Category Archives: Free Plans

8×20 Solar House Update… Free Plans Nearly Complete

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Michael Janzen

For the past two weeks I’ve been test driving Google SketchUp Pro and have come to a simple conclusion. Unless you’re a professional I think you’ll be able to do much more than you’ve ever dreamed with the free version … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Plans | Tagged 3d, 8x20, free plans, google layout, google sketchup, google sketchup pro, house plan, house plans, illustration, sketchup, solar house, sustainable architecture, tiny house | 10 Comments

More about my exploration with Google SketchUp Pro

Posted on July 18, 2009 by Michael Janzen

My 8-hour free trial with Google SketchUp Pro and Google Layout must be almost at an end. I realized early on that I could continue to draw with the free 3D version on my laptop which allowed me to draw … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Plans | Tagged 2d, 3d, architectural drawing, drafting, free plans, google layout, google sketchup, illustration, solar house, tiny house | Leave a comment

8×20 Solar House Plans – Progress Report

Posted on July 14, 2009 by Michael Janzen

For the past few days I’ve been exploring Google SketchUp Pro while working on my next set of free tiny house plans. I still have a bit of work to do but as you can see I’m making good progress. … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Plans | 12 Comments

One More Competitor For The Next Free Plan I Draw

Posted on April 10, 2009 by Michael Janzen

I really want to thank everyone for leaving all the great comments on the last few posts. The input has really been inspiring and you’re coming up with ideas and issues that probably wouldn’t have occurred to me without sharing … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Plans | Tagged camp house, free plans, house plans, solar house, tiny house | 4 Comments

Which Tiny House Plans Should I Draw Next?

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Michael Janzen

Which tiny house plans should I draw next? I warmed up on some smaller plans and now I’m ready to try something a little more complicated. Each of these tiny houses would sit on a 7′ x 20′ trailer and … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Plans | Tagged 8x20, free plans, poll, vote | 17 Comments

Improved Solar Panel Set-Up

Posted on April 6, 2009 by Michael Janzen

Honestly I’m trying to keep this simple, no really. I could just slap an RV photovoltaic (PV) panel rack on the roof and be done with it but it just seems like that would be harder to live with day-in … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Plans | Tagged 8x16, active solar, Free Plans, free plans, passive solar, solar house, solar tiny house, tiny solar house | 14 Comments

Alternate Solar Panel Integration – Tiny Solar House

Posted on April 5, 2009 by Michael Janzen

I was up late last night drawing some Tiny Solar House updates that included a way of integrating photovoltaic solar panels into the design. This morning I’m thinking that my previous solution won’t work very well.Based on the early comments … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Plans | Tagged 8x16, free plans, photovoltaic panels, solar house, tiny house | 15 Comments

Updated Tiny Solar House Plans

Posted on April 5, 2009 by Michael Janzen

I just finished making some refinements to the Tiny Solar House plans based on the suggestions I got from my last post. I’ve added a little more bracing in the walls, an alternate floor plan, a materials list (with cost … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Plans | Tagged floor plan, framing plan, free plans, photovoltaic array, solar house, solar panels, tiny house, tiny solar house | 15 Comments

5×8 Tiny Market House – Free Plans

Posted on April 3, 2009 by Michael Janzen

I just finished the first pass of the Tiny Market House free plans. This would be a tiny house on a trailer for artisans and other street market sellers to transport and market their wares. In other words it’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Plans | Tagged booth, crafts fair, farmers market, Free Plans, free plans, house plans, market house, tiny house | 4 Comments

8×16 Free Tiny House Plans

Posted on March 31, 2009 by Michael Janzen

It’s 1:00 AM and I just put the finishing touches on the first version of the 8×16 free tiny house plans. This house is designed to be an inexpensively built passive solar tiny house on a trailer. In the next … Continue reading →