this is exactly the type of submissions that Campfire really needs.

I completely agree, airdale.

There is one big problem though and its shared by the current series on Passive Solar building. No one has the time to do all this. To do the 'buildout' you would have to do would take lots of funds and enormous investment in time.

Absolutely. Few (us included) could even get out of the house they're in now to start anew somewhere. So we're stuck where we're at - and I think what would be most helpful is thinking through how to make the best of the current situation. For example, our house is oriented all wrong for passive solar and is one of those raised ranches (of which there are zillions in the Midwest) that are poorly designed for any other type of heating - like masonry stoves, for example.

We got quotes for solar electric last year, but what we mainly learned is that our money is best spent elsewhere - like more insulation and toward a couple of woodstoves. It did make me realize how little electricity we really "need" - absolute bare minimum - enough to power the freezer (loaded with locally raised beef, turkey and veggies from our own garden) and the blower for the furnace.

We do live on a bus line and could, if we had to, ride our bikes to just about anywhere we really need to go. And we live in a great neighborhood, where we and some others are helping each other improve the productivity of our gardens and learn to raise chickens. (Luckily our city allows that in backyards.)

Todd's example is interesting and instructive, but not very practical for the vast majority of us at this stage of the game...

lilith