Tag Archives: passive solar

Thermal Mass vs Insulation

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Michael Janzen

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to write more on specific tiny house design considerations. This first post is about two things that often get confused, thermal mass and insulation. Both can help regulate the temperature inside a home … Continue reading →

Posted in How To | Tagged alternative energy, insulation, passive solar, solar, sustainable architecture, thermal mass | 12 Comments

Sawtooth Saltbox

Posted on December 23, 2009 by Michael Janzen

The following is a guest post and house design from one of my regular readers, Craig Moorhouse. As you can see the design isn’t exactly tiny but contains so many great ideas and detail I asked Craig if for permission … Continue reading →

Posted in Design Concept | Tagged Craig Moorhouse, design concept, earthbag, passive solar, saltbox, sawtooth, shipping container, sketchup | 9 Comments

Usonian Inspired Home by Joseph Sandy

Posted on October 27, 2009 by Michael Janzen

Usonian homes were originally the invention of Frank Lloyd Wright with the first example, The Jacobs House, which was completed in 1937. He imagined these as small low-cost single-family homes that were designed unlike many of the common homes of … Continue reading →

Posted in Plans | Tagged Frank Lloyd Wright, Joseph Sandy, modern architecture, passive solar, The Jacobs House, Usonian | 10 Comments

Tiny Dogtrot House – Part 2

Posted on June 3, 2009 by Michael Janzen

I got so much great feedback on the last Tiny Dogtrot House design concept that I decided to whip up a revision. Below is a slightly modified variation that now includes a screened porch between the two 8′ by 12′ … Continue reading →

Posted in Design Concept | Tagged architecture, dogtrot, google sketchup, passive solar, photovoltaic, solar house, sustainable, tiny house, tiny solar house | 15 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

8×16 Free House Plans Coming Along Nicely

Posted on March 27, 2009 by Michael Janzen

I want to thank everyone who provided feedback on my first post of this 8×16 tiny house plan. It was really great to see it through more eyes. I was also able to incorporate many of the suggestions and have … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Plans | Tagged 8x16, free plans, house plans, passive solar, shed roof, solar house, solar tiny house, tiny house, turnbull | 27 Comments