Population 650 Avg. Walk to Village Center 4.3 minutes Avg. All houses are oriented toward the south, accommodating the use of solar panels. This design also allows south facing windows to be shaded in the summer by an overhang and to take advantage of the low winter sun for space heating. Passive Heating and Cooling.
Homes are well-insulated and incorporate thermal mass.
The mass absorbs excessive heat during the day and dissipates it at night when temperatures drop. Most windows are south facing with overhangs that shade the windows in the summer and allow sun to penetrate the house in the winter. Solar Hot Water Systems. A natural thermosiphon system warms water in a flat plate collector as it rises to an insulated storage tank. No pumps or controls are necessary.