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I immediately thought of a post apocalypse compound with very few parts. Efficiency takes a back seat to simplicity, durability and ease of repair. Steam vs gravity in a no parts store world. The sun and wood.

Also, are you planning on insuring this building? Around me insurance companies won't insure a building unless it has a thermostatic-controlled heating system, and won't insure anything that burns solid fuel (wood or coal).

Being off-grid is a romantic notion but there are a lot of practical details to work through.

Hand fired steam boilers are, of course, perfectly possible — had them for years! Still do, on some heritage trains. But… either you have rather simple mechanical draught controls or you have a fireman. And the draught controls are not all that easy to find these days, since I doubt that anyone has made them for a century or so…

Another question. How big is this structure? Or is it multiple buildings?

@delcrossv in theory steam would be an economical way to get the job done… But where will the builder find qualified steamfitters who can install that system properly at a reasonable cost in "the mountain states"?

That's why steam came to mind. Especially if it's no electricity at all. Smaller piping.

Is the restriction "no electricity", or "no utility power"? The construction cost of a hot water system using simple electromechanical controls and an ECM circulator pump powered with batteries charged by a small solar array would be considerably less than the construction cost of a system that operates only by gravity. Gravity circulation requires larger pipes or ductwork, and the design and construction skills are no longer standard in the trade.

Leaves you with steam or gravity hot water. There are a number of hand fired boilers out there.

How big is the proposed facility? Steam may be more cost effective over GHW.

Presumable this is in an area without code enforcement? The IRC requires electricity.

No, I don't know anyone. But let me ask for clarification of anyone who might be interested — and make a comment or two.

The clarification: no electricity usage in the building, or no electricity usage on site? Makes a difference. If there is no electricity on site, you are looking at purely gravity driven flow and hand firing of any boiler or furnace… and all mechanical controls.

My architecture firm is currently designing a new religious facility in one of the Mountain States where the client has specified no electricity usage in the building. We're seeking a consulting engineer who can help us explore and design heating systems using wood-fired boilers or furnaces. Does anyone know of an engineer or engineering firm interested in collaborating on this unique project?

Thank you all!