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Mobile ViewSOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS AIR BYPASS LEAKS AIR LEAK DETECTION TOOLS AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION AIR POLLUTANTS, COMMON INDOOR AIR LEAK SEALING PROCEDURE AIR SEALING STRATEGIES BIOGAS PRODUCTION & USE ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS AIR CHANGE RATE ACH HEAT SAVINGS AIR CONDITIONING HEAT PUMP SAVINGS AIR LEAK SEALING PROCEDURE AQUASTAT OPTIMAL SETTINGS BIOGAS PRODUCTION & USE ENERGY AUDIT - How to Use a Free One ENERGY SAVINGS MAXIMIZE RETURNS ON ENERGY SAVINGS PRIORITIES ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT CASE STUDY ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT LEAK SEALING GUIDE ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT OPTIONS ENERGY STAR PROGRAM ENERGY USE MONITORING HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS HIGH MASS TRADEOFFS, HEATING vs COOLING HOUSE DOCTOR, how-to be TIMERS for ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS VENTILATION, BALANCED HEAT COST SAVINGS EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS EXTERIORS of BUILDINGS FLOOR, CERAMIC TILE FLOOR, CONCRETE SLAB CHOICES FLOOR, CONCRETE SLAB POURED FINISH FLOOR DAMAGE DIAGNOSIS FLOOR, ENGINEERED WOOD & LAMINATES FLOOR FRAMING & SUBFLOOR for TILE FLOOR, KITCHEN & BATH OPTIONS FLOOR, LAMINATE PLASTIC FLOOR RADIANT HEAT Mistakes to Avoid FLOOR, RESILIENT VINYL or CORK FLOOR, STONE, GRANITE, MARBLE, AGGLOMER FLOOR & SUBFLOOR MOLD, HIDDEN FLOOR TYPES & DEFECTS FOOTING & FOUNDATION DRAINS FOOTINGS EXPOSED, Repair Methods FOUNDATION CRACKS & DAMAGE GUIDE FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES FRAMING METAL STUD PERFORMANCE FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING FROST HEAVES, FOUNDATION, SLAB GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION CODES GUIDES GREENHOUSE DESIGN for SOLAR HEATING GREENHOUSE / SUNSPACE GLARE HEAT LOSS in BUILDINGS HEAT LOSS RATE CALCULATIONS HEAT LOSS DETECTION TOOLS HEAT LOSS INDICATORS HEAT LOSS PREVENTION PRIORITIES HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION HEATING SMALL LOADS HEATING SYSTEMS COMBUSTION AIR for TIGHT BUILDINGS HEATING SMALL LOADS RADIANT HEAT RADIANT HEAT Floor Mistakes to Avoid RADIANT HEAT TEMPERATURES SOLAR HEATING SYSTEM DESIGNS HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET ICE DAM PREVENTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS Air Pollutants, Common Indoor INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT INSULATION LOCATION - WHERE TO PUT IT INSULATION LOCATION & QUANTITY for ATTICS INSULATION LOCATION for BASEMENT FLOORS INSULATION LOCATION for BASEMENT WALLS INSULATION LOCATION for BRICK or BLOCK WALL CAVITY INSULATION LOCATION for BRICK VENEER WALLS INSULATION LOCATION for CAPES, CRAWLSPACES INSULATION LOCATION for CATHEDRAL CEILINGS INSULATION LOCATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM INSULATION LOCATION for PASSIVE SOLAR FLOOR SLAB INSULATION LOCATION & EXTENT for SLABS INSULATION LOCATION for SOUND CONTROL INSULATION LOCATION for SUSPENDED PANELS INSULATION LOCATION for SWIMMING, INDOOR INTERIORS of BUILDINGS LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION LEED Building Designation & IAQ MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS Nanomaterials Hazards NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE PLUMBING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR RADIANT SLAB FLOORING CHOICES RADIANT SLAB TUBING & FLUID CHOICES ROOFING INSPECTION & REPAIR ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS ROOF VENTING ENERGY SAVING DETAILS ROOF VENTING NEEDED? SHEATHING, FOIL FACED - VENTS SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS BLOCKBED RADIANT FLOORS - SOLAR DESIGN FLOOR, CONCRETE SLAB CHOICES FLOOR, CONCRETE SLAB POURED FINISH GLASS vs HEAT MIRROR SOLAR GAIN/Loss GREENHOUSE DESIGN for SOLAR HEATING GREENHOUSE / SUNSPACE GLARE PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN HANDBOOK - PDF PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN KEY ELEMENTS Passive Solar Basics Passive Solar 5 Design Elements - Aperture - Absorber - Thermal mass - Distribution - Control How Passive Solar Works - Conduction - Convection - Radiation - Thermal capacitance Direct Solar Gain Indirect Solar Gain - Trombe Walls Isolated Solar Gain Roof & Window Overhangs Roof Overhangs Control Solar Gain - Types of Overhangs - Sizing Roof Overhangs - Overhangs Ordinances PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN METHOD PASSIVE SOLAR ENERGY MONITORING PASSIVE SOLAR FLOOR TILES, PHASE CHANGE PASSIVE SOLAR HEAT PERFORMANCE PASSIVE SOLAR HOME, LOW COST PASSIVE SOLAR PERFORMANCE PROBE PASSIVE SOLAR Roof & Window Overhangs PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS POLYCARBONATE GLAZING REMOTE ELECTRIC POWER, PHOTOVOLTAIC ROCK-BED SOLAR HEAT STORAGE DESIGN SLAB INSULATION, PASSIVE SOLAR SLATE THERMAL MASS for SOLAR HEAT STORAGE SOLAR COLLECTOR AIR or GAS COLLECTION SOLAR COLLECTOR EFFICIENCY COMPARISONS SOLAR COLLECTOR FILMS SOLAR COLLECTOR OUTGASSING SOLAR COLLECTOR WOOD HOUSINGS SOLAR GAIN CALCULATION SOLAR HEATING SYSTEM DESIGNS SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS SOLAR HOUSE EVALUATION SOLAR MODULE MANUFACTURERS SOLAR SHADES & SUNSCREENS SOLAR SHADES, LOW-E EFFECTIVENESS SOLAR WATER DISINFECTION SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS SUNSPACE DESIGN for SOLAR HEATING SUNSPACE GLAZING for SUNTANNING STORM WINDOW INTERIOR STORM WINDOW PLASTIC CHOICES STORM WINDOW WEEP HOLES SUNGAIN, FILMS, LOW-E GLASS SUNSPACE GLAZING for SUNTANNING SWIMMING POOL SOLAR HEAT, INDOOR SWIMMING POOL SOLAR HEAT, OUTDOOR DIAGNOSIS THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS STRUCTURAL INSPECTIONS & DEFECTS SUMP PUMPS GUIDE SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS THERMAL MASS FLOOR SLABS THERMAL MASS in UPSTAIRS THERMAL MASS WALL DESIGN THERMAL MASS in HOMES - STUDY THERMAL MASS TRADEOFFS, HEATING vs COOLING THERMAL TRACKING & HEAT LOSS VAPOR BARRIERS & AIR SEALING at BAND JOISTS VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS VAPOR BARRIERS & HOUSEWRAP VAPOR CONDENSATION & BUILDING SHEATHING VENTILATION in BUILDINGS WATER HEATERS AGE of WATER HEATERS ALTERNATIVE HOT WATER SOURCES SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS WIND TURBINES & LIGHTNING WINDOWS & DOORS WINTERIZE A BUILDING WOOD Burning Heaters Fireplaces Stoves More Information |
This article discusses the Five Key Elements of Passive Solar Design and links to additional passive solar design as well as solar design evaluation questions and answers. InspectAPedia offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.Readers wanting more detail about passive solar design should see SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS. Readers concerned with accurate calculation of the "percent solar" and similar energy savings assessments should see PASSIVE SOLAR HEAT PERFORMANCE. Readers should also see SOLAR HOUSE EVALUATION. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Passive Solar Design - Basic ConsiderationsOur page top photo shows windows admitting morning solar gain in a nearly-balanced-energy passive solar home in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico. The windows in this east-facing room receive morning sunlight (when the home and air are cool, and is shaded in the afternoon. This is a direct gain of passive solar energy. The concrete and adobe walls form a significant thermal mass. Although the building has no central heating, temperatures remain comfortable year round, with only modest use of a small electric heater during the chilly months of December and January.
Five Elements of Passive Solar Home DesignThe following five elements constitute a complete passive solar home design. Each performs a separate function, but all five must work together for the design to be successful. -- U.S. Department of Energy Aperture (Collector)The large glass (window) area through which sunlight enters the building. Typically, the aperture(s) should face within 30 degrees of true south and should not be shaded by other buildings or trees from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day during the heating season. For a low-cost passive solar home using lots of glass see PASSIVE SOLAR HOME, LOW COST. AbsorberThe hard, darkened surface of the storage element. This surface—which could be that of a masonry wall, floor, or partition (phase change material), or that of a water container—sits in the direct path of sunlight. Sunlight hits the surface and is absorbed as heat. For an example see our articles at THERMAL MASS in buildings and see PASSIVE SOLAR FLOOR TILES, PHASE CHANGE. Thermal massThe materials that retain or store the heat produced by sunlight. The difference between the absorber and thermal mass, although they often form the same wall or floor, is that the absorber is an exposed surface whereas thermal mass is the material below or behind that surface. For an example, see BLOCKBED RADIANT FLOORS - SOLAR DESIGN. Also see SLAB INSULATION, PASSIVE SOLAR. Also see Trombe Wall. DistributionThe method by which solar heat circulates from the collection and storage points to different areas of the house. A strictly passive design will use the three natural heat transfer modes — conduction, convection, and radiation—exclusively. In some applications, however, fans, ducts, and blowers may help with the distribution of heat through the house. See BLOCKBED RADIANT FLOORS - SOLAR DESIGN. ControlRoof overhangs can be used to shade the aperture area during summer months. Other elements that control under- and/or overheating include electronic sensing devices, such as a differential thermostat that signals a fan to turn on; operable vents and dampers that allow or restrict heat flow; low-emissivity blinds ; and awnings. For examples see SOLAR SHADES & SUNSCREENS and SUNGAIN, FILMS, LOW-E GLASS. How a Passive Solar Home Design Works
To understand how a passive solar home design works, you need to understand how heat moves and how it can be stored. (Photo at left, U.S. DOE, & Donald Aitken) As a fundamental law, heat moves from warmer materials to cooler ones until there is no longer a temperature difference between the two. To distribute heat throughout the living space, a passive solar home design makes use of this law through the following heat-movement and heat-storage mechanisms:
Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN HANDBOOK - PDF Definition of Direct Solar Gain?
[Another example of direct solar gain is at our page top photo.- DF] Some builders and homeowners have used water-filled containers located inside the living space to absorb and store solar heat. Water stores twice as much heat as masonry materials per cubic foot of volume. Unlike masonry, water doesn't support itself. Water thermal storage, therefore, requires carefully designed structural support. Also, water tanks require some minimal maintenance, including periodic (yearly) water treatment to prevent microbial growth.
[Our photo (left) shows a small area designed by D. Friedman & J. Church for both direct solar gain and a brick on concrete floor providing thermal mass at a home in Poughkeepsie, NY - DF] Another important thing to remember is that the thermal mass must be insulated from the outside temperature. If the thermal mass is not insulated, the collected solar heat can drain away rapidly. Loss of heat is especially likely when the thermal mass is directly connected to the ground or is in contact with outside air at a lower temperature than the desired temperature of the mass. Even if you simply have a conventional home with south-facing windows without thermal mass, you probably still have some passive solar heating potential (this is often called solar-tempering). To use it to your best advantage, keep windows clean and install window treatments that enhance passive solar heating, reduce nighttime heat loss, and prevent summer overheating. Definition of Indirect Solar Gain (Trombe Walls)
Illustration of a Trombe wall (left) U.S. DOE. Using a Trombe wall is the most common indirect-gain approach. The wall consists of an 8–16 inch-thick masonry wall on the south side of a house. A single or double layer of glass is mounted about 1 inch or less in front of the wall's surface. Solar heat is absorbed by the wall's dark-colored outside surface and stored in the wall's mass, where it radiates into the living space. The Trombe wall distributes or releases heat into the home over a period of several hours. Solar heat migrates through the wall, reaching its rear surface in the late afternoon or early evening. When the indoor temperature falls below that of the wall's surface, heat begins to radiate and transfer into the room. For example, heat travels through a masonry wall at an average rate of 1 hour per inch. Therefore, the heat absorbed on the outside of an 8-inch-thick concrete wall at noon will enter the interior living space around 8 p.m. How a Sunspace Provides Isolated Solar Gain
The simplest and most reliable sunspace design is to install vertical windows with no overhead glazing. Sunspaces may experience high heat gain and high heat loss through their abundance of glazing. The temperature variations caused by the heat losses and gains can be moderated by thermal mass and low-emissivity windows. For more information, see sunspace orientation and glazing angles. The thermal masses that can be used include a masonry floor, a masonry wall bordering the house, or water containers. The distribution of heat to the house can be accomplished through ceiling and floor level vents, windows, doors, or fans. Most homeowners and builders also separate the sunspace from the home with doors and/or windows so that home comfort isn't overly affected by the sunspace's temperature variations. For more information, see [at U.S.DOE or below] sunspace heat distribution and control.
Photo-Example of A Sunspace for a Cold ClimatePassive Solar Home Design - Roof OverhangsPassive Solar Home Design for Summer Comfort
OverhangsThe physical dimensions of an overhang are an important element because overheating will occur unless the overhang provides enough shade. [The solar overhang shown in our photo (above-right) is located on a home in Mexico and is discussed in more detail at PASSIVE SOLAR HEAT PERFORMANCE. The addition of these small overhangs above windows on the East and West facing sides of this studio made the difference between having a comfortable space and having a space that was just too warm to occupy late in the afternoons. For a contrasting example, another home in the same area that has no roof overhangs to control solar gain is discussed at PASSIVE SOLAR HOME, LOW COST. -- DF] Many variables—including latitude, climate, solar radiation transmittance, il luminance levels, and window size and type—need to be considered for properly sizing an overhang in a specific locale. Therefore, it's best to have an experienced solar designer or builder calculate the proper overhang dimensions. For more information, see roof overhangs [below] for shading building elements. In passive solar home design, exterior roof overhangs provide a practical method for shading building elements such as windows, doors, and walls. How Roof Overhangs or Other Window Overhangs Work to Control Heat and Solar GainOverhangs are most effective for south facing elements (in the northern hemisphere) and at midday. If the building element bears more than about 30° off true south, the effectiveness of an overhang, as with any solar feature, begins to decrease significantly. Overhangs usually only affect the amount of direct solar radiation that strikes a surface. Diffuse sky and reflected radiation gains are not often directly affected by overhangs. The higher overhead the sun is, the shorter the shadow a person will cast on the ground. However, the short brim of a baseball cap can create a long shadow across the body of a standing person. The same concept applies in designing overhangs for buildings. The higher, or more vertical, the arc of the sun, the longer the shadow that the building overhang generates along the face of the wall. Summer shadows extend down walls the furthest, winter shadows the least. Sites closer to the equatorial path of the sun have deeper-extending wall shadows than ones farther from the equator, assuming the same overhang length. Types of Roof or Window Overhangs for Sunlight & Solar Gain ControlOverhangs may be solid, louvered, vegetation-supporting, or a combination of all of these aspects. Some shutters, eaves, trellises, light shelves, and awnings serve the same purpose as an overhang. Overhangs may also be fixed, operable, and/or removable. Examples include roof eaves, awnings, and Bahama shutters (top-hinged louvered shutters typically propped open with wooden dowels) respectively. Fixed overhangs offer perceived longevity and low maintenance at the expense of flexibility or the ability to adjust to site-specific factors. Although adjustable devices allow the user to fine tune the amount of shade or direct sunlight, they require more maintenance. Removable fixtures generally provide flexibility and longevity plus some personal involvement with installation and removal.
While northern-hemisphere shading may be welcome in September because of the heat, shading in March may be undesirable. Vegetation, on the other hand, can follow the climatic seasons. Vines that shed their leaves for winter usually leaf out about the time shading is needed. Movable shading devices, while adjustable, often become maintenance problems. Sizing Roof or Window OverhangsUnfortunately, there is as yet no universally simple formula for sizing overhangs. While one overhang methodology works well for some locations, it can be completely inappropriate for others. For example, there are a limited number of overhang-sizing guidelines acceptable for buildings located in southern states, particularly hot-humid climates. Guidelines acceptable for the high plains of Montana are unlikely to work for a site in Florida. Due to the varying microclimate conditions encountered across the United States, the methods presented here are general in scope. Anyone seeking a more specialized analysis should seek professional advice from an architect trained in passive solar design. Every climate requires special design attention. The following general guidelines may be useful in determining a suitable overhang design. The guidelines are listed by climate type, for solar noon, when the sun reaches its maximum altitude for a given day. Solar noon is very rarely the same as noon in local standard time.
*(HDD and CDD data is available from local weather services.) Roof or Window Solar Gain Control Overhangs and Zoning OrdinancesOverhangs may be inappropriate for sites with restrictive regulatory guidelines. For example, your calculations indicate your house needs a three foot (~1 meter[m]) overhang on the front. The local zoning ordinance restricts eave extension to two feet (0.61 m) beyond the front yard setback. If your house will be or is located precisely on the setback, you must do one of the following:
List of Passive Solar Design Key Reference Books including Online TextsThe first three passive solar design handbook links below are to free, online documents.
Here we include solar energy, solar heating, solar hot water, and related building energy efficiency improvement articles reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss. Questions & Answers regarding this article. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN HANDBOOK - PDF
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