This document discusses passive solar building design techniques to reduce energy consumption from heating. It describes how passive solar buildings are designed to allow winter sun to enter and heat the building using elements like south-facing windows and thermal mass materials that absorb and slowly release heat. Specific passive solar techniques discussed include direct gain, indirect gain, day lighting, thermal storage walls, water walls, radiant panels, and skylights. The document explains how these different passive design elements work to efficiently heat buildings using natural solar energy without mechanical systems.
2. Industrial and technological innovations, population
growth, and rapid urbanization lead to an increase in
energy consumption.
Dependency on foreign sources of energy and their
negative environmental impact have made energy
efficiency and conservation critical issues.
35–40% of our energy is consumed by buildings, and
85% of that is need solely for heating.
3. “In PASSIVE SOLAR BUILDINGS, windows,
walls, and floors are made to collect, store, and
distribute ’SOLAR ENERGY’ in the form of heat in
the winter and reject solar heat in the summer.
4. Procedures for design of buildings to passively use solar
energy for heating buildings may typically involve:
Use of shading devices to reduce heating by radiant (solar)
energy in the summer and allow it in winter,
Utilize thermal convection (i.e. hot air rises) to maximize
heating by convection in winter, and
Utilize thermal storage (mass-effect) to transfer excess
heating capacity from daylight to night time hours.
5. Passive solar buildings are designed to let the heat into
the building during the winter months, and block out the
sun during hot summer days. This can be achieved by
passive solar design elements such as shading,
implementing large south-facing windows, and building
materials that absorb and slowly release the sun’s heat.
How does it work
10. Radiant panels are simple passive solar systems that are
inexpensive and well suited as retrofits to metal buildings.
11. A thermal storage wall is a
passive solar heating
system in which the
primary thermal storage
medium is placed directly
behind the glazing of the
solar aperture.
Heat transfer to the living
space is sometimes
augmented by the addition
of circulation vents placed
at the top and bottom of
the mass wall.
12. In summer
The density of the materials
in the Trombe wall acts as a
method of slow heat
absorption and transfer.
13. In winter
In the winter, when the sun is
allowed to shine on them, they
can be ‘charged’ up to help to
warm the house by transferring
the sun’s heat inside.
In the winter, when the
surrounding outside air
temperature drops as the air cools
after the sun has gone down, the
object with thermal mass will
continue to release its stored heat
energy.
When all the heat is discharged, it
is ready to once again ‘charge’ up
or absorb heat again.
Continued…
14. Concrete block buildings are very common they may offer
opportunities for passive solar retrofits.
Concrete floor slabs and massive partitions between zones
help prevent overheating and otherwise improve the
performance of concrete block thermal storage walls
For new construction, superior performance of solid masonry
walls by filling the cores of the block in the thermal storage
wall with mortar as it is erected.
15. Water walls are thermal storage walls that use
containers of water placed directly behind the aperture
glazing as the thermal storage medium.
It is more advantageous than a trombe wall by using half
the space and being effective at much higher heat
capacities.
The advantage over masonry walls is that water has a
volumetric heat capacity about twice that of high density
concrete; it is therefore possible to achieve the same
heat capacity
16. Skylights are a simple way of introducing light to rooms right below roof
level. Both fixed and operable skylights are available.
Angled (splayed) walls broadcast the most light, and placing skylights near a
wall creates a pleasant light-washing effect on the wall surface.
. Skylights also can produce unexpected glare and uncomfortably warm
indoor temperatures unless they have shades. With this in mind, in most
climates it is wise to limit skylights to north roof slopes
17. Bright interiors and
transmits visible light:
Transmits all the visible
light frequencies making
the home interiors
brighter.
Provides glare control in
bright, sunny climates.
18. Blocks ultraviolet energy:
Blocks up to 99.9% of the UV radiation
compared to clear glass unit.
Prevents fading of interior fabrics and décor.
19. Cooler and comfortable in summer:
Low SHGC numbers mean less summer heat.
Keeps interior cooler and comfortable.
Helps to reduce cooling energy costs.
20. Warmer in winter:
Low-e-characteristics reflects furnace hear back into the
room and provides low u-value insulation properties.
Reduces furnace heat loss
Helps to reduce heating energy costs.
21. List of pioneering solar
buildings
Rosenberg House, Tucson, Arizona,
MIT Solar House #1, Massachusetts, USA
Howard Sloan House, Glenview, Illinois, USA
Rose Elementary School, Tucson, Arizona, USA
University of Toronto House, Toronto, Canada
New Mexico State College House, New Mexico.
22. They can perform effortlessly and quietly without
mechanical or electrical assistance.
Reductions can be made to heating bills by as
much as 40% annually, and also improve the comfort
of living spaces.
Simple techniques can make a huge difference in
the comfort and energy consumption through the
years.
The economical solution to a warmer house in the
winter and a cooler house in the summer is to
insulate it well, while understanding the movement of
heat.
it is the better solution.
