Solar house?

Question

I'm building a mini solar home for my Ap Environmental class, and I was having a hard time looking for building materials that hold heat. Also we have to find a way to keep it cool during the summer and warm during the winter. We have no solar panels it's just the sun. Basically pasive solar. Anyone have any idead on any materials that we could use?

Answer 1

Check out 'earthships'. Earth sheltered homes are great insulators, providing both heat in winter and cool in summer if properly configured.

Answer 2

Have you looked into the possibility of strawbale?  It is an amazing insulator and if you have your windows oriented correctly and at least a 18 inch overhanging roof, you will have passive heating and cooling.  Use either a packed earth or concrete slab foundation to absorb thermal heat for the winter and the overhangs will cool the air in the summer before it enters the open windows in the summer.  Very efficient and inexpensive to build.  And it uses very renewable resources in construction.  

A small group of about 10 people can build it from start to finish in about 3 weeks.  Most of that time is to allow the curing of the concrete and the mud plaster for the walls.