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BTW, there are a few closed loop solar radiant heat systems here, but very few (mostly boiler fired, with the pex tubing right in the top inch of floors!). The closed loop systems have little (monoslab foundations) to no (crawlspace) thermal mass. ...stainless heat exchangers. ...high pressure, too much collector efficiency (too hot for parts), they’re a high cost disaster. Here’s one that I like (Gary’s, with a few modifications, like larger concrete tank in shed w/ frost-protected foundation). ...pex for radiant in the bottom of a frost-protected, concrete slab as per the federal guide for FPSFs, of course.

The Solar Shed — Using Solar Collectors Mounted on an Outbuilding for House Heating
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/SolarShed/solarshed.htm

But for cloudier, higher latitude places, I don’t know. ...would need very large, insulate subterranean tanks in insulated sheds or houses at least, and with backup (maybe inline water heaters at least).

It's the 60-80 mph winds here (110 mph wind load for building code), mostly, and yes, some extremes (-35, F, this winter). But more than that, propane prices over $4 (tourism, retirees). We're blessed with well over 300 sun days in my treeless area, but nearly no one takes full advantage of it (heating, drainback systems needed but too much work for most). ...mornings around 10, F, now, and some snows. I'm at over 9,000 feet just east of a few 14-ers (thus, the high winds most days).

Understood. No trees and propane definitely limit your options. The 300 days of sun sounds really good from the most "Langley" challenged location in the US (Western PA). I think we have maybe 35, fully sunny days on average. February is the pits. We are blessed with ample wood and natural gas.

I'm surprised they did not build more earth sheltered passive solar homes in that environment. Is that an option? We lived in one in Kansas City before returning to PA. It was very well designed with one of the first ground loop heat pumps (forced air with exchanger).