Casa de la Tierra
Half buried within the Paleozoic sandstone grows the “Casa de la Tierra”, our passive solar, semi-earth sheltered home. The design incorporates a solar greenhouse on the south side, which is buried 4 feet into the earth. Adjoining the greenhouse on either side are additional windows, which will provide passive solar heat. The strategic placement of windows within the greenhouse and house will allow the solar heated air to circulate within the living space.
Our “air conditioning system” consists of subterranean vents on the north side. As cool air enters the house through these vents, warm air is exhausted through a series of turbine vents on the upper area of the slanted ceiling. In a light wind, all interior air will be replaced in approximately 8 minutes….cool!
We will also use a woodstove (burning the dead and down wood from our 40 acres), solar water heaters, solar hot tub, and outdoor shower. And of course, a solar electric system since we are off the grid (and satellite TV- Yeah!)
Our composting toilet and graywater system will allow us to continue to use our water wisely, since every drop of drinking water has to be hauled in. Our current annual water use is just over 20,000 gallons, which provides for us, our 3 dogs and 2 gardens, 2 cats and 5 chickens. A rainwater collection system will supplement our summer water use.
Our concrete filled block walls will be covered on the outside with native red sandstone, resulting in an 18 inch thick wall (not a lot of R value, but Mucho thermal mass).
All of our 31 windows and 3 exterior doors have been recycled from various locations!
A solarium which will be added after completion, will be comprised also of used building materials.
We see ourselves as responsible stewards of the land, and are being as Green as is humanly possible for us to be in the building and ongoing operation of our home. Our limited use of propane for cooking and optional water heating keeps our carbon footprint at a minimum.
