The Equinox Two is a larger, but simpler version of our best selling Equinox house plan as seen in Home Power and on the National Tour of Solar Homes. The first floor with three bedrooms is reversed and the rooms are larger. It is wheelchair accessible. The second floor loft has been eliminated, but there are bedrooms in the daylight basement. A brick home with craftsman accents and stucco accents make the Equinox Two low-maintenance. The front is designed to face south. Wide front steps up to the main entry are close to a guest parking area.
First Floor
The front south facing living areas all have vaulted ceilings and will receive full winter sun, while the bedrooms are on the cool north side of the home. The master bath will be sunny in the morning. The east den area is an extension of the master bedroom while the larger great room is close to bedrooms 2 and 3. An elderly parent on the west side has private access to their own bath and balcony and can enter the house from the upper garage/family. A skylight over the stairs brings light into the center of the home.
Daylight Basement
Option The basement has a large entertainment room with doors out to the patio. Guests will enjoy private bedroom and bath away from the main level. With a front entry the large south room (opt. BR 5) is perfect for a home office.
Garage Option
The basement garage is designed to house two vehicles while the upper level has a single car garage for easy access. The basement garage also has a south area to be used as a greenhouse with easy outdoors access.
Construction Info
The Equinox Two is designed to be constructed with a trussed roof, 6" walls (structural insulated panels could be used for the walls), and an ICF (insulated concrete form) foundation. The first floor has 8' ceilings with all first floor south rooms vaulted, but the entire first floor could also be vaulted. To add some thermal mass to the home, a few interior brick (or stone) walls have been added on the east and west walls.
Modification Ideas
Since these ideas may affect energy performance and structural integrity, they should only be undertaken with professional assistance.
- Reverse the master bath and bedroom so the master bedroom has access to the sunny southeast porch and sun deck.
- Build the house on a slab for extra thermal mass and expand the upper garage for more vehicle and shop space.
- Add photovoltaic panels on the roof as shown or solar hot water
Want to study this sun-inspired house design?
Read more about
the drawings available for various Sun Plans.
Ready to build this house plan?
For this plan, the following are included:
Cover/Site Plan
Daylight Basement Plan
First Floor Plan
Exterior Elevations (all four sides in detail)
Building Section (section cut that includes interior view)
Kitchen Elevations Typical Wall Section (showing basement, wall, and roof)
Schematic Electrical Plans (showing outlets, switches, and lights)
Garage Plan (included with main house)
Schematic Floor and Roof Framing Plans
Custom Energy Recommendations (describe how to adapt the homes to your location by adapting the insulation values, windows, thermal mass, overhang lengths, and sometimes framing to accommodate necessary insulation)
Other Options are available with our Custom Services
Custom Energy Specs that describe any recommended adaptations for your climate – insulation values, glass type for the various windows, overhang lengths.
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
