What is Sun-Inspired Design?

"Sun-Inspired Home Plans" is a phrase that architect Debbie Rucker Coleman of Sun Plans Inc. started using in the late 1980's when the phrase "passive solar" still had negative connotations based on the extremely contemporary and uninviting solar homes of the 1970's. Her designs were and still are inspired by the movement of the sun and the heat and light that it emits. Sun-Inspired Home Plans has now been shortened to Sun Plans, but the design principles remain the same:

Open, spacious, and full of light

• Inviting and unique (but somewhat traditional) are the characteristics of our exteriors.
• Functional—yet flexible to meet changing needs—is a quality of our floor plans.
• Porches are often included for both shade and outdoor living.
• Your home will feel larger than it is, since it will be full of natural sunlight.
• Simple, cost-effective principles of passive solar heating and passive cooling without the stark look of the solar designs of the 1960's and 70's.
• Comfortable homes year-round.

Simple passive solar concepts

• The sun moves basically in the southern half of the sky.
• In winter, the sun is low and can enter beneath overhangs.
• In summer, the sun is high and is shaded by overhangs.
• A home's shape, orientation, and overhangs all affect the amount of sun that enters at various times of the year.
• Our designs are inspired by the location and movement of the sun.

Adaptable to both hot and cold climates

• In winter, the sun's heat is desired.
• In summer, we want the light but not the heat.
• The amount of heat we want in spring and fall depends upon where we live.
• Customized energy recommendations that come with every blueprint, erasable vellum, or CAD order address the needs of your climate. We recommend any necessary changes in the glazing, insulation, overhang lengths, and thermal mass based on the climatic data for your area...this includes whether or not you should build the sun-tempered or standard passive solar version.

Energy bills will be substantially lower

• Heating costs can be 25 to 50% less due to passive solar heating alone.
• Energy bills will be at least 30% less than a standard home of the same size.
• Up to 90% savings for heating and cooling are possible when combined with careful attention to insulation, caulking, and quality heating and cooling equipment.

Cost-effective, energy-efficient construction

• We emphasize the quality of installation for the insulation and caulking.
• Standard construction details are used and dimensions are usually in 2' increments.
• Most are designed with conventional construction methods with 2x6 exterior walls. Our plans can be modified to include structurally insulated panels (SIPs) and insulated concrete forms (ICFs).
• Increase in construction costs from approximately 0% to 10%.
• Energy savings exceed increase in mortgage payment so your net home expenses are less.

next: Ours vs. Theirs

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