Simple Solar Homesteading

This is a 12 x 16 house that runs totally off grid. I used 2x6 construction in the exterior walls for added insulation since the house is heated totally by solar (natural window solar heating as well as a “soda can” type solar heater. I also used 10’ side walls for added headroom in the loft area. I opted for a slab foundation as well.

It is set up for solar/wind power, solar water heating, solar heating, and rain water harvesting (running into an underground cistern). For any further hot water/heating needs a propane tank could easily be added for use with a propane wall heater unit and hot water on demand unit for when it is too cold for the solar heater and water heater to keep up.

One space saving feature I included was a wet bath, using the entire bathroom as a shower as well as a corner built composting toilet. There is a 3” lip to prevent water from spilling out into the rest of the house when showering and with a properly gasketed bucket type composting toilet, there should be no issue with flooding the toilet with water.