SolarTerra LLC

SolarTerra LLC will design your home to be energy-efficient, resource-efficient and incorporate your lifestlyle needs...

While incorporating various architectural patterns into your home, we will design your home to be energy-efficient, resource-efficient and incorporate your lifestyle requirements such as hypoallergenic materials and finishes, low-maintenance, security, fire resistance, outdoor spaces, private spaces and anything else important to you. We use our passive solar design expertise coupled with materials and sustainable systems knowledge to design custom homes that are durable, energy-efficient, healthy and "green". SolarTerra LLC uses an "integrated systems" approach throughout the design process to ensure multiple inter-dependent design elements, materials and systems are incorporated effectively and efficiently into your home.

We can recommend and partner with quality local builders to provide a complete Design/Build solution. By doing so, the builder is involved early and can collaborate on design ideas and construction details so eveyone is in sync during the construction phase of the project.

SolarTerra LLC's architectural design services, including the integration of sustainable building materials and systems, are tailored to meet our client's off-grid or conventionally sited home's requirements. SolarTerra LLC provides a Home & Systems Manual with each project describing the passive solar design elements and various systems of the home, as well as how to live in it and maintain the home throughout the years.

Architectural Design Services

• Design innovative, energy and resource-efficient* custom homes tailored to our client's unique requirements
  
  
• Provide complete architectural plans for county approval and building permit issuance
  
  
• Recommend and partner with quality local builders to provide a complete Design/Build solution
  
  
• Stay engaged with the project throughout the construction phases
  
  
• Provide a "Home & Systems Manual" when the home is completed, with a walk-through discussing how to "operate" and maintain a passive solar home and the systems we've installed
  
  
• Provide guidance for various "green building" certifications, when desired
  
  

*Full, integrated architectural design services for off-grid and conventionally sited homes:

Passive Solar Design for Cooling and Heating: site orientation, room layout, glazing sizing and placement, thermal mass sizing and placement, insulation recommendations, ventilation mechanics, backup HVAC sizing

Solar Electric System: rebates, tax credits, array sizing, tie into grid, battery bank sizing (if required), placement and installation requirements, contractor selection

Solar Hot Water System: rebates, tax credits, tank sizing, type selection, collector sizing, placement and installation requirements, contractor selection

Alternative Wall and Roof Systems: Selection of appropriate material for project requirements (straw bale, rammed earth, Rastra Block, E-Crete, etc), installation considerations, product/supplier selection, contractor selection

Rainwater Catchment System: roof and tank sizing, design, water purification design/systems, contractor selection

Gray Water System: code requirements, plumbing design, contractor selection

Alternative Septic Systems and Compost Toilets: sizing, type selection, placement and installation requirements, product selection

Hypo-allergenic Materials, Finishes and Systems: OSB, insulation, floor coverings, paints, lacquers, sealers, adhesives, purification systems, air-exchange systems, sealed vacuum systems

Please contact us for more information about our services and rates.