Walton sited the house toward the south, for good reason. The large, south-facing, energy-efficient windows have a high SHGC rating that allows solar heat to warm the home, thus reducing the need for mechanical heating. The windows bring in abundant natural light, as well, reducing the need for lighting that requires electricity (except at night, of course). The windows, in combination with a completely sealed and well-insulated building envelope, have made the home’s passive solar heating strategy possible.

The home utilizes radiant electric-heat panels developed by Thermaray. The panels are hidden behind thick drywall ceilings, allowing the drywall to capture more of the released heat. Thick drywall (5/8”) and concrete floors act as thermal mass that helps absorb and retain heat gain from the passive solar heating as well. As temperatures drop at night, the heat from the sun that was captured during the day is released into the home. Two solar thermal panels integrated into the exterior finishes supply to part of the household’s solar thermal/on-demand hot water heating.