Can anyone direct me to the best sources of information for incorporating solar design and technologies in my new house construction?

I can't afford to pay a high-priced consultant, even if I could find one. I've done a little reading and study, but realize someone with experience, especially in my locale, would know already what it would take me months to figure out regarding angle of roof pitch, degree of magnetic south, etc.

Are there any discussion boards on sustainable construction/renewable energy out there?

Thanks!

-- Alana in VA (lester@erols.com), March 29, 2001

Answers

Just type it into your search engine and read which ever of the 186,000 pages that apply.

-- mitch hearn (moopups1@aol.com), March 30, 2001.

I suggest that you contact a representative of your local utility company. They often have information that deals with your specific area. Also contact governmental agencies and ask for information specific to your area.

There is lots of information available, but it can be a real job to find what is up to date and will work for you.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), March 30, 2001.

Hi,

Surf over to www.homepower.com and plunder around a bit. If you can afford it, you might want to purchase their CD-ROM of back issues. You can download the current issues of the magazine from their website. If I recall correctly, towards the back of the magazine are pages that contain all manner of renewable/alternative resources. Seems like there is a US Gov site that has all the sun angle information and so forth.

Best of Luck.

j

-- j (jw_hsv@yahoo.com), March 30, 2001.

Look in the back issues of Countryside. The issue that covered the Anathoth commune had some pictures of their solar designs. I may not subscribe to their political views, but their greenhouse/residence design looked rather nice.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 30, 2001.

I've been desinging solar houses and solar water heating systems for many years. The best book I've found on solar house design is THE PASSIVE SOLAR ENERGY BOOK, by Edward Mazria.

JOJ

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@ecoweb.net), March 30, 2001.

Your local library would be my first stop. YOu can always make copies of any "keepable" info (DH and I have, on occasion, Xeroxed nearly an entire book, for reference purposes). Anything that they do not have, they can get through the inter-library loan system.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), March 31, 2001.