Bruce Richey, Architect, AIA

New Energy-Conserving Passive Solar Single-Family Homes

"The Shingle Style home has great appeal to buyers, and this example of that popular style has been successfully modified to include a passive solar energy system. This system is simple and reliable. Sunlight is collected through double-glazed windows on the home's south-facing walls and through skylights on the south-facing roof. A total of 246 square feet of openings is used for solar collection.

"The sun's energy is absorbed by the brick tile floor surface and the surface of a concrete block wall that is located inside the home. Heat from the absorber surfaces is carried through the brick tiles into the concrete floor slab and also into the concrete wall to be stored."

"Heat stored in the mass of the floor and walls is distributed as it radiates to the living space when the indoor air temperature goes down. A blower in the ducting system draws heat from the ridge of the home and redistributes it to the rest of the living space. When the sun sets, the homeowner covers the skylights with wood shutters that are filled rigid insulation; insulating curtains are lowered over the south-facing windows. These moveable devices control heat loss.

"In order to prevent heating the house in the summertime, the skylights are covered by insulated shutters during the daytime, and the shades on the windows are adjusted to keep out direct sunlight. During summer nights, the skylight shutters are opened and the shades are folded up. THis allows interior heat to radiate out."

"Many details of the design make the home energy conserving. Most of the lower floor is located below grade and is also partially earth-bermed. This moderates the temperature extremes by surrounding the living space on the lower floor with the constant temperature of earth below the frost line. Windows and doors are weather-stripped."