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FREE Shipping on all orders - click for Home Page
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In 1993, after a decade of experience in the Colorado Rocky Mountain high country, Bruce Beerup, along with his beautiful, ever loving, most patient and endearingly considerate wife Sally, designed and built the 3000 square foot high thermal mass (HTM™) featured throughout this website. As a home, kennel, office and research center, it has been wonderful and we always look forward to sharing our experiences - both victories and defeats. We have spent a shocking amount of money over the years testing new construction techniques and experimenting with odd approaches to old problems. Solutions we can offer, but we don't claim to know everything and that's an advantage - we have an open mind concerning new approaches and materials. As a result, we hope you get the most up-to-date perspective possible on HTM construction and passive (low-tech non-mechanical) system design. Building a new home is the greatest investment of energy, emotion, time and money most of us will ever make. To say the least, it should be very intimidating for anyone willing to admit they are confused. Having an experienced ally give you a relatively unbiased answer to a direct question is priceless. As per website, I am taking a sabbatical from active consulting while finishing an extended, printed copy of the eBook online - a more distributable tool for everyone interested in sustainable zero-energy HTM design. Our plan is to limit consultation to ten projects per year so that we have even more time to dedicate to our clients and furthering research.
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Please note that one of our primary concerns is your privacy. We will never release client information for any reason to anyone. This privacy policy extends to "are there any of your homes in our area" requests. At the risk of discouraging business, we do not offer any referrals. We hope you understand and trust you'll appreciate this policy should you become a client.
Our website has:
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Sally and I finally incorporated Architerra, our owner/operator company, in 1995 as Architerra Enterprises, Inc., offering HTM home design consultation and construction, but no retail. Referring clients elsewhere for unique building materials, appliances and systems soon became a full time job for a staff and TheNaturalHome.com went online in 1998. Architerra evolved in stark contrast to larger, corporate "sustainable living" catalog companies - we tried to retain some self respect. If there was only one brand at the right price, then we would only retail that one brand. Historically we have been very fortunate with manufacturers, only making one notable mistake over the years (right product, wrong distributor) and for that we sincerely apologize. Something we have never done is offer a large selection of inferior products simply to highlight one that works (composting toilets are a classic example).
I personally handle website authoring and being a supporter of low-tech no frames html and privacy for all, we will never bother our visitors with blinking images, cookies, paid advertising, flashy frames, or junk mail. Our website does not stoop to including links to companies we do not know just to improve search engine rankings. We do not accept advertising money of any sort ... we try to run this business in an old-fashioned, morally responsible way that is quickly becoming rare these days. We genuinely enjoy providing homeowner-builders with the personal consultation, alternative products, and the practical experience needed to create truly sustainable homes and offices. Having been without television for well over 15 years gives us a unique perspective on life and leaves lots of time for research, reading and personal growth. On a personal note, League for Animals and People of the Summit (L.A.P.S.) is our local charity (President, Sally). We heavily support this non-profit with time and funds to make a difference on a local level - think globally, act locally is more than a catchy phrase. LAPS reduces pet overpopulation through our spay/neuter programs, provides low-income families with support for pet health care otherwise unavailable, and supports the building of dog parks to better socialize pets and their owners: www.summitlaps.com.
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as you browse the rest of our website
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Sally and I are here for you after the sale with plenty of hands-on expertise and personal attention. We have either designed, installed, maintained, or serviced nearly everything we offer and don't farm your consultation and customer service out to interns or associates. Please keep in mind that we are not a manufacturer of anything we sell. Appliances are "wholesale direct-to-the-public" (drop shipped) at a very slim margin, with warranty provided only by the manufacturer/distributor. We can not personally compensate, but it is exceptionally rare to see a warranty dead-lock since we can mediate to avoid confusion and have the influence to ensure matters are addressed. If you have never dealt with receiving motor freight drop shipment of a large appliance cross-country, know that it can be an adventure. Clients are encouraged to purchase locally for the best service. Wholesale direct-to-the-public drop ship pricing is attractive, but understand the inherent sales limitations and return policy: Terms of Service Agreement.
Thanks for taking the time to visit.
Give our friendly staff a growl at:
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Hot links to our main website chapters:
|Passive Solar|
|Shade Cloth|
|Gas Refrigerators|
|Stainless Steel Appliances|
|Site Map|
|Septic Systems|
|Composting Toilets|
|Greywater Recycling|
|Assorted Solar Products|
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$95* initial design consultation
Whether regarding HTMs specifically or passive solar in general, our initial consultation will address your concerns.
After reviewing the material, we encourage you to drop us an email with your questions.
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First, we email an extended outline of tips, tricks, and technical details, many not found on the website.
Then, we ship you a two inch binder jam-packed with the following printed information:
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$9* DVD only
One hour long video on universal DVD format |
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First half hour walks you through the sustainable design, HTM passive solar earthhome featured on our website. While not a How-To video, the second half does include detailed Infiltrator chamber leach field septic system installation and Sun-Mar composting toilet footage. |
Three must-have passive solar heating & cooling books
along with one greywater recycling guide for your library
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buy all 3 books
$85* via Book Rate Mail
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All three of these wonderful reference texts are recommended for a complete understanding of passive heating and cooling, alternative building techniques, composting toilets and greywater recycling systems.
Buy all three for one low price:
free copy of the DVD Home Tour Video - $9 value |
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The Natural House
This 468 page paperback takes the reader on a tour of thirteen natural home building methods, including straw bale, rammed earth, cordwood, cob, adobe, earth-bags, papercrete, Earthships, stone, and log.
You'll learn how these homes are built, how much they cost, and the pros and cons of each.
Sustainable home components are discussed in detail with chapters devoted to passive solar heating, cooling, cisterns, greywater, composting, and septic systems.
A resource guide at the end of every chapter offers a wealth of information.
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$37* via free Book Rate Mail |
left click this secured server link button
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The Solar House
This 274 page paperback is an excellent reference even if the author does misspell my name!
While heat from sunlight and ventilation from breezes is free for the taking, few modern architects or builders really understand the principles involved.
Chiras sets the record straight on the vast potential for passive heating and cooling.
Acknowledging the good intentions of misguided solar designers in the past, he highlights certain egregious errors and shows how to avoid them.
In methodical detail he provides contemporary home builders with all of the necessary tools for successful solar design.
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$30* via free Book Rate Mail |
left click this secured server link button
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Create An Oasis with Greywater
The revised and 145 page greatly expanded fifth edition of Art Ludwig's heavily illustrated book outlines numerous basic greywater recycling systems and serves as an excellent primer for anyone interested in building their own "septic" system.
Discussions include greywater filtration, pumps, leach fields, plant selection, soils, and basic plumbing.
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buy all 3 books
$85* via Book Rate Mail
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All three of these wonderful reference texts are recommended for a complete understanding of passive heating and cooling, alternative building techniques, composting toilets and greywater recycling systems.
Buy all three for one low price:
free copy of the DVD Home Tour Video - $9 value |
Hot links to our main website chapters:
|Passive Solar Design|
|Shade Cloth|
|Gas Refrigerators|
|Stainless Steel Appliances|
|Solar Products|
|Septic Systems|
|Composting Toilets|
|Greywater Recycling|
|Drywell Kits|
|Site Map|
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Who's TheNaturalHome.com?
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Phone: 800-563-9720
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PRIVACY STATEMENT - We will never release your name, contact information or purchase history to anyone!
The use of this internet site and purchase of Architerra Enterprises, Inc. (d.b.a. TheNaturalHome.com) products and services are governed by this Terms of Service Agreement and Disclaimer.
By using this internet site, you acknowledge that you have read this Terms of Service Agreement and Disclaimer and that you accept and will be bound by the terms thereof.
Copyright © 1998 - 2007 by Architerra Enterprises, Inc. All rights are reserved, please.