One of the early experimenters in solar heating experienced a similar phenomenon. He went on to build several homes incorporating his designs, including what is now called “passive solar”.
My contribution, if ever I make it, will be in “passive geothermal” heating. The idea being, you can get heat to rise without too much difficulty, but how do you get the heat collected down there in the first place?
So I like the idea of “light pipes”. We’ll put solar collectors out there, channeling the light down through reflective tubes, and have the collectors stored underground where they’ll be safe from the weather.
Then all you would need is a pump and a fan to get your dwelling to be comfortably warmed. Add to this then the magic of being able to “pump” heat by using compressors and refrigerant gases, and your energy budget will be as low as you may desire.
Lots of work has been done and documented about “passive solar”, including various adaptations of the Roman clay flue bricks in floors and walls using combustion chambers in lower levels. Slaves though seemed to be a prerequisite for smooth continuous operation.