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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 EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS 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 DETECTION TOOLS HEAT LOSS INDICATORS HEAT LOSS PREVENTION PRIORITIES HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION HEAT LOSS RATE CALCULATIONS HEATING SMALL LOADS HEATING SYSTEMS HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET ICE DAM PREVENTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT INSULATION LOCATION - WHERE TO PUT IT 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 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 WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS WIND TURBINES & LIGHTNING WINDOWS & DOORS WINTERIZE A BUILDING WOOD Burning Heaters Fireplaces Stoves More Information |
Definition & uses of passive solar gain for heating homes. Our page top photo illustrates a simple method for controlling passive solar gain through South facing windows and sliding glass doors and into a ceramic tile floor on a concrete slab. The movable Japanese-style screens are hung from pegs and can be moved or relocated depending on the amount of solar gain desired. The original design for this home was intended to use exterior solar shading but that feature was omitted during construction in the 1960's. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.This article includes adaptations from U.S. DOE publications about passive solar design.[1] Readers who have not already done so should start reading at PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN KEY ELEMENTS. 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. Definition of Direct Solar Gain?
The sunlight then strikes masonry floors and/or walls, which absorb and store the solar heat. The surfaces of these masonry floors and walls are typically a dark color because dark colors usually absorb more heat than light colors. At night, as the room cools, the heat stored in the thermal mass convects and radiates into the room. [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 Climate
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 articleSolar design handbook questions and answers about passive soalr gain. 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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Direct gain is the simplest passive solar home design technique. Sunlight enters the house through the aperture (collector)—usually south-facing windows with a glazing material made of transparent or translucent glass.
An indirect-gain passive solar home has its thermal storage between the south-facing windows and the living spaces.
The most common isolated-gain passive solar home design is a sunspace. A sunspace—also known as a solar room or solarium—can be built as part of a new home or as an addition to an existing one.
