into the home, thereby reducing the need for additional heating and cooling appliances. Passive solar house plans usually consist of materials like brick, stone, plaster, or metals that can easily store heat during the day and release it at night. This type of solar house design is often beneficial to the environment since no additional energy sources like fossil fuels are needed to heat and cool the home.

Passive solar house plans are cost-effective designs that incorporate energy-efficient materials and design features to capture heat, light, and ventilation while also reducing energy costs. Passive solar house designs typically orient east-facing windows to capture maximum solar gain throughout the day, and uses clever landscaping techniques to help regulate temperatures. Typical components of passive solar house plans include south-facing glazing, thick thermal walls, overhangs to allow for air circulation, and properly-oriented window awnings.

Ground-source heat pump solar house designs use a natural heat source located beneath the surface of the earth to generate low-cost electricity for heating and cooling. The technology behind this type of solar house design harnesses energy from the sun and uses it to heat the interior of the home. This process also helps to reduce the amount of energy that needs to be used and thus reduces the cost of heating and cooling. Additionally, ground-source solar house designs are often more environmentally friendly than traditional homes since less energy is used overall.

Earthship solar house designs are environmentally friendly structures that use natural elements such as solar panels, water systems, and local materials to reduce energy costs. Earthship designs typically use low-impact building techniques, such as straw bale walls, rainwater cisterns, and solar panels, in combination with recycled materials to reduce both energy costs and environmental damage. Earthships are often designed to be aesthetically pleasing, incorporating wood, stucco, and other earthy elements to create a pleasing, sustainable design.

Solar RV house designs are the perfect solution for those who want to travel with an energy-efficient and green home. These solar-powered recreational vehicle designs often feature solar panels, battery storage, and inverters that simplify the electrical needs of an owner. Solar RV house designs are also often equipped with features such as composting toilets, graywater systems, and back-up generators to provide a comfortable, modern living experience for owners while remaining energy-efficient and low-impact.

Environmentally-friendly solar house designs are not only cost-effective, but they are also environmentally responsible. These designs maximize energy efficiency while minimizing the amount of energy used. Homes designed in this manner often feature solar-panel arrays, low-VOC paint, natural lighting systems, and high-efficiency windows and insulation to provide maximum efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. Other features may include rainwater-harvesting systems, solar-powered fountains, and feature walls that can help reduce energy consumption.

Grid-connected solar house designs tap into the public electricity grid to provide supplemental or backup power in the event of an emergency. These types of designs are ideal for those who wish to reduce their energy costs and enhance their overall home value. Grid-connected solar house designs typically employ solar-panel arrays and a battery-storage system to provide power even when the grid is not available. Some designs may even allow for the sale of excess power to the public electricity grid, further increasing the value of the home.

Net-zero solar house designs are built with the intention of producing the same amount of energy as the house consumes. This type of solar house design maximizes renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines, while reducing reliance on traditional energy sources like coal and natural gas. To achieve net-zero energy performance, net-zero solar house designs must not only produce clean energy, they must also reduce energy costs by optimizing the house’s energy efficiency and reducing consumption through improved materials and insulation.

Off-grid solar house designs are self-sustaining designs that do not require any electricity from the local power grid. These types of designs are often found in remote areas, and they are built to eliminate the need for long-distance energy transmission. Off-grid solar house designs can make use of components such as solar panels, wind turbines, and generators to power everyday devices. To reduce the amount of energy that needs to be consumed from these sources, off-grid solar house designs often incorporate energy-efficient materials, appliances, and insulation.

Solar Decathlon house designs are competition-level solar house designs that compete at the national level for energy-efficiency accolades. This type of solar house design focuses on creating an energy-efficient home while incorporating sustainable living elements such as natural lighting, low-energy heating & cooling systems, and water conservation. Solar Decathlon house designs are judged by a panel of energy experts based on their energy consumption, energy production, energy resiliency, and total cost.

High-performance solar house designs are designed to squeeze as much energy-efficiency as possible out of a single solar house design. These types of solar house designs typically employ the highest-grade materials to reduce energy consumption, as well as cutting-edge energy-saving technology such as solar shingles and smart home devices. High-performance solar house designs are becoming increasingly popular due to their ability to save homeowners money and reduce their overall energy consumption.