Presently under construction, Desert Shadow is a 2,100 square-foot custom home designed for a remote property in Santa Fe County. The dwelling will be carved into a gentle hillside on the 40-acre site.
The structure’s energy needs will be met completely by off-grid means. An array of photovoltaic panels will provide 50 kw of electrical power, furnishing all of the home’s electrical requirements. Other sustainable features will include passive solar space heating, rainwater harvesting, permaculture landscaping, and solar heating for domestic water. Walls will be insulated to R-40 and roofs to R-80.
Further design features include a residential fire sprinkler system and radon ventilation below slabs. The design anticipates a HERS rating above 50 and qualifies for a New Mexico state tax credit