Solar Home Design
 Island Rose:""We are loving the house. A dream come true! We are so impressed with how much passive, hot water and electricity we can get even
at the shortest day!"
Our solar home plans use passive solar design to let in the sun's natural heat and light. This greatly reduces the amount of conventional heating and lighting required and, amazingly, it is cost comparable to building a standard home. Read more . . .
Suncatcher Solar's "Island Rose", pictured above, is a passive solar home that features a grid-tied solar power system, solar domestic hot water and a geothermal heating system with in floor radiant heat throughout the home. It's sustainable, energy efficient design and construction earned an Energuide rating of 91, qualifying the homeowners for energy efficiency rebates. Many provinces offer rebates for energy efficient design. Read more . . .
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Drastically reduce your home's heating and cooling needs using free natural resources and a much overlooked design method - passive solar design. Read more . . .
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People do some strange things. Like building a house that’s well insulated against the winter cold but shuts out the sunshine – the sunshine that warms up everything it touches. Then adding a big heating system to keep the house warm. Read more . . .
The basic principles behind passive solar home design become more challenging when they must fit individual needs, tastes and preferences and the restrictions of the site where the home will be built. There are many ways to do this. Here are some examples of passive home designs that meet different needs and building sites. Read more . . .
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Suncatcher's Solar Development
Integrating passive solar design and solar and wind power systems, Saskatchewan's first grid-tied solar community, Suncastle Park, will be at the forefront of the green revolution. Lots range between 1 and 2 acres on naturally rolling prairie with many options for walkout basements. A community hall, K-4 school, fire hall and Pike Lake Provincial Park are all within walking distance. Read more . . .
Throughout history, people have taken advantage of sunshine for warmth and light. Early methods were primitive, but effective, letting the sun shine into buildings for light and heat. Read more . . .
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You’re interested in a solar or wind power system and you start looking around for information. Perhaps you dream of being self sufficient and going off the grid. But what does that really mean? What’s the difference between “off-grid” and “grid-tied” and what kind of lifestyle does each one entail? Read more . . .
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My husband and I live in an experimental off-grid solar and wind powered home just south of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. I am a renewable energy engineer and I design renewable power systems and passive solar homes. Our own home is a “living lab” to try out ideas and to experience the solar lifestyle first hand. Read more . . .
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Solar and Wind Power
Net Metering Available in Saskatchewan
Power your home, cabin or business with a solar array or wind turbine or combination. Renewable power systems can be operated as stand-alone solar and /or wind power alone (an off-grid system) or it can be connected to the grid (grid-tied system). A grid-tied system draws power from the grid when necessary or feeds power back into the grid when the renewable energy system produces in excess of the needs for the house. Saskatchewan offers a net metering program for solar and wind power systems that allows homes and businesses to feed back excess power for credit on future power bills.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce? How many panels do you need? Learn how to calculate solar production and your true energy needs. Read more . . .
Wind. It can be a cooling breeze on a stiflingly hot day, a devastating natural disaster or it can be a source of power. Read more . . .
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Check out some of our other recent projects . . .
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“PLUG ‘N’ PLAY” SELF-INSTALL
Solar Kits for your Cabin
A small cabin system can be a great way to save money at the cottage. These systems are affordable and simple to install. Systems are mounted on a Powerboard, with all basic connections already made. Solar panels are ready to roof mount and batteries are supplied with a vented enclosure. All necessary components and hardware are supplied.
What You Need to Know About Buying Cabin Solar Power Kits
Want a small solar power system for your cabin? Don't know where to start? This article covers the basic information that you need to choose your solar kit. Read more . . . |
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Our Story
Suncatcher Solar is a family business whose founder, Angie Ortlepp, literally lives what she sells. Her home, an off-grid wind and solar powered living lab, was designed by Angie and built by her family in 2004. In 2007, she used her home to satisfy the requirements of her Masters degree in electrical engineering. Read more about the experimental home . . .
Since then, Suncatcher Solar has completed an extensive list of wind and solar projects ranging from custom solar home design to renewable energy systems, both grid-tied and off-grid. Have a look at some of our recent projects . . .
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