I am looking for some basic guidelines to building a passive solar heated & cooled home.I understand about south facing windows but how much thermal mass do I need? Can I use underground pipes for cooling. What about auto-open greenhouse windows? Any details would be appreciated.
I am interested in Passive solar heating. not electrical heating. Thermal mass.

I live in upstate NY where its not so sunny during the winter. I found
these solar memorial grave markers that I want to get from http://www.solar-energy-products.net/about/
Do you think that the pannels will charge in this weather?

in the heating pipes
(that was my finished question)
Thanks!

This is a theoretical question. I believe there are a lot of people who would like to do something to help the envoironment and make a positive contribution, but they don’t know how they could afford to make a real tangible contribution. They are just struggling along financially themselves. Suppose you could join an "Ecological-Network" and have an opportunity to simply talk about viable alternatives in energy systems and lifestyle and make money when the people you talk to also join the Eco-Network? There are no minimum purchases, no inventory, no recurring monthly purchases, no financial obligations of any kind (I hate that kind of stuff). It would be simple….you join by purchasing a "T" shirt or ball cap, coffee mug, or bumperstickers (your choice). They all say something like…"I drive on Nuclear Fusion (Sun Power) Ask me how". or, "There are homes that use no fossil fuel for heating or cooling, ask me about it." When someone you spoke to joins, you get a referral fee. If they enroll someone, they get a referral fee and so do you, etc. through five levels of referrals. The "T" shirts, coffee mugs, ball caps, bumper stickers are all about alternative zero energy homes and electric cars and solar panels. There are companies who offer these alternatives to the public. The "plot" is to make these alternatives known to more people. When someone who joined the Eco-Network found someone who bought from one of the companies, that person and all his referres above him would get a "finder’s fee" based on the value of the sale. You help connect people who are in a position to make a tangible difference in their purchases with an alternative product company. Does that sound like a concept that you think people would be interested in supporting? I just want some input on the "idea" the "Eco-Network" does not exist at this time. www.isomax-az.com has a start on this idea, but there are no "T" shirts, etc. available yet…it’s just an idea…What do you think of the idea?