In planning a solar house, there are three areas of enegy use and they should be addressed separately:

SPACE HEATING

WATER HEATING

ELECRICITY

The electrical system must not be expected to heat a house. Maybe a small room addition, but not the whole house.

Electricity comes from photovoltaic cells and the sysyem is expensive. $30-40 thousand if you want full power in the middle of the night.

Water heating is the easiest since the Sun's heat is used to heat water and does not have to go through a major change in form, such as electricitral energy to heat (inefficient).

Even with full electrical and water heating syatems, the kitchen stove and the space heater should be natural gas (if available) or propane that is delivered to the home site.