Our adobe homes are greenbuilt to save energy costs. Their passive solar design features a high thermal mass with 16” adobe walls and concrete floors - slow to heat up and slow to cool down. This is enhanced by having more windows on the south side than the north, to catch the warmth of the winter sun. Overhangs and awnings shield these windows from the higher, hotter summer sun. Deep shady porches are placed on the north side of the houses.

 

Insulated, vented double roofs allow hot air to rise before penetrating the building. The compact shape of our units (joined together in blocks of two to four) reduces exposure to hot or cold outside air, and doors are well sealed. However, on cool summer nights many residents open north and south windows to let the air flow cool their house. A high efficiency heat pump with heat exchanger allows more precise temperature control.

 

Solar panels on every roof provide very hot water for most of the year, with an electrical backup for cold weather. And in the Sonoran desert, who really needs a clothes drier? Many of us save energy and even time by using a traditional clothesline.

 

Combining design features with sensible use of power, residents can spend less than $50 per month on power bills.