Well, things move slowly with Ben, you know :)

Actually, how would the south-facing roof of the *house* do for solar panels? I think you're right about the barn -- too much shadowing, especially with the beech tree (which I don't want to give up).

Also, gas is right out. No gas pipes here, and Ben absolutely will not have a tank installed. Things that go boom ain't fun. Would it be possible to keep the oil tank and boiler as backup for the solar? And any chance of there being a way to connect the solar part to the forced-hot-water heating system?