New, and a question about comfort...

[fignozzle]

Hello all,

We're still very much gathering information and wanting to get off-grid. We're looking for land in or near Harris Co., GA, where we might start with a yurt or a cabin.

Heat is pretty easily achieved, wood stove or wood pellet or similar.

The thing I haven't really seen addressed is: how to stay cool?

My wife's from Ohio, and I grew up in Northern Virginia, and we really have never gotten used to the blistering South Georgia heat. In particular, sleeping at night is the primary concern. I'm a little less affected, but my wife is concerned that she will be totally miserable in the summer with 80+ degrees at night.

How have you all solved this, what has your experience been?

Thanks in advance,
Figgy

[kawalekm]

Hi Figgy
There are lots of important considerations when attempting to keep your future home cool without expending massive amounts of energy.

The single most important criteria is site selection. *Sun exposure, prevailing winds, shade trees, ground slope. *A north facing exposure will be cooler than a southern one. *Building under a big shade tree is another.

During the design phase of construction there are things you can do to greatly improve heating and cooling. *Build with 2X6 walls instead of 2X4 so you can pack more insulation. *Orient doors and windows away from the southern exposure to reduce solar gain. *Higher ceilings let heat rise above you. *Instead of a standard 8 foot wall, you might build with 10 or even 12 foot walls. *Design the cabin so air flow can naturally rise from the north side of the cabin and out the upper space. *Position your bedroom on the north side of the cabin. *
Check out your local public library. *You should be able to find lots of house design books that talk in detail about heating and cooling issues. *Pay attention to Mediteranean or Middle Eastern design styles. *These people have be trying to stay cool for millennia, so they have the best ideas on passive cooling.

I'd forget about trying to be comfortable in a yurt. *Set up the yurt as tempary housing while you are building your cabin. *After you move in, save the yurt for visitors.
Good luck,
Michael

[LeatherneckPA]

You might consider Free Home Air Conditioning (http://mb-soft.com/solar/saving.html). It should work, even in South Georgia.

[rAcErRicK]

Afternoon guys. I'm with you fig. I can take the heat during the day, but trying to sleep in a puddle of sweat is just impossible. You'll die in sw fl without air anymore. The oak trees help a lot. It's amazing how they do these new subdivisions anymore, first thing they do is push up every single tree on the entire property, before anything else is done. Insane!

That was real interesting Leather, about the 4" pvc buried air ducts. I'd never really read any about that. If I was gonna' build a house on some ackerage, outside of the underground house, that would definately be the way to go. Thanks for the site. The heat is bad enough, but when you add in the humility (pun) it becomes impossible. Funny thing though, when I was a kid, I remember going into the first air conditioned store in town. Wow, we didn't know it was hot outside untill then.

rick

[bookwormom]

how timely, Leatherneck posted about free airconditioning. we live in a strawhouse, so it does not cost quite so much to cool, but yeah, we use an airconditioner. I could not stand the heat. with cold you can always get warm, but with hot, what can you do, you can only take off so many clothes and then what. good luck and keep cool.

[wy0mn]

http://southwest-solar.com/productcatalog/item.nhtml?profile=productcatalog&UID=134

I had intended to get one of these but our nights can shed 40F, or more, from the daytime high. A simple 12vdc ceiling fan suffices for me.

[fignozzle]

Thanks Everybody! I'm finding this forum full of the MOST helpful folks! All looking for some freedom & independence, too!

LeatherneckPA, that "Free A/C" is an AWESOME design.
Question: Is that what they call a "swamp cooler"? I had heard of those in the past, and had forgotten about 'em.

Looks like the critical part of the install is making sure you get good drainage, so water doesn't pool/stand and grow critters. ;)

[Naughty_Pines]

Fig.....

A swamp cooler is one you fill with water and it runs down the back and and maybe the sides and cools through evaporation.

I have a basement that is surrounded on three sides by dirt. I could draw air fron there into the living area and that would be similar to what he was talking about. My basement stays about 60 degrees year around.

NP