Doug Kalmer's Solar Projects

Doug Kalmer has contributed 9 great solar and renewable energy projects to Build-It-Solar. Full details are provided below for each project.

The 9 projects cover the passive solar home that he built in the 80's as well associated passive greenhouse, solar water heaters, and an efficient masonry stove.

Doug has been "walking the walk" on low impact and sustainable living since the 80's and there is much to learn from he and his wife's approach to living.

A video tour of Doug's solar home ...

Doug and two of the collectors he uses. The lower one heats water for his shop/studio, and the upper is a solar air heater for the glass studio.

Here are Doug's projects:

"Why Solar Makes Sense" -- Doug's philosophy on why sustainable solar living makes sense.
Doug's Solar house -- built in the mid 80's and doing very well.
Slipform wall construction -- a technique for making energy efficient and beautiful walls.
Doug's masonry stove -- a variation on the traditional masonry stove providing most of the advantage with less work.
Efficient DIY thermal shades -- homemade thermal shades to reduce window heat loss.
Solar Greenhouse -- an attached greenhouse for plant starting with some home heating as well.
Solar Water Heater - closed loop & PV pumped -- a closed loop solar water heater using a solar electric pump and control.
Solar Water Heater -- thermosyphon -- a simple with passive solar water heater with no moving parts.
"Hot Water -- Cold Beer" -- a homemade heat pump that cools beer and heats water.
Doug's 4.6 KW Grid-Tied PV System

Thanks very much to Doug for providing this material!

You can reach Doug at: dougkalmer AT gmail DOT com (replace AT with @, and DOT with a period)

Jan 8, 2008, Jan 27, 2008, July 7, 2008, March 2012