THE SOLARTRON PREFABRICATED EARTH-SHELTERED HOME

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The Solartron home is "thrifty" for other reasons, too. Exterior maintenance on the structure is kept to a minimum because only one wall is exposed (and even that is par tially covered with a rock facade to reduce periodic upkeep). Insurance rates are at so lower for "underground" dwellings. One guarantee firm in the Land of Lincoln presently offers a 25% premium reduction for earth-sheltered abodes, and others are estimating that the figure could reach 40-45% in the near future. Furthermore, the Illinois Insurance Commission soon hopes to approve a. 33% rate cut on all fire policies underwritten to owners of subterranean homes. (Similar benefits are already available-or should soon be offered-all over the United States.)

AND THAT AIN'T ALL ...

The new American Solartron home is—obviously—far superior to a conventional above ground structure ... but it al so compares very favorably with its subterranean "cousins". Adequate ventilation is provided through a duct system, and—if you study the floor plan—you'll see that every room in the building is equipped with a window that will admit natural light ... thanks to a courtyard which is bathed in sunshine throughout the course of the day. This source of daylight guarantees that the fiberglass dwelling is not stuffy, dark, or damp. In fact, it might just be a whole lot brighter than some "exposed" houses.

The courtyard provides other advantages, too: If it's left open to the outdoors, it acts as a fresh air patio and additional ventilation source. (The open area can also-with the addition of a stairway-function as an additional entrance/exit.) On the other hand, if the owner should choose to close in this veranda (by simply installing a series of roof joists and covering them with glazing or plext glass), an effective solarium would be created ... not only providing a comfortable year round lounge or recreation area, but also producing an excellent environment for a greenhouse or hydroponic gar den (not to mention the fact that the additional insulation gained by the use of such a roof will help to "temper" the home's atmosphere).

Furthermore, because of the "modular" design of the, house, there are numerous variations on the "theme" presented here. You'll note that each room is 12 feet in width ... for proper support of the roof panels. So-as long as that dimension is allowed for- the various chambers can be arranged in any number of ways, to permit an almost unlimited diversity of style.

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