While some people would like to undertake solar home building on their own, building any sort of home is a major undertaking which, for most people involves hiring contractors. In virtually every area of the United States, there are local building codes that must be met before a home can be occupied. While a homeowner can certainly do at least some of the work himself, certain building restrictions apply and it is best to work with a licensed general contractor when undertaking solar home building.
There are general contractors who specialize in solar home building. Whether you are working from your own plans, or from a plan that you found on the Internet or even a plan supplied by the contractor, solar home building requires many of the same systems as are needed in a conventional home. Electrical and plumbing systems must be installed by licensed professionals and inspected by local building inspectors. Unless you are both a licensed plumber and electrician, you will have to hire someone to install these systems and sign off on them.
You must be completely familiar with building techniques, even if you chose to use a non standard building material. Some early passive solar homes were build with materials like tires filled with dirt. Aside from the aesthetic issues, the walls of such homes must be assembled in such a way that they will bear the weight of a roof and so that they will not shift due to settling. Just because a wall appears to be substantial, doesn't mean it actually is stable.
Solar home building may sound like a simple matter, but it isn't simple at all. Financing for non traditional materials or designs may be impossible to obtain. Even if you are able to do most of the labor yourself, the home will cost a minimum of $50 per square foot. Unless you have enough money to completely build the home with some to spare for unforeseen problems, you may never be able to make your passive solar home a reality.
If you plan to undertake solar home building, the best first step is to contact a licensed contractor with experience in solar home building. The contractor can review your plans and advise you if they will be up to building code requirements for your area. He can also advise you on which areas of the project you can complete yourself, and which areas will require licensed professionals. Most general contractors are will to work with homeowners to keep the costs as low as possible. Contractors may also know which lenders are most likely to finance passive solar homes.
Solar home building requires a great deal of expertise and should not be undertaken lightly. There are many new building materials that can improve the efficiency of passive solar homes that you may be unaware of if you haven't carefully researched your project. For the best outcome on your home, work with a local contractor who has a background in solar home building.