How to Build a Solar Dog House

Ideas of how to build yourself a solar dog house.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog house
• Scrap lumber
• Hammer/Drill
• Screws nails
• Plexiglas
• Caulk/Silicone Sealant
• Cement slab/Cement Mix

1. You will need to use either an existing piece of concrete or purchase at your local hardware/landscaping supplier a slab of concrete.
   - Make sure this is level for the safety of your pet
   
   This concrete will work as a thermal mass to exchange the heat into the actual house portion of your dog's domicile/home.

2. Once the slab is installed/hardened place your dog house or build the dog house onto the slab.
   - Plan on trying to leave an overhang to the outside of the pad of approximately 1/2" all the way around the concrete pad.

3. 

   You will depending on the size of your Plexiglas begin to build the frame of your Solar Collection system.
   - Be sure it is tall enough/big enough space for your dog to lie/walk about in. To keep warm they will lie in this are during sunny days in the Winter months to warm themselves.
   
   You may want to make this section removable for the warmer months of the year. Utilize brackets or some type of removable connection system.

4. Be sure to make this air tight to keep out any excessive drafts! Caulk any gaps.
   
   Build your own cover to place over the Plexiglas at night to aid in keeping the warmth in!

Tips & Warnings

• Keep as airtight as possible with a small vent at the top to allow for venting when necessary
• You can use an existing insulated house just adapt your solar collector system to fit the entrance or adapt the solar collection system to one side. If you want your pet to be able to use this area you will need to make a opening covered with rubber/plastic to avoid cutting dog on the new doorway.
• Be sure to make the cover for night-time to keep the warmth in.
• Be sure to make this dog safe do not use any harmful materials
• Know what is in the materials your using around your dog, i.e. type of wood and how it is treated! What is in the caulk your using. Will it harm your pet?
• Make sure to leave enough room for your pet and avoid any hang ups where your dog might hook their collar or get hurt on. NO SHARP EDGES where your dog will be.

[eac913]

on 9/8/2009 Interesting. Thanks.

[mommyhen42]

on 3/30/2009 What a totally awesome idea! it would probally cook the poor doggie here in Southern California but it could work for my son in Oregon.

[disconnect0123]

on 10/25/2008 Great idea!!!!

[jtphantom]

on 5/31/2008 I would think that you could either adjust the roof to make it able to open up or make some kind of shading system that can be applied in the warmer months of the year!

[2besure]

on 5/31/2008 How do you make sure it dosen't get to hot?