Solargon: conservation of energy through intelligent design and utilization of super efficient building components to create very green cabins and homes.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Carrick and Sarah's Solargon 30



This is an update of another Sand Creek Park Solargon 30. Sand Creek is an off grid community in northern Colorado. The owners Carrick and Sarah live in Wyoming but retreat to their cabin to get out of town.


This off grid Solargon is complete with solar pv electric and solar hot water heating.
See more for more pictures of this project.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Danny's Solargon


Somewhere near Reno, Nevada.


This is Danny's Solargon 30 arriving at the building site. 


In addition to the Solargon the owners have added a link with additional living space.There is no limit to the creative ways to design your super efficient living space with Solargon. We will add new pictures of this project as it progresses. Contact us for more about starting your dream Solargon eco home.





Thursday, November 8, 2012

Solargon 30

This is an interior shot of the Monlezun Solargon 30. The drywall is finished and painting is underway.     See More

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Stewart Solargon

The Stewart bathroom from the loft. By cutting square blocks of different thicknesses the owners created this interesting wall treatment behind their jetted tub.
  
Vanessa gives the "Thumbs Up" for the interior finishings of this Solargon 30.


Friday, October 12, 2012

Willett Solargon 30

 
Somewhere in Colorado
Chimney Rock on the way to the Willett Solargon cabin.
Solargon visitors
 
Willett Solargon 3030. The Solar array shown here powers this 2,200 sq. ft. off grid cabin.
 
System cotroller
 

                                                                                     Off grit system

 
Cistern with pressure tank.

 
 
 
Compost toilet. See more

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Solargon 30


 The roofing is now completed along with the installaton of the doors and windows.

The framing of the interior walls is also finished and the owners are shown here reviewing the location of switches for electric.

 
As building efficiency is improved with polyurethane closed cell insulation and weatherstriping, Solargons are intentionally made more airtight. Since all buildings require a source of fresh air, a great option is to install a HRV. While opening a window does provide ventilation, the building's heat and humidity will then be lost in the winter and gained in the summer, both of which are undesirable for the indoor climate and for energy efficiency, since the building's HVAC systems must compensate. The use of a HRV introduces fresh air to a building and improves climate control, whilst promoting efficient energy use.
 Above the owner went with a Fantech HRV (heat recovery ventilator). This system has An air-to-air heat exchanger,  an air change central ventilation system that exhausts stale air outdoors and brings in an equal quantity of fresh air to replace it while stealing the heat from the outgoing air to warm up the incoming air.

The owners also went with an on demand efficient hot water heater rather than the standard hot water heater.
Tankless water heaters are much more efficient than normal tank water heaters when it comes to energy usage as they do not waste energy during stand by times. Installing one in your Solargon can lead to a decrease in your energy bill right away, which in turn usually leads to less money you have to shell out each month on your bill. Tankless water heaters can be a more expensive upfront investment, but over the course of its life, the energy savings should pay you back the extra money spent and more.  Visit us again for updates on this super efficient Solargon project.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Solargon Link Complete

View to the west from the farm.
 
The carpenters installed the SIPs roof panels that connect the Solargon to the existing garage. The link and adjacent room in the garage will serve as an office.


 

Friday, September 21, 2012

Stewart Solargon 30 Before and After

 The Stewart Solargon early Summer.


Early fall with landscaping nearly complete.

Solargon Passive Solar

Passive solar design uses sunshine to heat and light homes. It is usually part of the design of the building itself, using certain materials and placement of windows or skylights. A successful passive solar building needs to be very well insulated in order to make best use of the sun's energy. Polyurethane SIPs are unsurpassed in performance and the result is a quiet and comfortable space, free of drafts and cold spots. Passive solar design can also achieve summer cooling and ventilating by making use of convective air currents which are created by the natural tendency of hot air to rise. The octagon shape and open design of a Standard Solargon lends itself well to this end.

In the winter when heating is required, the sun is low in the sky, which allows the heat to penetrate into windows on the south face of a structure. In the summer, south-facing windows are shaded by an overhanging roof to keep out the high hot summer sun. Because much of a building's heat is lost through its windows, the majority of windows in a Standard Solargon building are located on the southeast, south and southwest walls for optimum solar gain. Contact us with any question about investing in your Solargon home or cabin. See Web Album


Saturday, September 15, 2012

Solargon Roof Almost Complete

 Roof panels installed
 This 700 sq. ft. Solargon 30-8 was assembled in 3 days.
The carpenters will now install the link roof panels from the Solargon to the existing garage.
 

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Solargon 30 Ceiling Designs


 The Sutherland Solargon was finished completely with T&G pine.
 Above is the Willett Solargon with drywall, track lighting and fans for a more elegant  look.
 The Stewarts went with both a wood and drywall ceiling.


 



Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Solargon Roof Assembly

The farm.
Key panels and compression ring
 
go together to form the "Celtic Cross".
 
These 4 roof panels are installed first and form a cross and bridge for the rest of the roof panels.
 
Key panels installed.
Final adjustments and the skylight curb bolts of the compression ring are tightened.
Installation of additional roof panels using just the cam locks for now.
 
 The carpenters will then screw the roof panels to the super structure and rafters.
 
View from sky light to the living area below. Come back for more pics or contact us for more about the energy efficient Solargons.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Solargon 30





Malcolm and Ursula in their soon to be assembled Solargon.
 
Today we assembled the crown beams and attached the hardware.
Then up with the rafters and
tomorrow the roof. Come back and see the finished Solargon.
 


Friday, September 7, 2012

Solargon Wall Assembly

                                              


 
 
The Monlezun's Solargon 30 arrives on a flatbed truck.

Unloading
 
 
Started wall assembly at 8:00 am.
 
Finished walls at 10:00 am. 
 



 



Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Off Grid Solargon

 
Sunset Party in Sand Creek.

 Sand Ceek Park in the high plains of northern Colorado (8,500ft above sea level) is not known for mild winters yet the Willett's are comfortable in their energy efficient off grid Solargon home. By combining two Solargon 30's with a connecting link they have designed this beautiful home.


                               Interior pictures of the Willett off grid Solargon home.
                                                                Photo Album.  Contact Us