mprince@ruidosonews.com                        

MARCY PRINCE

"...The sometimers, or residents that live here just part of the year can certainly take advantage of a passive solar design.  They will never have to worry about frozen pipes or interior cold damage while they are away."

Mac Deets

Owner, Sunova Builder, Inc.

You just opened your recent gas/electric/propane bill and are astounded at the 31 percent rise in fuel costs in the Ruidoso area.

There are probably many ways to trim energy costs, and one is available here — passive solar heating and cooling, based on an ancient construction method used by the Anasazi cliff dwellers.

 

Since 1983, after attending a passive solar workshop in Albuquerque, Mac and Paula Deets of Sunova Builder, Inc. have been experimenting with designs that offer energy-efficient home construction using techniques that have proven reliable over thousands of years.

Basically passive solar energy utilizes four methods to achieve ultimate energy conservation: south window orientation, daylighting, overhangs and thermal mass materials in the homes construction.

First, it is important to align your home on an east/west axis with the south-facing glass, also called glazing, pointing true south. In many cases this may not be possible, so perhaps 20 degrees to the southeast may be equally optimal. Mac favors Low E windows that absorb sunlight and has designed his home with 18 south-facing windows, seven east-facing windows and four north-facing windows The north-facing windows are small; they offer safety of egress and a small amount of light into an interior room.

Daylighting is a term that refers to the use of skylights, glass block windows or a clerestory — a row of windows near the peak of the roof that allows light and heat to permeate an open living space. In his own entry hall Mac uses glass Block Windows in a clever design on the opposite wall from the main south-facing windows. Not only do the rooms have a greater sense of natural lighting, but the energy stored in these features during the daylight hours provides much-needed heat at night. Overhangs are an essential feature for the summer months for shading purposes. Because the summer sun is more overhead, Mac Deets says, “l can easily calculate the true direction of the summer sun by using a Solar Calculator and place overhangs for optimal shading.”

 

Architectural choices, like the placement of windows, make for economical sense; while decorative details let individual taste shine through. Top, Shawn Deets designed the sun-motif ceiling, with recess lighting and a starburst. Above, the main sun collecting hallway in the Deets' home.

"This is a natural community to take advantage of what the sun has to offer because the weather stays mostly sunny throughout the year."

Mac Deets

Paula, Shawn and Mac Deets dedicate their time to custom homes with passive solar through their company, Sunova Builder, Inc.  One of their custom homes, shown at the top of the page, is visible from Hyw. 220.

Also, as temperatures rise, it is easy to siphon the collected heat out of the house by redirecting ducts into unused attic spaces or outside.

In conjunction with the passive solar system, materials with a high capacity for absorbing and storing heat — brick, concrete, masonry, concrete slab, tile or adobe—must be used in the construction process. This is called thermal mass, a term that refers to the conductivity, specific heat and storage capabilities of a given material. The Deets use painted concrete throughout their living space with no loss of style “Almost any material can be used to collect heat, even water,” Deets says. Sunova (Sun & Nova) Builder, Inc. constructed homes for 21 years in the Albuquerque area. Family in Roswell compelled the Deets to move to Lincoln County and, Mac says, “This is a natural community to take advantage of what the sun has to offer because the weather stays mostly sunny throughout the year.

Since locating here, Mac, Paula and their team of Sunova Builders, including son Shawn Deets, have constructed five passive solar homes.

The inspiration for many of these clever designs are attributed to Shawn, who brings an artisans sense to Sunova homes. The Deets own home, nestled by the Rio Bonito in Ranches of Sonterra, features eclectic displays of Paula’s doll collection and Mac’s tiny die-cast Corvettes.

 

It is a roomy and fetching home and Mac stresses that no unusual or expensive construction materials need be used in such a passive solar home.

In fact, the return on such a home may alleviate sky-rocketing fuel bills. The average propane consumption for area residents is approximately 1,000 gallons per year. At $1.85 a gallon that means a bill of $1,850 annually.

The Deets’ average usage is 250 gallons per year with a bill of $462.

Their propane usage is primarily for hot water and cooking. They also employ a wood-stove as a backup but rarely find it a necessity.

Says Mac “I recently experimented. On a night that the temperature went down to 22 degrees, I turned off all the heaters and did not fire up the wood stove. In the morning the temperature in the house was 62 degrees.”

He adds “the sometimers, or residents that live here just part of the year can certainly take advantage of a passive solar design. They will never have to worry about frozen pipes or interior cold damage while they are away from the area.’ Sunova Builder, Inc. can be reached at 505-336-4903.

 

Please click on the links below to view the articles!

    For Albuquerque Journal Sunday, December 17, 1995 "Proving Their Metal"

    For Su Casa / The New Mexico Homes Magazine (1995-96 Parade of Homes Coverage)

    For 1995 Homes of Enchantment Buyer's Choice Award

    For Homes&Land of Ruidoso and Lincoln County