You write "The wooded site ruled out any active solar systems, but it is passively heated with the large south facing windows, and supplemental heat is provided by a wood burning stove in the central room. " I was wondering what exactly that meant. I love this home and am in the process of developing ideas for a small vacation home in Lake Placid NY. We are interested in active solar and not using a furnace so I am wondering why you choose not to do the same as this is a guest home. Is a wood burning stove enough to heat and when no one is occupying this dwelling how do you keep the pipes from freezing in cold weather?