This passive solar adobe house is designed to be comfortable and economical. The adobe bricks, sourced from the Tularosa Basin, are among the most solid and durable construction materials available and possess excellent insulation properties. The house has been featured in various magazine articles emphasizing its uniqueness and efficiency. The house is oriented with large windows facing south to collect heat during the winter months. The roof’s slope and overhang were designed to provide solar shading from April 15 to October 15. The passive solar system also includes clerestory windows, a sunroom that serves as a collector for the entire house, and 14-inch-thick adobe walls along with brick floors that store heat during the day and release it at night. Air circulates throughout the home using natural convection and ceiling fans. The six clerestory windows and the expansive wall of windows in the sunroom all feature rolling shutters outside to regulate heating. Windows on the other sides of the house are minimized to avoid summer heating and winter losses. These features ensure comfortable heating at near-zero cost in winter and maintain cool interiors during hot summer days. The lot was chosen because it slopes toward the South. The pecan trees in the grove were planted in rows, so water naturally flows from tree to tree. The pecan trees provide shade, making the lot cooler, and they also produce many pecans. There is plenty of space in this home with 4 bedrooms, a formal dining room, breakfast room with a bay window and a living room complete with a fireplace. The adjoining sun room is perfect for relaxation and your plants will love it. A special sewing or craft room is perfect for the crafter in the house. Concrete countertops, plenty of cabinets and a large, climate controlled pantry makes cooking easy for the chef of the house. Don't miss out on this one of a kind home. Passive solar will make your pocket book happy!
Listing courtesy of 13. Selling Office: 13.