Comments for James Kachadorian

Comment on Sunrise Over the Passive Solar House by C.F.Reed

C.F.Reed — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 21:30:48 +0000

I have just taken your book ‘The passive solar house” out from the local library, 1997 publication. I have come across a similar design to your ‘Solar Slab’ in ‘New Zealand Concrete Construction’ dated August 1982. If and when I ever build a house from scratch, I certainly will be using as much of the concept as I can.
Some problems I have with your book is that it based solely on North American applications,
does not give the option of using metric units, and deals with extremes of climate that we rarely experience here in New Zealand. Would it be possible for you to publish a book in more general, and more international in scope?

Comment on Sunrise Over the Passive Solar House by Jeff Jewell

Jeff Jewell — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 01:35:14 +0000

Good afternoon,

I have just purchased your book about Passive Solar Design after reading the public library version cover to cover. It is rare for me to purchase a book in this way but yours I wanted to keep for the future house I will build.

My question, are there any designs for smaller homes besides the Saltbox design you feature in the book. We will be downsizing in our next home and would love to see some of your basic examples for a 2 - 3 person home.

Any suggestions you have would be most interesting.

Thanks,

Jeff Jewell

Comment on Sunrise Over the Passive Solar House by Rebecca Stults

Rebecca Stults — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 20:22:08 +0000

Hello,
I am looking for someone to design a passive solar home in the Seattle, Wa. area. Specifically for Whidbey Island (south end). Can you recommend someone? Thanks.
R.

Comment on Sunrise Over the Passive Solar House by Maria Hars

Maria Hars — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:38:37 +0000

Hello,

As a Sustainable Residential designer I am looking to design/build a passive solar barn style home in the Jaffrey, New Hampshire area. I am in the midst of reading your book The Passive Solar House and it has given me many wonderful ideas. I love how the Solar-Slab works-very impressive. Electric or Hot water Radiant flooring is based on the same concept (but costs $1000’s of dollars more and has more gadgets). Getting back to basics is what we need to do.

I do have a few questions for you:

Do you know of any concrete and eco-friendly professionals who are knowledgeable with your Solar-Slab in the Jaffrey New Hampshire area?

Banks have a fondness for everything that is not Green except for our currency. In your past experience dealing with these institutions how to do you sell them the concept that you do not need fossil fuel systems in your home to keep you warm?

As in regards to basements or lack of: I am not a fan of basements (growing up with wet moldy basements does the trick), however, New Englanders love their basements. And I have found that many shy away from homes built on slab (unless it’s waterfront). My way of thinking is that passive solar homes work best in New England with a 6-8 inch concrete flooring. Second, basements are notorious for getting wet and mold loves moist basements (water always finds a way where we don’t want it to go). And last, Eco-friendly people love the outdoors. By not having a basement it forces people to go outside and have fun. What is your take on this?

Thank you for writing a great book on a concept that has been around for 1000’s of years. It’s refreshing to know that there are people that still appreciate the simple things in life-where gadgets don’t control their lives.

Best Regards,

Maria JK Hars