Anyone Know Anything About Passive Solar Design?

We have been looking into solar panels and it looks like it really takes a long time to reep the benefits, adding on to our existing home at least. 40% of our electricity would come from the solar panels.

What they would do is take what our current electric company charges us per kwh, and then we would pay 40% of our bill each month to the solar company. Energy rates keep rising, but our solar would be locked for 20-30 years. So they estimate our rates will go up, but since the 40% is locked, that's how we save.

Of course we could spend the $30k and pay for the system outright, but I'm okay with NOT doing that.

My cousins build a home in S.E. Oklahoma. When they did the design they put a hot water heater of sorts above the main fireplace, it's large but not huge, and they ran water lines through the walls. When the tank heats the water it pumps it throughout the structure.

They use the fireplace to heat the whole house by water heating the walls, like floors that heat up but this is the walls.

They have a hook on a pivoting hinge. They can hang cauldron looking things on that hook and make soups, casseroles, they even bake in it. They have a bunch of cast iron stuff and use it all in the fireplace.

You need sun. Chicago is like NY. Great sunny days are not over abundant by any means. If you put solar panels on roof and then need a new roof, what would that cost. Think about things like that. Research, research!

I have none of the items you listed, but I do have a contact who might be able to help you: http://www.interiorplanning.com/about-interior-planning-a...

The link says, "interior planning," but this designer is LEED certified and has completed graduate coursework in architecture. She's based in Naperville.

Do a lot of research, it takes years to offset the cost of solar panels, and that's just the initial purchase and installation. I worked with a woman who bought a house with solar panels, they weren't very old, but were not working correctly. The cost to fix them was HUGE, and after 10 years in that house they still are not functional. A lot can be saved with smart thermostats and responsible usage. We pay significantly less for electric than our friends next door despite having a bigger house, just by not running the AC, washer/dryer, dishwasher, etc during the peak hours.

Not sure what it's called, but you might be able to use the earth to offset your heating/ cooling costs. Basically, the principle is, if you dig deep enough, soil temperature stays pretty constant all year round (let's say 50 degrees, for sake of example). This system, draws air through the ground where it is brought to 50. In the summer, it means you don't have to use as much energy to cool, because 50 is cooler than outside temps, in the winter, you don't have to use as much energy to heat, as 50 is warmer than outside temps.

I think this requires good insulation, and can be costly, but it is more reliable than anything solar in Chicago.

Just a thought.
Best,
F. B.