For all those who want a D-I-Y Challenge...

[Graham2001]

...here are some 1970's era plans for converting your home heating system to partial solar power:

This report describes a low-cost solar home heating system to supplement the homeowner's present warm-air heating system. The report is written in three parts: (1) A brief background on solar heating, (2) Langley's experience with a demonstration system,and (3) information for the homeowner who wishes to construct such a system. Instructions are given to the homeowner for a solar heating installation in which he supplies all labor necessary to install off-the-shelf components estimated to cost $2000. These components, which include solar collector, heat exchanger, water pump, storage tank, piping, and controls to make the system completely automatic, are readily available at local lumber yards, hardware stores, and plumbing supply stores, and they are relatively simple to install.

Manufacturers and prices of each component used and a rough cost analysis based on these prices are given for the homeowner's convenience. This report also gives performance data obtained from a demonstration system which has been built and tested at the Langley Research Center.

Note: Modern equivalences to the materials within will of course have to be sourced and costs have sadly gone through the roof...

A Solar Heating System for Homes (1976)

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19760020583.pdf

 

[ex-orbinaut]

Nice.

I scratch built a solar water heater for the house I was living in 12 years ago, using the thermal circulation principle, as on old car radiators. It was not expensive at all (I discount the oxy-acetelene welder which I used for the brazing from the tab, as I already had it). It worked wonderfully, even on cloudy days, and stayed hot well past nightfall. It saved quite a packet on the electric immersion heater that was installed before.

 

[Graham2001]

Another 1970's era design, while not intended for D-I-Y, this IBM creation was intended as a retrofit to add a solar pre-heater tank to an existing electric or gas fired system (And IMHO should be D-I-Yable now.). Two features that need to be taken note of (Beyond the fact that materials and costs have changed since the '70s) is that, firstly this system used solar heated silicone to warm the water, secondly a 'bug' was found during testing as disclosed in the engineering report (See the attached pictures)

This report is a collection of documents and drawings that describe a solar hot water system. The report contains the necessary information to evaluate the design and with information sufficient to assemble a similar system.

The International Business Machines Corporation, under NASA/MSFC Contract NAS8-32036, developed prototype system 2 solar hot water for use in a single family dwelling.

System Design Package for SIMS Prototype System 2, Solar Hot Water (1977)

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19780014522.pdf


SIMS Prototype System 2 Test Results - Engineering Analysis (1978)

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19780011661.pdf


Installation Package for SIMS Prototype System 2, Solar Hot Water (1978)

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19780014531.pdf

Solar Energy System Performance Evaluation - Seasonal Report for IBM SIMS System 2, Togus, Maine (1980)

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19800013350.pdf

 

[Graham2001]

A small update, still have not located anything else that looks like it could be D-I-Yed yet.

If anyone does manage to build either of the things I've posted, feel free to add the pictures to the thread.

 

[Graham2001]

From the Internet Archive. D-I-Y Bungalows, made using cast concrete blocks.

One small complication, you'll need to find coal clinker to make the concrete, but if you've got the right kind of power station nearby I'm sure you should be able to get your hands on all you need...

Rural Housing, The 'Nash' Type A & B (1926)

https://ia601507.us.archive.org/28/items/RuralHousingThe250CottageTypesAB/RuralHousingCca69471.pdf