"A 3% carbon footprint for a large home..."

  • South-Facing Glass and Building Form Collect Heat, Buffer Wind

  • Warm Air Collects in the Hi Return Air to heat the Rock Bin Below

  • Warm Air Collects in the Hi Return Air to heat the Rock Bin Below

  • Stair Tower Draws Warm Air Up and Out Upper Doors/Windows

  • Photovoltaic Collectors are Ganged On-Grade for Venting, Servicing

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Thompson

This Spanish Colonial 5,000 sf. home on Loma Media in Santa Barbara features a rock bin heat recycling, a 5.5 Photovoltaic electrical system, earth duct, and solar hot water. In use, this house is about 96% self sufficient, with the grade-mounted photovoltaic system providing 98% of the electrical. A buried concrete earth duct pre-tempers the air to the furnace, lowering demand, and the rock bin can provide winter warmth and summer coolth as described in the Dzur Residence.