What makes your home a Green or Healthy Home?
“KISMET”--A PASSIVE/ACTIVE SOLAR-HEATED HOME AT 7,500 FT
From The Seller:
In the summer of 2009, we decided to build a 100% solar-heated home. We wanted a comfortable and beautiful home in which we would never feel too cold or too warm. We also wanted to live in a more sustainable manner and be completely free of the wilder and wilder increases of fossil fuel prices in this country. As well, it was important to us that we had the option to grow our own food indoors in the winter, and outdoors in the summer. Given the rather short growing season in the Upper Arkansas River Valley, I knew I wanted a greenhouse, but one that was easily accessed from the home; I decided to make it part of my home, so that I could enjoy the warmth, increased oxygen, and humidity from food or ornamental plants while snow was on the ground.
With these thoughts in mind, I researched solar heating systems and their pioneers, and found my solar designer not far away in Crestone, Colorado. He had designed solar systems, solar homes, and had been working in that field doing both since the 1970‘s or it’s inception. I contacted him and we set about designing the passive solar aspects of my home.
We sat together and drew my basic home design/floor plan. It was later enhanced and translated onto paper by our esteemed builder/craftsman, Steve Holmes. After many meetings between the 3 of us, we settled on a final design. Our home took 1 year plus to build.
To date, our home performs beautifully, warm in the winter, cool in the summer. When it is below 0 F outside, we wake up to a 70 degree home. And the attached greenhouse/sunspace never goes below 58-60 degrees F on even the coldest nights.
Passive Solar Design
The home orientation was carefully calculated for maximum solar gain by my solar designer and builder. Also, a substantial amount of “thermal mass” was incorporated into the home, per my solar designer. In the case of “Kismet”, our thermal mass is in the form of poured concrete, interior adobe, and “water tubes”.
The “thermal mass” absorbs sunlight and heat, and in winter when the room cools down after sunset, the thermal mass releases heat into the room. In the summer, the thermal mass absorbs excess heat as well, but does not release it, since rooms do not typically cool down dramatically during summer nights.
Our home was designed to welcome the sun in the winter months...sunlight streams through numerous south-facing windows in the winter months when the sun is low in the sky. In the summer, when the sun is high in sky, the home is light-filled, but not by direct sunlight, and therefore remains cool.
From my own research, I knew that I wanted a home “bermed” by earth on the cold north and as much as feasible on the west. I also knew that I wanted a “sunspace” greenhouse off the main living area facing south/southeast. I chose to design the sunspace to be a natural part of our living area, with easy access and beautiful features and finishes like our home. The sunspace is dual purpose: Through eight windows (also called “glazing” in the solar world), sun streams into the house during the winter months, warming the sunspace and the main living area, but during the summer months when the sun is high in the sky, the sunspace receives no direct rays to speak of. The passive solar design keeps the home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Concrete growing beds and “water tubes” in the sunspace provide the “thermal mass” that is necessary to keep the sunspace at an even temperature throughout the year.
I designed the sunspace to function as a growing space in the winter and transition seasons ONLY. Since I did not want the sun streaming into the house during summer months, I chose not to install roof glass, but incorporated skylights to allow for additional light and added ventilation if needed. I also had shades installed on the skylights to control the overhead sun exposure.
I use the sunspace for growing warm weather vegetables in the winter, and garden “starts” in the spring for later transplanting outdoors.
The sunspace is an enjoyable place to hang out anytime of year with its plants and wonderful views. After an active winter of growing cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuces (my choices...you can grow anything you like), I prefer to retire it for the summer, and hang a few flower baskets, etc. With that said, it is possible to use this space to grow ornamentals as well--anytime of the year. It’s all about personal preference.
Other passive elements to increase the home’s energy efficiency include super insulation. The ceiling value is R-52, and the exterior walls value is R-32. The garage ceiling is insulated at R-35; the garage sheet rocked wall is also insulated well, but I do not recall the R-value. I do know that it is a warm garage, but has no heat source.
Active Solar Systems
Thermal Space Heating/Domestic Hot Water
Our thermal heating system is 100% solar powered through eight solar panels on our roof, installed behind a clerestory feature, so they are not visible from the street. The heat is radiant-style, and travels through PEX tubing underneath our concrete floors, which are 4 inches thick. We elected to install what is called a “drain-back” system. The “drain-back” system heats water in the rooftop collectors, then transfers the solar heated water from the collectors to the home interior...in this case, to the radiant concrete floor and/or the domestic water tank.
What results is an EVENLY warm home interior during the coldest weather, with absolutely no unintended “cold spots”. We elected not to run PEX in our food pantry.
We also designated a second storage area to remain cool (no PEX) for additional food storage. This room can easily be used as a second office or a craft room; it may be 5 degrees cooler than the surrounding areas, and that is when the door has remained closed.
Our greenhouse/sunspace contains no active heating system, but never goes below 58-60 degrees F, even during the coldest weather. I chose to install doors between the sunspace and living room, but rarely close both of them.
The solar thermal system also provides us with all of our domestic hot water needs. Both the space heating and the domestic hot water systems are backed up with electricity. This system would engage only in the event of a string of cloudy days. We also installed a large wood burning stove for use on cloudy days. We rarely use the stove, but it will heat the entire house and greenhouse quite easily. It is a Hearthstone soapstone stove, which is superior in its radiant qualities.
The upstairs room (above garage) is heated by solar (PEX tubing in the adobe wall), and electricity (PEX tubing in the Gyp-crete floor).
Photovoltaic System
We had a 3.2 Kw photovoltaic system installed to offset our electric usage. Our home is 100% electric, so this has helped considerably. Our monthly electric bills range from $38.00 at their lowest, to approximately $100.00 at their highest.Property Description
This is the high-end value every buyer is looking for! This is by far more than a
mountain home; it is a work of art! Notable features alone, such as passive and active solar, energy efficient utilities (Approx. $40.00 a month), location and high-end finishes, set this property apart from anything else in the surrounding area. This home cannot be replicated from the ground up for the asking price! The craftsmanship and intuitive sense of scale elevates this home to another category all together. A combination of masterful design, remarkable expertise, and impeccable panache makes this a rare opportunity for incredible savings!
While this home is already very well priced, it has been reduced to reflect an incredible savings to you of $100,000! If you are serious about owning a home in
Salida, Colorado that compares to no other, call today and schedule to view this home, you will not be disappointed. Act Now to take advantage of this once in a
lifetime opportunity!Neighborhood Description
Beautiful, peaceful, private. Saddle Ridge Ranch offers open space that forever protects the views and over building. There are amazing views of snowcapped peaks! The 2 acres is very usable, plenty of trees to make the home feel secluded, yet you are only 5 miles to downtown Salida! The surrounding homes are beautiful and great neighbors!Market Area
The Colorado mountain town of Salida sits in the middle of the state, literally in the "Heart of the Rockies," about 2 hours from Colorado Springs and 3 hours from Denver. Salida is a quaint Western retreat for everyone,an outdoor enthusiast's dream! The Arkansas River runs through town where you will can shop, eat casual or fine dining! Come see for yourself!School District
Salida Schools represent the best of many worlds. Salida is an education community that has supported their schools unequivocally. Residents can enjoy the gorgeous mountains just off their doorstep and still rest assured that they are getting a first rate education. Salida is ranked 23 out of 182 districts in the state in 2012. Salida School District was the only district in the state of Colorado to show significant gains in the areas of Reading, Writing, and MathCommunity
Very welcoming, giving, up and comingLocation of Home or Land
Rural
Elevation of Home
Mountain
Air Quality
| Agriculture in Area | yes |
| Industry in Area | yes |
| Air Pollution in Area | no |
| Pesticide Free | yes |
| Fragrance Free | yes |
| Cleaned with Green Products | yes |
Interior Environment
| Heating System | Electric Radiant |
| Cooling System | Other |
| Ventilation System | Other |
| Whole House Filtration | Other |
| Whole House Vacuum | no |
Energy & Water
| Energy System | Solar - Photovoltaic |
| Water System | Well |
| Wastewater System | Septic System |
Construction Information
| Construction Type | Adobe |
| Exterior Finish | Stucco |
| Interior Finish | Gypsum Board - Sheet Rock |
| Interior Paint | Other |
| Floor Material | Concrete |
| Roof Material | Metal |
| Window Material | Metal Dual Glazed |
| Insulation Material | Air Crete |
Garage / Car Port
| Garage / Carport | yes |
| Garage Type | attached |
| Number of Cars | 2 |
| Garage Area | 350 sqft |
