The hot summers and cold winters in the desert require a type of construction rarely seen in homes built in areas with moderate temperatures. While most homeowners think of hot desert summers, with temperatures in excess of 100 degre es Fahrenheit, in a desert as high as the Mojave, winter temperatures can drop as low as 8 degrees Fahrenheit—with high winds adding a cooling factor.
types of houses
Many homes built in the desert regions of the United States are standard pathway designs, ranging from farmhouses to contemporary styles, which include air conditioning systems to make the temperatures bearable. While increased insulation and air conditioning make desert living possible, there are other building methods that save energy while accommodating summer heat and winter cold.
types of houses
The traditional building material of the southwest and another hot climate is adobe. The thick walls are made of brick blocks - a mixture of clay, sand, straw and water - which were originally dried in the hot summer sun. Heavy walls provide thermal mass that absorbs heat slowly during the day and radiates it at night. In winter, corner fireplaces release heat into the rooms. Thick walls trap heat and keep the winter cold outside.
Newer buildings add emulsified asphalt or Portland cement to increase the strength of the blocks and improve their water resistance. A tiled or metal roof that reflects the sun's heat away from the building and a deep relief and portico, especially on the south side, help keep the building cool and protect the laptop from winter rain. The transition from the summer heat to a adobe building provides a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius.
pueblo revival
The style of the house known as Pueblo Revival has low-density adobe walls, although the house may be built of adobe, concrete, stucco, or mortar. Heavy wood features, including doors, ceiling beams and porch trusses, contrast with the smooth surface on the outside. The rounded corners of the building reflect the traditional pueblos.
A home usually has an inner courtyard or sheltered patio where family and friends can gather and mingle.
Spanish Colonial
The Mediterranean style house, also known as Spanish Colonial or Mediterranean Revival, has thick walls and tiled roofs. White walls can be built on a modular framework of wood inlay, boulders or locally obtained bricks covered with decorative plaster. As in adobe houses, the walls are thick with small windows that open to let in the breeze while keeping out the hot sun. Most Spanish colonial homes are one story, with an inner courtyard.
modern desert homes
Architects continue to develop home designs suitable for the desert climate. In addition to the traditional thick walls, patios, patios or covered porches, the orientation of the house allows the architect to plan protection from the sun in summer but allows the penetration of the sun into the interior in the winter. Concrete, stone or tile floors provide a cool surface in summer. When low winter sunlight reaches deep into the south-facing triple tiered windows, the grounds retain and reflect warmth through the house.
While roof materials include tile, metal, and 10-inch-thick SIP panels, one innovative development has been used in modern desert homes for years by old mobile home owners. Adding a metal roof over the top of the entire building prevents sunlight from hitting the house throughout the day, while allowing air to circulate under the reflective roof and over the house. Add drought-tolerant deciduous trees on the south side of the house for shade in summer, and conifers or other evergreens to the north side to prevent winter winds.
Adding a cooling tower to a desert home allows warm air to enter the top. It passes through damp pads, cooling to a comfortable temperature by the time it enters the house through the vents. It is similar in principle to an evaporative cooler, also known as a swamp cooler.
Solar panels provide energy, while solar water heater saves energy. The collection of annual small amounts of rainwater into a cistern and the use of gray water to water, makes the plain landscape of the valley an oasis in the dry terrain.