Solar Home Heating Basics by Dan Chiras

Author:Dan Chiras [Chiras, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Residential
ISBN: 9781550925081
Publisher: New Society Publishers
Published: 2012-03-20T07:00:00+00:00

Adding Thermal Mass

If you end up dramatically increasing the amount of south-facing glass, you may want or need to add thermal mass. As you may recall from Chapter 6, thermal mass is any masonry material that can absorb heat generated by incoming solar energy during the day and release it at night or on cold, cloudy days. Thermal mass serves as a heat sponge that prevents overheating during the day. At night, or on cloudy days, thermal mass releases stored heat. As a result, thermal mass helps maintain a more consistent internal temperature in a passive solar home.

Thermal mass is easiest to install in new construction; it is much more challenging to install in retrofits. Floor tile or brick facing added to nearby walls may help. Adding a second layer of drywall to existing walls in direct contact with the incoming solar radiation works well, too. For best results, the thermal mass must be directly in the path of incoming sunlight. Mass should be a darker color to increase the absorption of sunlight. You don’t need to paint your walls black or dark brown. However, a dark green wall can help improve the performance of drywall mass.

One note of caution: For best results, the south-facing windows you are adding should be shaded by eaves (overhang) to prevent heat gain during the cooling season — late spring, summer, and early fall. You may need to build eaves over newly added solar glazing if there is no overhang on the south side of the building. You can also install retractable awnings that can be opened in the summer to prevent overheating.

Adding new windows is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but it will help improve the energy performance and comfort of your home, if done correctly. Reducing heating costs obviously saves on fuel bills. Adding solar glazing will increase the amount of day lighting — natural lighting during daytime hours. This, in turn, will reduce electrical costs by reducing the amount of artificial lighting you’ll use.

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