- This web site has been created entirely with solar
and wind power - (best viewed at 800 x 600
resolution - images will appear a little small at 1024 x
768)
Homer the "Lap Dog"
and Commander Ghost of the Solar
Haven Desert Pack Rat Patrol
Four years ago...
(and not
exactly being spring chickens at ages 45 and 59) we purchased four acres in the Sonoran
Desert foothills west of Tucson. There was no house and also no road or water or
power, but incomparable natural beauty, quiet, and
peacefulness.
"On a clear day you can see forever..."
.
The first steps were to grade in a road, dig a
septic system, and move in a mobile home as a temporary residence. Then we
began working toward converting the mobile home into an energy efficient,
attractive, and comfortable place to live.
We
added...
extra insulation to all the outside walls, the roof, and
underneth the floors.
we
had the place completely stuccoed.
we also
built a front deck, carport, and storage
shed...
At the same time... (err... not
such a good an idea since welearned there are not 37 hours in
the day), we worked toward self-reliance and independence from conventional
utilities...
After two
years of... blood
(the usual cuts and scratches), sweat (golly
gee, it really does get hot in the desert), and tears (of
exhaustion and frustration and of joy), we
begin construction on a new and permanent home.
Built of
bales of straw...
Click HERE for pictures of all phases of
construction plus:
- design details - floor plan diagram - a complete budget of
what the house is costing
Perhaps the best part of all ... is the remarkable
beauty of our Sonoran Desert
home.
(view from back yard)
("Cholla Cactus" and "Fishhook Barrel Cactus" in flower next to the
house)
(view from
front yard)
So many
interesting neighbors have introduced
themselves.
3 -
Keeps the air warm in our greenhouse to grow
vegetables and herbs year round
4 - Heats
water in our "Thermomax" Hot Water
Heating Unit to provide all the domestic hot water we need and also
all the water needed for the radiant heating system in the floors to
heat our house
THANKS ! To the special folks who have helped with Solar
Haven:
Rush Dougherty,
Ann and Ron Serandos, Joanie McNiece, Rick Frazier and Andiron, Warren Luzon
at "Northern Arizona Wind and Sun", Rod Hyatt at "In Hot Water and Heating",
John, Marilyn, Jason, and Roger at "Sun-Southwest", Art and Katherine
Jacobson, Dennis Williams, Tina Monaghan and Jake, Rette and Rick, Lyndol
Michael, Shay, Christine and Lacy, Ben and Maria, Kristen and Shannon,
Paul Huddy, Michael Smith
Copyright
2000-2003 by Jim Phypers
A CALL FOR HELP TO KEEP
SOLARHAVEN.ORG ON THE INTERNET...
Our web site has grown and grown
in both size and popularity and is now receiving a rather incredible 2.7
million hits per year with a bandwidth of over 5.0 GB per month. Since we
are living on a small fixed income now and have used up the "nest egg" with
which we came to Arizona, we could use a little help meeting server costs and
keeping solarhaven.org on the Internet. A small donation would be much
appreciated. At the same time you will be helping us in our mission to promote
a simpler, saner, self-sufficient, and sustainable way of living on our
troubled and endangered planet.
Donations can be made
through PayPal and will be shown as "solarhaven.org" on your credit card or
bank debit card...
Thanks!
This Solar Haven site contains 40 separate web pages, over 250
photographs and diagrams, and considerable technical information.
Try using the search engine
below to find specific things you are looking for...
Solar Electric (PV) System
Wind Generator
OUR FRIEND - THE SUN !
A CALL FOR HELP TO KEEP
SOLARHAVEN.ORG ON THE INTERNET...