Update on our house building effort. Started a facebook page to document the progress. Haven't gotten very far in the process but making progress. I'm learning a lot. The study gets very overwhelming at times and then I come to terms with it for a while and then it gets overwhelming again. I keep plugging along.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Our-Passive-Solar-House/574553319301282

Built an underground house back in 1985, still living in it. No sky lites. All vertical penetrations are in locations that easy to deal with they did leak. Didn't turn out to be a problem. Terra dome design. 12' ceilings, no center structural walls. 1920 sq ft. Uses passive solar with 4 ft overhangs to keep the summer sun out. House is heated with wood. Also heat with solar air space heaters (beer can). All dishes and antennas are hidden yet functional. Going to install solar hot water collectors for hot water in house and to heat house for back up. House is very quiet, takes quite a storm to hear it inside. Also have a safe room in case a tornado should come thru. A/C isn't needed. Natural light in every room but the bathroom and mechanical room.

Can take a week off and don't have any heat on over Xmas and New Years in Wi. House will be at 60 -65 degrees when get back.

Has a kid size sledding hill.

People like to park their cars on top of the house for pictures....