I have in the past worked on designs for houses.
External architecture as well as the inner layouts.
Recently after seeing a nice library area in a house we were walking past. it was a double height ceiling, I was inspired to take it up again.
Purely amateur, but compelling and enjoyable.
After many concepts put down on paper and PDA I came up with something I liked as a start. Not wanting to try and find an architectural program and wanting to put a floor plan down, I used Excel. Put the cells in squares and outlined away!
Fun.
Of course now I've found this amusing source of inspiration, thought I'd share.
Additional resources:
http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/consumer/index.htm
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/index_html.html
Question/answer.
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=332311
http://www.westernpower.com.au/html/home/smart_ways_to_save/in_your_home/index.html
Some intersting bits here:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/wkstation_enviro.html
I especially liked: "Note: vertical blinds work best for East/West facing windows and horizontal blinds for North/South facing windows."
And if you are reading all of this I hope you follow these:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/index.html