Life In Our Community – Village Homes, Solar Energy and Community

By The GoodHome Group

Village Homes, Davis – Solar Energy and Community

This is not just any subdivision; homes have small private lots in order to save room for shared orchards, vineyards and gathering spaces. One key to the success here is each home is oriented east-west so it has most windows and a long plane of roof facing south. This is the critical element to passive solar design. The eaves of each house come out to protect the windows from high summer sun, but allow low winter sun to enter the home and heat the cement slab floors (which then act as a heat sink, keeping a fairly constant temperature in the house). This reduces heating and cooling bills substantially.

People garden together, play on the fields and in the playgrounds and share life in general. The place is a wonder to behold. If you are looking for a peaceful, fun walk in the afternoon or evening, definitely check this place out.