Carliss Residence

Bernalillo County, New Mexico

2,477 square feet

After retiring, the Carlisses wanted to relocate somewhere warmer and settled on New Mexico. Their primary objective was to downsize and have a custom, passive and active solar home designed and built to be extremely energy efficient and close to self sustaining. They found a flat lot with excellent southern exposure and decided on a home that was large enough to accommodate their hobbies and their adult kids and grandkids when they visit.

Since passive and active solar home design was a primary goal, the home is designed with a long sun hall across the south side that heats the bedrooms, craft room and bathrooms. The public area of the home is a great room with pattern language design features. Natural light comes in from three sides of the great room which expands onto cozy outdoor spaces. A large photovoltaic array graces the roof and, with net metering, provides more than enough solar electricity to power this single story, updated, ranch style passive solar home.