Passive Solar Heating (under construction - always!)
I have some more detailed drawings in the works, and this page will get an BIG update as soon as possible.
Passive Solar heating, at least "my way", is done by plenty of south-facing glass, and
...more plenty of thermal mass, being tons of heavy material (that's the soil cement) in walls and floors receiving as much direct sunlight as possible.
Being that heat really does rise, that thermal mass could even be in the roof/ceiling, which would certainly be a big advantage in an underground house.
All this thermal mass requires decent insulation, placed on or toward the OUTSIDE of the exterior walls. Embedding styrofoam or urethane foamboard within the soil cement is the easy and relatively inexpensive way to get that job done. Since rammed earth or heavy masonry or or adobe, or soil cement, whatever type, has virtually no insulating value, this is critical if you want the house to work! Three feet of this type stuff, in tires or any other way, will not stop the conduction of heat and cold!
Living with a passive solar home will be a little different - during those cold-night periods you'll want to superheat the house with your solar input. More of those extra BTU's will be stored within your thermal mass to be released when the temperature drops on those cold winter nights.
Unless you are in a very temperate climate, you will probably want to pay attention to insulating your windows! Think of it like this - the best-insulated house, with R-40 walls, will lose it's heat thru those R-2 double-glazed windows.
One 4x4 window (16 SqFt) loses as much heat as a solid 8'x40' wall (320 SqFt). Yes, you need those windows for solar intake, but most will need to plan on insulating shutters or other tricks to make things work right.
And a fireplace serves more than romance in most solar homes!
Please check back in a couple of weeks, when I have had time to complete this page - thanks!
Posted by RonKZ Sunday, August 15, 2004
copyright 1998 - 07 July 2006 by Ron Klotz-Zellhoefer, SolarSense Designs, Arizona & New Mexico
Permission is granted and welcomed for personal application only.
