Passive Solar Design Strategies - Guidelines For Home Building

Passive Solar
Design Strategies:
Guidelines for
Horne Building
Passive Solar Industries Council

National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Charles Eley Associates
With SufrPort From:
U.S. Department of Energy
Passive Solar Design
Strategies:
Guidelines for Home
Building
Boston, Massachusetts
Passive Solar Industrtes Council

This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National Renewable
Energy LaboratOlY and produced with funds made available by the United States
Department of Energy. Neither the United States Department of Energy. the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory. the Passive Solar Industries Council nor any ofits
member organizations. nor any of their employees. nor any of their contractors.
subcontractors. or their employees. makes any warranty. expressed or implied. or
assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy. completeness or
usefulness of any information. apparatus. product or process disclosed. or represents
that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. The views and opinions do not
necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government. the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory. or any agency thereof. This document was prepared
with the assistance and participation of representatives from many organizations. but
the views and opinions expressed represent general consensus and available
information. Unanimous approval by all organizations is not implied.
APPLICABILITY OF THE BOSTON GUIDELINES
The climatic features of the Boston region include a air movement which encircles the globe in middle
high degree of variability; daily, seasonally, and latitudes. Relative to most other sections of the
annually. Large ranges of temperatures, cloudiness country, a large number of storms pass over
and rainfall may occur year round. The Boston Massachusetts. This creates a roughly twice weekly
climate is influences and moderated by its proximity alteration from fair to cloudy or stormy conditions,
to the ocean, yet the dominating weather is from the attended by often abrupt changes in temperature,
"prevailing westerlies", the belt of generally eastward moisture, sunshine, wind direction, and speed.
Therefore, a "normal" month, season, or year is the
exception rather than the rule.
This climate presents a challenge for passive solar

design. With a 50-60% possible sunshine during the
heating season, solar heating is possible. Fog in the
cape and islands may reduce the solar heating
potential. The summer temperatures average 70-74
degrees in the summer so there is little need for
passive cooling.
The general guidelines are applicable within 25-30

miles along the coast for much of New England.
Moving inland, the degree day data grows colder
rather rapidly and is affected by altitude and slope
orientation of mountainous regions. This creates a
more complex set of design criteria for the Western
region of the state. In general, however, the guidance
related to conservation and passive solar features is
applicable throughout New England.
LOCATION HEATING
DEGREE DAYS
Boston 5593
Chatham 6017
Chestnut Hill 5940
Edgartown 6024
Haverhill 6024
Hyannis 5965
Middleton 6057
Nantucket 5960
New Bedford 5305
Plymouth 6013
......
~:.
PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN STRATEGIES CONTENTS
Guidelines
Part One. Introduction ... ................................................................................................. 1

1. The Passive Solar Design Strategies Package ............................................................... 2
2. Passive Solar Perlonnance Potential ............................................................................. 5
Part Two. Basics of Passive Solar ............................................................................... 7

1. Why Passive Solar? More than a Question of Energy .................................................. 8
2. Key Concepts: Energy Conservation, Suntempering, Passive Solar ............................. 9
3. Improving Conservation Performance ......................................................................... 10
4. Mechanical Systems ................................................................................................... 13
5. South-Facing Glass .................................................................................................... 14
6. Thermal Mass ............................................................................................................. 15
7. Orientation ................................................................................................................. 16
8. Site Planning for Solar Access .................................................................................... 17
9. Interior Space Planning .............................................................................................. 18
10. Putting it Together: The House as a System ............................................................... 18
Part Three. Strategies for Improving Energy Performance

in Boston, Massachusetts ............................................................................................. 21
1. The Example Tables ................................................................................................... 22
2. Suntempering ............................................................................................................. 23
3. Direct Gain ................................................................................................................. 24
4. Sunspaces .................................................................................................................. 27
5. Thermal Storage Wall ................................................................................................. 30
6. Combined Systems ..................................................................................................... 32
7. Natural Cooling Guidelines ........................................................................................ 32
Worksheets
Blank Worksheets, Data Tables, and Worksheet Instructions ............................................ 39
Worked Example
Description of the Example Building .................................................................................. 47
Completed Worksheets ....................................................................................................... 51
Annotated Worksheet Tables .............................................................................................. 56
"Anytown" , USA .................................................................................................................. 59
Appendix
Glossary of Terms ............................................................................................................... 81
Summary Tables ....................................................................................................... ,......... 82
Technical Basis for the Builder Guidelines ........................................................................ 84
PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN STRATEGIES
Acknowledgements J. Douglas Balcomb, NREL and contributed far beyond the call
LANL , whose work is the basis of duty. Stephen Szoke.
Passive Solar Design Strategies: of the Guidelines; Robert Director of National Accounts.
Guidelines jar Home Builders McFarland. LANL. for National Concrete Masonry
represents over three years of developing and programming AsSOCiation. Chairman of PSIC's
effort by a unique group of the calculation procedures; Alex Board of Directors during the
organizations and individuals. Lekov. NREL. for assistance in development of these guidelines;
The challenge of creating an the analysis; Subrato Chandra James Tann. Brick Institute of
effective design tool that could and Philip W. Fairey. FSEC. America. Region 4. Chairman of
be customized for the specific whose research has guided the PSIC's Technical Committee
needs of builders in cities and natural cooling sections of the during the development of these
towns all over the U.S. called for guidelines; the members of the guidelines; and Bion Howard.
the talents and experience of NAHB Standing Committee on Chairman of PSIC's Technical
speCialists in many different Energy, especially Barbara B. Committee during the
areas of expertise. Harwood. Donald L. Carr. development of these gUidelines.
Passive Solar Design James W. Leach and Craig the Alliance to Save Energy all
Strategies is based on research Eymann, for the benefit of their gave unstintingly of their time,
sponsored by the United States long experience in building their expertise. and their
Department of Energy (DOE) energy-efficient homes; at U.S. enthusiasm.
Solar Buildings Program. and DOE. Frederick H. Morse.
carried out primarily by the Los Former Director of the Office of
Alamos National Laboratory Solar Heat Technologies and
(LANL), the National Renewable Mary-Margaret Jenior. Program
Energy Laboratory (NREL) , Manager; Nancy Carlisle and
formerly Solar Energy Research Paul Notari at NREL; Helen
Institute (SERI), and the Florida English. Executive Director of
Solar Energy Center (FSEC). PSIC; Michael Bell. former
The National Association of Chairman of PSIC. and Layne
Home Builders (NAHB) Standing Evans and Elena Marcheso-
Committee on Energy has Moreno. former Executive
provided invaluable advice and Directors of PSIC; Arthur W.
assistance during the Johnson. for technical
development of the Guidelines. assistance in the development of
Valuable information was the Guidelines and worksheets;
drawn from the 14-country Michael Nicklas. who worked
International Energy Agency on the Guidelines from their
(lEA), Solar Heating and Cooling early stages and was
program, Task VIII on Passive instrumental in the success of
and Hybrid Solar Low Energy the first pilot workshop in North
Buildings (see next page for Carolina; Charles Eley. for his
more about the international help in every aspect of the
context of Passive Solar Design production of the Guidelines
Strategies). package.
PSIC expresses particular Although all the members of
gratitude to the following PSIC. especially the Technical
individuals: Committee. contributed to the
finanCial and technical support
of the Guidelines. several
Passive Solar
Design Strategies
GUIDELINES

With Support From:
PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN STRATEGIES 1
Part One: Introduction

1. The Passive Solar Design Strategies Package
2. Passive Solar Performance Potential
2 GUIDELINES PART ONE: INTRODUCTION
1. The Passive Solar Passive Solar Design BuilderGuide

Strategies is a package in four A special builder-friendly
Design Strategies basic parts: computer program caller
Package • The Guidelines contain BuilderGuide has been
information about passive solar developed to automate the
The concepts of passive solar techniques and how they work. calculations involved in filling
are simple, but applying it Specific examples of systems out the four worksheets. The
effectively requires specific which will save various program operates like a
information and attention to the percentages of energy are spreadsheet; the user fills in
details of design and provided. values for the building. and the
construction. Some passive • The Worksheets offer a computer completes the
solar techniques are modest and simple. fill-in-the-blank method calculations. including all table
low-cost, and require only small to pre-evaluate the performance lookups. and prints out the
changes in a builder's standard of a specific design. answers. The automated
practice. At the other end of the • The Worked Example method of using the Worksheets
spectrum, some passive solar demonstrates how to complete allows the user to vary input
systems can almost eliminate a the worksheets for a typical values. BuilderGuide helps the
house's need for purchased residence in Boston. user quickly evaluate a wide
energy - but probably at a • The section titled Any Town. range of design strategies.
relatively high first cost. USA is a step by step
In between are a broad range explanation of the passive solar BuilderGuide is available from
of energy-conserving passive worksheets for a generic the Passive Solar Industries
solar techniques. Whether or example house. Council. Computer data files
not they are cost-effective, containing climate data and
practical and attractive enough data on component performance
to offer a market advantage to for 228 locations within the
any individual builder depends United States. The user can
011. very specific factors such as then adjust for local conditions
local costs, climate and market so performance can be evaluated
characteristics. virtually anywhere.
Passive Solar Design
Strategies: Guidelines for Home
Builders is written to help give
builders the information they
need to make these decisions.
The Guidelines Part Three gives more The Base Case House is a
Some principles of passive solar specific advice about techniques reasonably energy-efficient
design remain the same in every for suntempering. direct gain house based on a 1987 National
climate. An important aspect of systems. thermal storage mass Association of Home Builders
good passive solar design is that walls and sunspaces. and for study of housing characteristics.
it takes advantage of the natural cooling strategies to for seven different regions. The
opportunities at the specific site. help offset air-conditioning Base Case used for Boston,
So. many fundamental aspects needs. Massachusetts is from the
of passive solar design will The Example Tables in Part 5,000-6,000 heating degree days
depend on the conditions in a Three are also related to region. The house is assumed to
small local area. and even on Worksheet numbers. so that you be built over an unheated
the features of the building site. can compare them to the basement, because this is
Many of the suggestions in this designs you are evaluating. For typical in Massachusetts.
section apply specifically to example. the Passive Solar The examples show how to
Boston. Massachusetts. but Sunspace Example Case which achieve 20%, 40% and 60%
there is also information which uses 40% less energy than the energy-use rFductions using
will be useful in any climate. Base Case House (page 29) has: three baSic strategies:
Part One introduces Passive • A Conservation Performance • Added Insulation:
SoLar Design Strategies. and Level of apprOximately 33.376 Increasing thermal resistance
presents the performance Btu/yr-sf. insulation levels without adding
potential of several different • An Auxiliary Heat solar features.
passive solar systems in the Performance Level of • Suntempering: Increasing
Boston climate. Although in apprOximately 24.778 Btu/yr-sf south-faCing glazing to a
practice many factors will affect and maximum of 7% of the house's
actual energy performance. this • A Summer Cooling total floor area, without adding
information gives a general idea Performance Level of 3.080 thermal mass (energy storage)
of how various systems might Btu/yr-sf. beyond what is already in the
perform in Boston. In this example. the energy framing, standard floor
Part Two discusses the basic savings are achieved by coverings and gypsum wall-
concepts of passive solar design increasing insulation about 35% board and ceiling surfaces.
and construction: what the over the Base Case House. Sun tempering is combined with
advantages of passive solar are. adding a sunspace with south increased levels of thermal
how passive solar relates to glazing area equal to 9% of the resistance insulation.
other kinds of energy house's floor area, and using a
conservation measures. how the ceiling fan to cut some of the air
primary passive solar systems conditioning load.
work. and what the builder's A Base Case House is
most important considerations compared with a series of
should be when evaluating and example cases to illustrate
using different passive solar exactly how these increased
strategies. levels of energy-effiCiency might
be achieved.
• Solar Architecture: Using could first calculate the thennal units per square foot
three different design performance of the basic house per year (Btu/ sf-yr) - the lower
approaches: Direct Gain. you build now. then fill out the heat loss. the better.
Sunspace. and Thennal Storage Worksheets for that house with • Worksheet IT: Auxiliary
Wall. with increased levels of a variety of energy performance Heat Performance Level:
thermal resistance insulation. strategies such as increased Determines how much heat has
For all strategies. the energy insulation. suntempering and to be supplied (that is, provided
savings indicated are based on specific passive solar by the heating system) after
the assumption that the energy- components. taking into account the heat
efficient design and construction The Worksheets provide a contributed by passive solar.
gUidelines have been followed. way to calculate quickly and This worksheet arrives at a
so the houses are properly sited with reasonable accuracy how number estimating the amount
and tightly built with high- well a design is likely to perform of heating energy the house's
quality windows and doors. in four key ways: how well it will non-solar heating system has to
The Guidelines section has conserve heat energy: how much provide in Btu/yr-sf. Again. the
been kept as brief and the solar features will contribute lower the value. the better.
straightforward as possible. but to its total heating energy needs: • Worksheet III: Thermal
more detailed information is how comfortable the house will Mass/Comfort: Determines
available if needed. References be; and how much the annual whether the house has adequate
are indicated in the text. Also cooling load (need for air thermal mass to assure comfort
included at the end of this book conditioning) will be. and good thennal perfonnance.
are a brief glossary: a summary The Worksheets are Worksheet III calculates the
of the Example Tables for supported by "look-up" tables number of degrees the
Boston. Massachusetts. and the containing pre-calculated temperature inside the house is
Technical Basis for the Builder numbers for the local area. likely to vary. or "swing". during
Guidelines which explains the Some of the blanks in the a sunny winter day without the
background and assumptions Worksheets call for information heating system operating. A
behind the Guidelines and about the house - for example. well-designed house should
Worksheets. floor area and proj ected area of have a temperature swing of no
passive solar glazing. Other more than 13 degrees. and the
The Worksheets blanks require a number from less the better.
The Worksheets are specifically one of the tables - for example.
tailored for Boston. from the Solar System Savings
Massachusetts. and are a very Fraction table or from the Heat
important part of this package Gain Factor table.
because they allow you to The Worksheets allow
compare different passive solar calculation of the following
strategies or combinations of performance indicators:
strategies. and the effect that • Worksheet I: Conservation
changes will have on the overall Performance Level: Determines
performance of the house. how well the house's basic
The most effective way to use energy conservation measures
the Worksheets is to make (insulation. sealing. caulking.
multiple copies before you fill etc.) are working to prevent
them out the first time. You can unwanted heat loss or gains.
then use the Worksheets to The bottom line of this
calculate several different Worksheet is a number
designs. For instance. you measuring heat loss in British
• Worksheet IV: Summer 2. Passive Solar system has 145 sf.The energy
Cooling Performance Level: savings presented in this
Indicates how much air Performance example assume that all the
conditioning the house will need Potential systems are designed and built
in the summer (It is not. according to the suggestions in
however. intended for use in The energy performance of these Guidelines. It's also
sizing equipment. but as an passive solar strategies varies important to remember that the
indication of the reductions in significantly. depending on figures below are for annual net
annual cooling load made climate. the specific design of heating benefits. The natural
possible by the use of natural the system. and the way it is cooling section in Part Three
cooling). The natural cooling built and operated. Of course. gives advice about shading and
gUidelines should make the energy performance is not the other techniques which would
house's total cooling load - the only consideration. A system make sure the winter heating
bottom line of this Worksheet. in which will give excellent energy benefits are not at the expense
Btu/yr-sf - smaller than in a performance may not be as of higher summer cooling loads.
"conventional" house. The lower marketable in your area or as Please note that throughout
the cooling performance level. easily adaptable to your designs the Guidelines and Worksheets
the better the design. as a system which saves less the glazing areas given are for
So. the Worksheets provide energy but fits other needs. the actual net area of the glass
four key numbers indicating the In the following table. itself. A common rule of thumb
projected performance of the several different passive solar is that the net glass area is 80
various designs you are systems are presented along percent of the rough frame
evaluating. with two numbers which opening. For example. if a
• The Worked Example: To indicate their performance. The south glass area of 100 sf is
assist in understanding how the Percent Solar Savings is a deSired. the required area of the
design strategies outlined in the measure of how much the rough frame opening would be
Guidelines affect the overall passive solar system is reducing about 125 sf.
performance of a house. a the need for purchased energy.
worked example is included. For example. the Percent Solar
The example house is assumed Savings for the Base Case House
to be constructed of materials is 4.6%. because even in a non-
and design elements typical of solar house. the south-facing
the area. Various design windows are contributing some
features. such as direct gain heat energy.
spaces. sunspaces. increased The Yield is the annual net
levels of insulation and thermal heating energy benefit of adding
mass. are included to illustrate the passive solar system.
the effects combined systems measured in Btu saved per year
have on the performance ofa per square foot of additional
house. Also. many features are south glazing.
covered to demonstrate how The figures given are for a
various conditions and 1.500 sf. Single-story house with
situations are addressed in the a basement. The Base Case
worksheets. A description of the House has 45 sf of south-facing
design features. along with the glazing. For the purposes of this
house plans. elevations and example. the Suntempered
sections. is included for house has 100 sf of south-facing
additional support information. glass. and each passive solar
Performance Potential of Passive Solar Strategies

in Boston, Massachusetts
1,500 sf, Single Story House
Yield
Btu Saved per
Percent Solar Square Foot of
Case Savings South Glass
Base Case 4.6 not applicable

(45 sf of south-facing double glass)
Suntempered 8.3 29,711
(100 sf of south-facing double glass)
Direct Gain (145 sf of south glass)

Double Glass 10.6 25,870
Triple or low-e glass 13.0 45,064
Double glass with R-4 night 15.5 62,448
insulation 1
Double glass with R-9 night 16.6 69,498
insulation 1
Sunspace (145 sf of south glass)

Attached with opaque end walls 2 12.6 46,349
Attached with glazed end walls 2 12.0 42,023
Semi-enclosed with vertical glazing3 11.6 34,584
Semi-enclosed with 50° sloped 16.0 65,313
glazing3
Thermal Storage Wall - Masonry/Concrete

(145 sf of south glass)
Black surface, double glazing 10.7 32,173
Selective surface, single glazing 14.9 59,576
Selective surface, double glazing 14.5 57,781
Thermal Storage Wall - Water Wall

(145 sf of south glass)
Selective surface, single glazing 17.3 73,161
1. Night insulation is assumed to cover the south glass each night and
removed when sun is available. Experience has shown that many
homeowners find this inconvenient and so the potential energy savings are
often not achieved. Using low-e or other energy-efficient glazing is more
reliable.
2. The attached sunspace is assumed to have, in addition to glazed walls,
roof glazing at a slope of 30 degrees from the horizontal, or a 7:12 pitch.
(See diagram SSB1 in the Worksheets.)
3. The semi-enclosed sunspace has only the south wall exposed to the out-
of-doors. The glazing has a slope of 50° from the horizontal, or a 14:12
pitch. The side walls are adjacent to conditioned space in the house.
(See diagram SSD1 in the Worksheets.)
Part Two: Basics of Passive Solar

1. Why Passive Solar? More than a Question of Energy
2. Key Concepts: Energy Conservation, Sun tempering,
3. Improving Conservation Performance
4. Mechanical Systems
5. South-Facing Glass
6. Thermal Mass
7. Orientation
8. Site Planning for Solar Access
9. Interior Space Planning
10. Putting it Together: The House as a System
8 GUIDELINES PART TWO: BASIS OF PASSIVE SOLAR
1. Why Passive Solar? improve energy-efficiency - but as the state of the art in energy-
added insulation is invisible to efficiency and style. and they
More than a Question the prospective home buyer. A use passive solar as a part of the
of Energy sunny. open living area lit by package.
south-facing windows. on the The U.S. Department of
Houses today are more energy- other hand. may be a key selling Energy and the National Renew-
efficient than ever before. point. Windows in general are able Energy Laboratory (NREL)
However. the vast majority of popular with homebuyers. and conducted extensive national
new houses still ignore a lot of passive solar can make windows surveys of passive solar homes.
energy saving opportunities - energy producers instead of home owners and potential
opportunities available in the energy liabilities. buyers. Some key findings:
sunlight falling on the house. in Another example: high- • Passive solar homes work -
the landscaping. breezes and efficiency heating eqUipment they generally require an
other natural elements of the can account for significant average of about 30% less
site. and opportunities in the energy savings - but it won't be energy for heating than
structure and materials of the as much fun on a winter "conventional" houses. with
house itself. which. with morning as breakfast in a some houses saving much more.
thoughtful design. could be bright. attractive sunspace. • Occupants of passive solar
used to collect and use free The point is not that a homes are pleased with the
energy. Passive solar (the name builder should choose passive performance of their homes
distinguishes it from "active" or solar instead of other energy- (over 90% "very satisfied"), but
mechanical solar technologies) conserving measures. The they rank the comfort and
is simply a way to take important thing is that passive pleasant living environment as
maximum advantage of these sohli- strategies can add not only just as important (in some
opportunities. energy-efficiency. but also very regions. more important) to their
Home buyers are also . saleable amenities - style. satisfaction. and in their
increasingly sophisticated about comfort. attractive interiors. decision to buy the house, as
energy issues. although the curb appeal and resale value. energy considerations.
average home buyer is probably In fact. in some local .. Passive solar home owners
much more familiar with markets. builders report that and lenders perceive the
insulation than with passive they don't even make specific resale value of passive solar
solar. The "energy crisis" may reference to "passive solar". houses as high.
come and go. but very few They just present their houses
people perceive their own Advantages of Passive Solar
household energy bills as
• Energy performance: Lower energy bills all year-round
getting smaller - quite the
opposite. So a house with • Attractive living environment: large windows and views, sunny
significantly lower monthly interiors, open floor plans
energy costs year-round will • Comfort: quiet (no operating noise), solid construction, warmer in
have a strong market advantage winter, cooler in summer (even during a power failure)
over a comparable house down
the street. no matter what • Value: high owner satisfaction, high resale value
international oil prices may be. • Low Maintenance: durable, reduced operation and repairs
There are many different
• Investment: independence from future rises in fuel costs, will continue
ways to reduce energy bills. and
to save money long after any initial costs have been recovered
some are more marketable than
others. For instance. adding • Environmental Concerns: clean, renewable energy to combat growing
insulation can markedly concerns over global warminq, acid rain and ozone depletion
2. Key Concepts: Many of the measures that Although the concept is simple,
are often considered part of in practice the relationship
Energy Conservation, suntempering or passive solar - between the amounts of glazing
Suntempering, such as orienting to take and mass is complicated by
advantage of summer breezes, or many factors, and has been a
Passive Solar
landscaping for natural cooling, subject of considerable study
or facing a long wall of the and experiment. From a comfort
The strategies for enhancing
house south - can help a house and energy standpoint, it would
energy performance which are
conserve energy even if no be difficult to add too much
presented here fall into four
"solar" features are planned. mass. Thermal mass will hold
general categories:
The essential elements in a warmth longer in winter and
• Energy Conservation:
passive solar house are south- keep houses cooler in summer.
insulation levels, control of air
facing glass and thermal mass. The following sections of the
infiltration, glazing type and
In the simplest terms, a Guidelines discuss the size and
location, mechanical equipment
passive solar system collects location of glass and mass, as
and energy efficient appliances.
solar energy through south- well as other considerations
• Suntempering: a limited use
facing glass and stores solar which are basic to both
of solar techniques; modestly
energy in thermal mass - suntempered and passive solar
increasing south-facing window
materials with a high capacity houses: improving conservation
area, usually by relocating
for storing heat (e.g., brick, performance; mechanical
windows from other sides of the
concrete masonry, concrete systems; orientation; site
house, but without adding
slab, tile, water). The more planning for solar access;
thermal mass.
south-faCing glass is used in the interior space planning; and
• Solar Architecture: going
house, the more thermal mass approaching to the house as a
beyond conservation and
must be provided, or the house totally integrated system.
suntempering to a complete
will overheat and the solar
system of collection, storage and
system will not perform as
use of solar energy: using more
expected.
south glass, adding appropriate
Improperly done, passive
thermal mass, and taking steps
solar may continue to heat the
to control and distribute heat
house in the summer, causing
energy throughout the house.
discomfort or high air-
• Natural Cooling: using
conditioning bills, or overheat
design and the environment to
the house in the winter and
cool the house and increase
require additional ventilation.
comfort, by increasing air
movement and employing
shading strategies.
What is immediately clear is
that these categories overlap. A
good passive solar design must
include an appropriate thermal
envelope, energy efficient
mechanical systems, energy
effiCient appliances and proper
solar architecture, specifically
the appropriate amounts and
locations of mass and glass.
3. Improving The thermal resistance of Slab edge insulation should

ceiling/roof assemblies, walls be at least two feet deep,
Conservation and floors is affected not only extending from the surface of
Performance by the R-value of the insulation the floor or above. Materials for
itself, but also the resistance of slab edge insulation should be
The techniques described in this other elements in the selected for underground
section relate to Worksheet I: construction assembly - framing durability. One material with a
Conservation Performance effects, exterior sheathing, and proven track record is extruded
Level, which measures the finishes and interior finishes. polystyrene. Exposed insulation
house's heat loss. The energy The Worksheets include tables should be protected from
conservation measures that that show Equivalent physical damage by attaching a
reduce heat loss also tend to Construction R-Values which protection board, for instance,
reduce the house's need for air account for these and other or by covering the insulation
conditioning. effects. For instance, ventilated with a protective surface. The
The most important crawlspaces and unheated use of termite shields may be
measures for improving the basements provide a buffering required.
house's basic ability to conserve effect which is accounted for in Heated basement walls
the heat generated either by the the Worksheet tables. should be fully insulated to at
sun or by the house's With attics, framing effects least four feet below grade, but
conventional heating system are are minimized if the insulation the portion of the wall below
in the following areas: covers the ceilingjoists, either that depth only needs to be
• Insulation by using blown-in insulation or insulated to about half the R-
• Air inflltration by running an additional layer value of the upper portion.
• Non-solar glazing of batts in the opposite direction Insulation can be placed on the
of the ceiling joists. Ridge outside surface of the wall, or on
Insulation and/ or eave vents are needed for the inside surface of the wall, or
Adding insulation to walls, ventilation. in the cores of the masonry
floors, ceilings, roof and units.
foundation improves their lf the basement walls are
thermal resistance (R-value) - insulated on the outside, the
their resistance to heat flowing materials should be durable
out of the house. underground, and exposed
A quality job of installing the insulation should be protected
insulation can have almost as from damage. Exterior
much effect on energy insulation strategies only
performance as the R-value, so Insulation in an Attic require the use of a termite
Insulation should extend over the top ceiling shield. In the case of a finished
careful construction supervision joists and ventilation should be provided at the
is important. An inspection just eaves. basement or walk-out basement.
before the drywall is hung may placing insulation on the
identify improvements which are In cathedral ceilings, an interior or within the cores of
easy at that time but might insulating sheathing over the architectural masonry units
make a big difference in the top decking will increase the R- may be less costly than
energy use of the home for the value. insulating the exterior
life of the building. foundation.
Air Infiltration Checklist for Minimizing Air Leakage
Sealing the house carefully to ./ Tighten seals around windows and doors, and weatherstripping around
reduce air infiltration - air all openings to the outside or to unconditioned rooms;
leakage - is as necessary to
./ Caulk around all windows and doors before drywall is hung; seal all
energy conservation as adding penetrations (plumbing, electrical, etc.);
insulation.
./ Insulate behind wall outlets and/or plumbing lines in exterior walls;
The tightness of houses is
generally measured in the ./ Caulk under headers and sills;
number of air changes per hour
./ Chink spaces between rough openings and millwork with insulation, or
(ACH). A good, comfortable, for a better seal, fill with foam;
energy-efficient house, built
./ Seal larger openings such as ducts into attics or crawlspaces with taped
along the gUidelines in the table
polyethylene covered with insulation;
on this page, will have
approximately 0.35 to 0.50 air ./ Locate continuous vapor retardants located on the warm side of the
insulation (building wrap, continuous interior polyethylene, etc.);
changes per hour under normal
winter conditions. ./ Install dampers and/or glass doors on fireplaces; combined with outside
Increasing the tightness of combustion air intake;
the house beyond that may ./ Install backdraft dampers on all exhaust fan openings;
improve the energy performance,
./ Caulk and seal the joint between floor slabs and walls;
but it may also create problems
with indoor air quality, mOisture ./ Remove wood grade stakes from slabs and seal;
build-up, and inadequately
./ Cover and seal sump cracks;
vented fireplaces and furnaces.
Some kind of additional ./ Close core voids in top of concrete masonry foundation walls;
mechanical ventilation - for ./ Control concrete and masonry cracking;
exaniple, small fans, heat pump
heat exchangers, integrated ./ Use of air tight drywall methods are also acceptable;
ventilation systems or air-to-air
heat exchangers - will probably
./ ..
Employ appropriate radon mitigation techniques .
./ Seal seams in exterior sheathing.

be necessary to avoid such
problems in houses with less
than 0.35 ACH (calculated or
measured).
Tighter houses may perform
effectively with appropriate
mechanical ventilation systems.
The use of house sealing
subcontractors to do the
tightening and check it with a
blower door can often save the
builder time and problems,
especially when trying to
achieve particularly high levels
of infiltration control.
Non-Solar Glazing R-values that result from be balanced against the

South-facing windows are procedures account for the benefits.
considered solar glazing. The glass, the frame, the air gap and As many windows as
south windows in any house are any special (low-e) coatings. possible should be kept operable
contributing some solar heat North windows should be for easy natural ventilation in
energy to the house's heating used with care. Sometimes summer. (See also Orientation.
needs - whether it's a views or the diffuse northern page 16. Recommended Non-
significant, usable amount or light are deSirable, but in South Glass Guidelines, page
hardly worth measuring will general north-facing windows 34, and Shading, page 35)
depend on design, location and should not be large. Very large
other factors which are dealt north-facing windows should Low-e Glass
with later under the discussions have high insulation value, or The principle mechanism of heat
of suntempering and passive R-value. Since north windows transfer in multi-layer glazing is
solar systems. receive relatively little direct sun thermal radiation from a warm
North windows in almost in summer, they do not present pane of glass to a cooler pane .
. every climate lose significant much of a shading problem. So Coating a glass surface with a
heat energy and gain very little if the choice were between an low-emissivity (low-e) metallic
useful sunlight in the winter. average-sized north-facing oxide material and facing that
East and west windows are window and an east or west- coating into the gap between the
likely to increase air facing window, north would glass layers significantly
conditioning needs unless heat actually be a better chOice. reduces the amount of heat
gain is minimized with careful considering both summer and transfer. The improvement in
attention to shading. winter performance. insulating value due to the
But most of the reasons East windows catch the low-e coating is roughly
people want windows have very morning sun. Not enough to equivalent to adding another
little to do with energy, so the provide significant energy, but, layer of glass to the multi-pane
best design will probably be a unfortunately, usually enough glass unit. Two panes of glass.
good compromise between to cause potential overheating one with a low-e coating. will
energy efficiency and other problems in summer. If the have about the same insulating
benefits, such as bright living views or other elements in the value as three clear panes. Add
spaces and views. house's design dictate east argon gas to this two pane low-e
Triple-glazing or double- windows, shading should be unit and the system will be
glazing with a low-e coating is done with particular care. nearly as effective as four layers
advisable. Low-e glazing on all West windows may be the of clear glass. The net effect to
non-solar windows may be an most problematiC. and there are the building occupant is an
especially useful solution few shading systems that will be improvement in comfort in both
because some low-e coatings effective enoughto offset the winter and summer.
can insulate in winter and potential for overheating from a In the market today, there
shield against unwanted heat large west-faCing window. Glass are three basic types of low-e
gain in summer. with a low shading coeffiCient coatings: (1) high transmiSSion
A chart is provided with the may be one effective approach - low-e, (2) selective transmission
worksheets that gives typical for example, tinted glass or low-e, and: (3) tinted low-e or
window R-values for generic some types of low-e glass which tinted glass with low-e.
window types. When possible, provide some shading while These categories are related
however, manufacturer's data allowing almost clear views. The to the windows' transmission of
based on National Fenestration cost of properly shading both sunlight. or Solar Heat Gain
Rating Council (NFRC) east and west windows should (SHG) coefficient. The SHG
procedures should be used. The coefficient will soon be made
available to builders and 4. Mechanical • Ducts: One area often
consumers from uniform ratings neglected but of key importance
made by the NFRC. Systems to the house's energy
High transmission products performance is the design and
are best suited to passive solar The passive solar features in the location of the ducts. Both the
buildings designs located in house and the mechanical supply and return ducts should
heating dominated climates heating, ventilating and air be located within insulated
where high solar gains can be conditioning systems (HVAC) areas, or be well insulated if
utilized by thermal mass and will interact all year round, so they run in cold areas of the
where overhangs are the most effective approach will house. All segments of ducts
incorporated to prevent be to design the system as an should be sealed at the jOints.
unwanted summer heat gains. integrated whole. HVAC design The joints where the ducts tum
Selective transmission is, of course, a complex subject, up into exterior walls or
products are ideal for those but four areas are particularly penetrate the ceiling should be
buildings that have both winter worth noting in energy-efficient particularly tight and sealed.
heating and summer cooling houses: • System Efficiency: Heating
requirements. The low • System Sizing: Mechanical system efficiency is rated by the
emittance characteristics of this systems are often oversized for annual fuel utilization effiCiency
glass ensure winter performance the relatively low heating loads (AFUE). Cooling system
by a reduction in heat loss. In in well-insulated passive solar efficiency is rated by the
summer, the selective properties houses. Oversized systems will seasonal efficiency is rating
allow natural daylighting, but cost more in the first place, and (SEER). The higher the number,
block a large fraction of solar will cycle on and off more often, the better the performance.
infrared energy, reducing the wasting energy. The back-up In the National Association
cooling load. systems in passive solar houses of Home Builders' Energy-
Putting a low-e coating on should be sized to provide 100% Efficient House Project, all the
tinted glass, or coloring the of the heating or cooling load on rooms were fed with low, central
coating itself, creates a product the design day, but no larger. air supplies, as opposed to the
with the U-value, or insulating Comparing estimates on system usual placement of registers
capability. of both the products sizes from more than one under windows at the end of
above. However, this glass also contractor is probably a good long runs. This resulted in good
provides glare control along with idea. comfort and energy
a high level of solar heat • Night Setback: Clock performance.
rejection, helping control solar thermostats for automatic The performance of even the
gains in cooling dominated setback are usually very most beautifully designed
areas. effective - but in passive solar passive solar house can easily
With this range of products systems with large amounts of be undermined by details like
available in the market, nearly thermal mass (and thus a large uninsulated ducts, or by
all buildings can benefit from capacity for storing energy and overlooking other basic energy
the application of low-e glass. releasing it during the night), conservation measures.
Home owners will enjoy setback of the thermostat may
increased comfort and livability not save very much energy
in interior spaces, reduced unless set properly to account
operating costs, and possibly for the time lag effects resulting
first cost savings from reduced from the thermal mass.
HVAC equipment sizing.
5. South-Facing Glass The third limit on south- When the solar glazing is
facing glass is the total of all tilted. its winter effectiveness as
South-facing solar glass is a key passive solar systems combined. a so~ar collector usually
component of any passive solar which should not exceed 20% of increases. However. tilted
system. The system must total floor area. Using more glazing can cause serious
include enough solar glazing for south glass than this limit could overheating in the summer if it
good performance in winter. but lead to overheating even in is not properly shaded.
not so much that cooling winter. Ordinary vertical glazing is
performance in summer will be For example. a passive solar easier to shade. less likely to
compromised. The amount of system for a 1.500 sf house overheat. less susceptible to
solar glazing must also be might combine 150 sf of direct damage and leaking. and so is
carefully related to the amount gain glazing with 120 sf of almost always a better year-
of thermal mass. Suntempered sunspace glazing for a total of round solution. Even in the
houses use no additional 270 sf of solar glazing. or 18% of winter. with the sun low in the
thermal mass beyond that the total floor area. well within sky and reflecting off snow
already in the wallboard. the direct gain limit of 12% and cover. vertical glazing can often
framing and furnishings of a the overall limit of 20%. For a offer energy performance just as
typical house. Houses with design like this. thermal mass effective as tilted.
solar architecture must have would be required both in the
additional thermal mass. house and within the sunspace.
There are three types of The Natural Cooling
limits on the amount of south- guidelines in Part Three include
facing glass that can be used recommendations on the
effectively in a house. The first window area that should be
operable to allow for natural
is a limit on the amount of
glazing for suntempered houses. ventilation.
7% of the house's total floor
area. Above this 7% limit. mass
must be added.
For direct gain systems in
passive solar houses. the
maximum amount of south-
faCing glazing is 12% of total
floor area. regardless of how
much additional thermal mass
is prOVided. This limit will
reduce the problems associated
with visual glare or fabric
fading. Further details about
the most effective sizing of south
glass and thermal mass for
direct gain systems are provided
in Part Three.
6. Thermal Mass The thermal storage The design issues related to

capabilities of a given material thermal mass depend on the
depend on the material's passive system type. For
Some heat storage capacity. or
conductivity. specific heat and sunspaces and thermal storage
thermal mass. is present in all
density. Most of the concrete wall systems. the required mass
houses. in the framing. gypsum
and masonry materials typically of the system is included in the
wallboard. typical furnishings
used in passive solar have design itself. For direct gain.
and floor coverings. In
similar specific heats. the added mass must be within
suntempered houses. this
Conductivity tends to increase the rooms receiving the
modest amount of mass is
with increasing density. So the sunlight. The sections on Direct
sufficient for the modest amount
major factor affecting Gain Systems. Sunspaces and
of south-facing glass. But more
performance is density. Thermal Storage Walls contain
thermal mass is required in
Generally. the higher the more information on techniques
passive solar houses. and the
density the better. for sizing and locating thermal
question is not only how much.
mass in those systems.
but what kind and where it
should be located.
The thermal mass in a
passive solar system is usually a
conventional construction Heat Storage Properties of Materials
material such as brick. poured Material Specific Density Heat
concrete. concrete masonry. or Heat (lb/ft3) Capacity
tile. and is usually placed in the (BtU/lb OF) (Btu/in-sf-OF)
floor or interior walls. Other
materials can also be used for Poured Concrete 0.16-0.20 120 - 150 2.0 - 2.5
thermal mass. such as water or
"phase change" materials. Clay Masonry 0.19-0.21
Phase change materials store Molded Brick 120 - 130 2.0 - 2.2
and release heat through a Extruded Brick 125 - 135 2.1-2.3
chemical reactions. Water Pavers 130 - 135 2.2 - 2.3
actually has a higher unit
thermal storage capacity than Concrete Masonry 0.19-0.22
concrete or masonry. Water Concrete Masonry Units 80 - 140 1.3 - 2.3
tubes and units called "water Brick 115 - 140 1.9 - 2.3
walls" are commercially Pavers 130 - 150 2.2 - 2.5
available (general
recommendations for these Gypsum Wallboard 0.26 50 1.1
systems are included in the
section on Thermal Storage wall Water 62.4 5.2
systems).
7. Orientation When glazing is oriented In the ideal situation, the

more than 15 degrees off true house should be oriented east-
The ideal orientation for solar south, not only is winter solar west and so have its longest wall
glazing is within 5 degrees of performance reduced, but facing south. But as a practical
true south. This orientation will summer air conditioning loads matter, if the house's short side
provide maximum performance. also significantly increase, has good southern exposure it
Glazing oriented to within 15 especially as the orientation will usually accommodate
degrees of true south will goes west. The warmer the sufficient glazing for an effective
climate. the more east- and passive solar system, provided
perform almost as well, and
west-facing glass will tend to the heat can be transferred to
orientations up to 30 degrees off
cause overheating problems. In the northern zones of the house.
- although less effective - will
still provide a substantial level general, southeast orientations
of solar contribution. present less of a problem than
In Boston, magnetic north as southwest.
Magnetic
indicated on the compass is North
actually 14 degrees West of true
north, and this should be
corrected for when planning for
orientation of south glazing.
Magnetic Deviation
Magnetic Diviation is the angle between true
north and magnetic north.
8. Site Planning for situation for providing

unshaded southern exposure
Solar Access during the winter. See also the
figure on page 35 showing
The basic objective of site landscaping for summer shade.
planning for maximum energy
pertonnance is to allow the
south side as much unshaded
exposure as possible during the
winter months.
As discussed above. a good
m:............ :............ :............:
Solar Subdivision Layouts
Solar access may be provided to the rear
solar orientation is possible yard, the side yard or the front yard of solar
~ 2 Story Buildings Allowed
homes.
within a relatively large
southern arc. so the flexibility Ideal Solar Access
exists to achieve a workable Buildings, trees or other obstructions should
not be located so as to shade the south wall of
balance between energy
= =
solar buildings. At this latitude, A 16 ft., B
performance and other =
28 ft., and C 64 ft.
important factors such as the
slope of the site. the individual Of course. not all lots are large
house plan. the direction of enough to accommodate this
prevailing breezes for summer kind of optimum solar access. so
cooling. the views. the street lay- it's important to carefully assess
out. and so on. shading patterns on smaller lots
But planning for solar to make the best compromise.
access does place some Protecting solar access is
restrictions even on an easiest in subdivisions with Solar Subdivision Layouts
individual site. and presents streets that run within 25 Short east-west cul-de-sacs tied into north-
even more challenges when degrees of east-west. because all south collectors is a good street pattern for
solar access.
planning a complete lots will either face or back up to
subdivision. Over the years, south. Where the streets run
Two excellent references for
developers and builders of many north- south. creation of east-
ideas about subdivision lay-out
different kinds of projects all west cul-de-sacs will help
to protect solar access are
over the country have come up ensure solar access.
Builder's Guide to Passive Solar
with flexible ways to provide
Home Design and Land
adequate solar access.
Development and Site Planning
Once again. there is an ideal
Jor Solar Access.
situation and then some degree
of flexibility to address practical
concerns. Ideally. the glazing on
the house should be exposed to
sunlight with no obstructions
within an arc of 60 degrees on
either side of true south. but
reasonably good solar access
will still be guaranteed if the
glazing is unshaded within an
arc of 45 degrees. The figure on
this page shows the optimum
9. Interior Space Another general principle is 10. Putting it

that an open floor plan will
Planning allow the collected solar heat to Together: The House
circulate freely through natural as a System
Planning room lay-out by convection.
considering how the rooms will Other ideas from effective Many different factors will affect
be used in different seasons. passive solar houses: a house's overall performance.
and at different times of day. • Orienting internal mass and these factors all interact:
can save energy and increase walls as north-south partitions the mechanical system. the
comfort. In houses with passive that can be "charged" on both insulation. the house's
solar features. the lay-out of sides. tightness. the effects of the
rooms - and interior zones • Using an east-west partition passive solar features. the
which may include more than wall for thermal mass. appliances. and. very
one room - is particularly • Avoid dividing the house importantly. the actions of the
important. between north and south zones. people who live in the house. In
In general. living areas and • Using thermal storage walls each of these areas. changes are
other high-activity rooms should (see page 30); the walls store possible which would improve
be located on the south side to energy all day and slowly release the house's energy performance.
benefit from the solar heat. The it at night. and can be a good Some energy savings are
closets. storage areas. garage alternative to ensure privacy relatively easy to get. Others
and other less-used rooms can and to buffer noise when the can be more expensive and more
act as buffers along the north south side faces the street; difficult to achieve. but may
side. but entry-ways should be • Collecting the solar energy provide benefits over and above
located away from the wind. in one zone of the house and good energy performance.
Clustering baths. kitchens and transporting it to another by A sensible energy-efficient
laundry-rooms near the water fans or natural convection house uses a combination of
heater will save the heat that through an open floor plan. techniques.
would be lost from longer water • Providing south-facing In fact. probably the most
lines. clerestories to "charge" north important thing to remember
. .· · · · · ·. . . ./···B~~:;·~~::~;·····\ .(' . . . . . . . . ,'\. zones. about designing for energy
performance in a way that will
i Bed- \; r Closets. Stairs. Garage i H
\ ...~.oo~../ \ ... Hallways. etc ..../ '\,.. ../ also enhance the comfort and
· · .: :·:B·~·~=: : :.· · · · · : ·:.: : :·: : : : :.: :~...../:::........,:.::::::.:...:.:.:,.:::.......... value of the house is to take an
,:. room ,' ../' .. .\ (Kitchen/Dining:l integrated approach. keeping in
'. . . . . ,..,. . . . i. ~~~~ J'. . . .. . w ••••••••••••• ••• .... "
mind the house as a total
.....:: ..... ................•.....
-
system. On the the follOwing
page is a basiC checklist for
~ energy-effiCient design. These
Interior Space Planning
Living and high activity spaces should be techniques are dealt with in
located on the south.
more detail. including their
impact in your location. in Part
Three.
Checklist for Good Design
./ 1. Building Orientation: A number of innovative techniques can be used for obtaining good solar access. No
matter what the house's design, and no matter what the site, some options for orientation will be more energy-
efficient than others, and even a very simple review of the site will probably help you choose the best option
available .
./ 2. Upgraded levels of insulation: It is possible, of course, to achieve very high energy-efficiency with a
"superinsulated" design. But in many cases, one advantage of passive solar design is that energy-efficiency
can be achieved with more economical increases in insulation.
On the other hand, if very high energy performance is a priority - for example, in areas where the cost of
fuel is high - the most cost-effective way to achieve it is generally through a combination of high levels of
insulation and passive solar features .
./ 3. Reduced air infiltration: Air tightness is not only critical to energy performance, but it also makes the
house more comfortable.
Indoor air quality is an important issue, and too complex for a complete discussion here, but in general, the
suntempered and passive solar houses built according to the Guidelines provide an alternative approach to
achieving improved energy efficiency without requiring air quality controls such as air to air heat exchangers,
which would be needed if the house were made extremely airtight.
./ 4. Proper window sizing and location: Even if the total amount of glazing is not changed, rearranging the
location alone can often lead to significant energy savings at little or no added cost. Some energy-conserving
designs minimize window area on all sides of the house - but it's a fact of human nature that people like
windows, and windows can be energy producers if located correctly .
./ 5. Selection of glazing: Low-emissivity (low-e) glazing types went from revolutionary to commonplace in a
very short time, and they can be highly energy-efficient choices. But the range of glazing possibilities is
broader than that, and the choice will have a significant impact on energy performance. Using different types
of glazing for windows with different orientations is worth considering for maximum energy performance; for
example, using heat-rejecting glazing on west windows, high R-value glazing for north and east windows, and
clear double-glazing on solar glazing .
./ 6. Proper shading of windows: If windows are not properly shaded in summer - either with shading devices,
or by high-performance glazing with a low shading coefficient - the air conditioner will have to work overtime
and the energy savings of the winter may be canceled out. Even more important, unwanted solar gain is
uncomfortable .
./ 7. Addition of thermal mass: Adding thermal mass - tiled or paved concrete slab, masonry walls, brick
fireplaces, tile floors, etc. - can greatly improve the comfort in the house, holding heat better in winter and
keeping rooms cooler in summer. In a passive solar system, of course, properly sized and located thermal
mass is essential.
./ 8. Interior design for easy air distribution: If the rooms in the house are planned carefully, the flow of heat
in the winter will make the passive solar features more effective, and the air movement will also enhance
ventilation and comfort during the summer. Often this means the kind of open floor plan which is highly
marketable in most areas. Planning the rooms with attention to use patterns and energy needs can save
energy in other ways, too - for instance, using less-lived-in areas like storage rooms as buffers on the north
side .
./ 9. Selection and proper sizing of mechanical systems, anci selection of energy-efficient appliances:
High-performance heating, cooling and hot water systems are extremely energy-efficient, and almost always a
good investment. Mechanical equipment should have at least a 0.80 Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE).
Well-insulated passive solar homes will have much lower energy loads than conventional homes, and
should be sized accordingly. Oversized systems will cost more and reduce performance.
Part Three: Strategies for

Improving Energy Performance in
1. The Example Tables
2. Sun tempering
3. Direct Gain
4. Sunspaces
5. Thermal Storage Wall
6. Combined Systems
7. Natural Cooling Guidelines
22 GUIDELINES PART THREE: STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING ENERGY PERFORMANCE
1. The Example • Three numbers The R-values indicated in

corresponding to those on the the Example tables are. of
Tables Worksheets: Conservation. course. approximate and are
Auxillary Heat. and Cooling intended to show how
In the following sections of the Perlormance incremental improvements can
Guidelines. the primary passive The Example tables then show be achieved. All R-values in the
solar energy systems - how the house design could be Examples and Worksheets are
Suntempering. Direct Gain. changed to reduce winter equivalent R-values for the
Thermal Storage Walls and heating energy by 20. 40 and entire construction assembly.
Sunspaces - are described in 60%. compared to this Base not just for the cavity insulation
more detail. Case House. itself. and take into account
As part of the explanation of There are. of course. other framing and buffering effects.
each system. an Example table ways to achieve energy savings Other assumptions are
is provided. The Examples than those shown in the noted for each Example.
present the following Examples. The Examples are However. one more general
information about a Base Case designed to show an effective assumption is important to note
House. based on a National integration of strategies. and a here. When the Examples were
ASSOCiation of Home Builders useful approach to the design of calculated. it was assumed that
study of a typical construction: the house as a total system. natural cooling strategies such
• Insulation levels (ceilings, Using any of these combinations as those described in these
walls. floors); would result in excellent Guidelines were used.
• Insulation added to the perlormance in your area. particularly in the very high-
perimeter of the basement walls; However. they are general perlormance systems. The
• Tightness (measured in air indications only. and using the greater the percentage reduction
changes per hour. ACH); Worksheets will give you more in heating energy needs using
• The amount of glass area on information about your specific passive solar design. the more
each side (measured as a design. shading and natural cooling
percentage of floor area; the The Example assumes a were assumed.
actual square footage for a 1.500 1.500 sf house. but the The Examples show passive
sf house is also given as a percentages apply to a house of solar strategies. but an Added
reference pOint); any size or configuration. Insulation Example table
• The "percent solar savings" (achieving energy savings only
(the part of a house's heating by increasing insulation levels.
energy saved by the solar without specific solar features)
features); and is provided in the Summary
beginning on page 82.
2. Suntempering Examples of Heat Energy Savings
Suntempered
Both suntempered and passive 1,500 sf Single Story House (in a specific location)
solar houses:
• begin with good basic Base
energy-conservation, Case 20% 40% 60%
• take maximum advantage of R-Values
the building site through the Ceiling/Roof 29 33 42 59
Walls 17 20 25 37
right orientation for year-round Basement Wall 5 6 8 16
energy savings, and Glass 1.8 1.8 2.7 3.3
• have increased south-facing
glass to collect solar energy. Air Changes/Hour 0.50 0.41 0.37 0.35
Suntempertng refers to Glass Area (percent of total floor area)
modest increases in windows on West 3.0% 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
the south side. North 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
No additional thermal mass East 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
South 3.0% 6.7% 6.7% 6.7%
is used, only the "free mass" in
the house - the framing, Solar System Size (square feet)
gypsum wall-board and South Glass 45 100 100 100
furnishings.
Percent Solar Savings
In a "conventional" house, 5% 11% 14% 18%
about 25% of the windows face
south, which amounts to about Performance (Btu/yr-sf)
Conservation 42,138 37,315 28,927 20,633
3% of the house's total floor 40,206 32,878 24,831 16,769
Auxiliary Heat
area. In a suntempered house, Cooling 6,470 3,963 2,445 1,694
the percentage is increased to a
maximum of about 7% of the Summary: Insulation values and tightness of the house (as measured in
ACH) have been increased. The window area has been slightly
floor area. decreased on the west, increased slightly on the east and north, and
The energy savings are more increased significantly on the south.
modest with this system, but
suntempering is a very low-cost Note: These examples should not be construed as recommendations - the
numbers represent the effect of changes in design required to achieve the
strategy. exact savings in annual auxiliary heat. In practice, the designer has great
Of course, even though the latitude in selecting values to use.
necessity for precise sizing of
glazing and thermal mass does
not apply to suntempering (as
long as the total south-facing
glass does not exceed 7% of the
total house floor area), all other
recommendations about energy-
efficient design such as the
basic energy conservation
measures, room lay-out, siting,
glazing type and so on are still
important for performance and
comfort in suntempered homes.
3. Direct Gain used in the deSign, as discussed where the winter sun will fall
below. directly on it.
The most common passive solar Effective materials for floors
strategy system is called direct Glazing include painted, colored or
gain: sunlight through south- Triple glazing or double glazing vinyl- covered concrete, brick
facing glazing falls directly into with a low-e coating is (face brick or pavers have even
the space to be heated, and is recommended for direct gain higher density than ordinary
stored in thermal mass glazing in Boston. The building brick), quarry tile, and
incorporated into the floor or Perlormance Potential table on dark-colored ceramic tile lead
interior walls. The south page 6 shows the relative directly on the slab.
window area is increased above perlormance of different types of For houses built with
the 7% limit of a suntempered direct gain glazing. You will crawlspaces or basements, the
house, and additional thermal note from this table that yield incorporation of significant
mass is added to store the increases by 74% between amounts of heavy thermal mass
additional solar gains and thus double and triple or low-e is a little more difficult. Thermal
prevent overheating. glazing. Night insulation also mass floor coverings over
improves energy perlormance basements, crawlspaces and
dramatically. In fact, as the lower stories would generally be
Perlormance Potential table limited to thin set tile or other
shows, covering the windows at thin mass floors.
night or on cloudy days with the When more mass is required,
equivalent ofR-4 shades or the next best option is for
other material will save almost interior walls interior finishes or
as much energy as with R-9 exterior walls or interior
material. But studies have masonry fireplaces. When
shown that only relatively few evaluating costs, the dual
homeowners will be diligent function of mass walls should
Direct Gain enough about operating their be remembered. They often
Direct gain is the most common passive solar night insulation to achieve those serve as structural elements or
system in residential applications
saVings. Energy-efficient for fire protection as well as for
glazing, on the other hand, thermal storage. Another option
Sizing Limit
needs no operation, and is to switch to another passive
Total direct gain glass area
therefore is a more convenient solar system type such as
should not exceed about 12% of
and reliable option. attached slab-on-grade
the house's floor area. Beyond
sunspaces or thermal storage
that, problems with glare or
Thermal Mass walls built directly on exterior
fading of fabrics are more likely
Thermal mass can be foundation walls.
to occur, and it becomes more
incorporated easily into houses Sunlit thermal mass floors
difficult to provide enough
with slab-on-grade floors by should be relatively dark in
thermal mass for year-round
exposing the mass. The mass is color, to absorb and store energy
comfort.
much more effective if sunlight more effectively. However, mass
So the total south-facing
falls directly on it. Covering the walls and ceilings should be
glass area in a direct gain
mass with any insulation light in color to help distribute
system should be between 7%
material, such as carpet, greatly both heat and light more evenly.
(the maximum for suntempered
reduces its effectiveness. A good
houses) and 12%, depending on
strategy is to expose a narrow
how much thermal mass will be
strip about 8 ft. wide along the
south wall next to the windows
Ratio of Mass to Glass. The added for each 8.3 sf of thermal After that. the effectiveness
simplest rule of thumb states: mass placed in the wall or doesn't increase as significantly.
For each added ft 2 of direct-gain ceiling of the room. Mass in the A two-inch mass floor will be
glass (above the 7% wall or ceiling does not have to about two-thirds as effective in a
suntempering limit). 6 ft2 of be located directly in the direct gain system as a four-
exposed mass surface should be SUnlight. as long as it is in the inch mass floor. But a six-inch
added within the direct-gain same room. with no other walls mass floor will only perform
space. The following procedure between the mass and the area about eight percent better than
can be used to determine a where the sunlight is falling. a four-inch floor.
somewhat more accurate (The 8.3 value is typical. but the The effectiveness of thermal
estimate. This procedure gives true value does depend on mass mass is relative to the density
the maximum amount of direct- density and thickness. Refer to and thickness. The vertical axis
gain glazing for a given amount the mass thickness graph for shows how many square feet of
of thermal mass. If the amount more specific values to use.) mass area are needed for each
of direct-gain glazing to be used More south-facing glazing added square foot of direct gain.
is already known. thermal mass than the maximum as As you can see. performance
can be added until this determined here would tend to increases start leveling off after
procedure produces the desired overheat the room. and to a few inches of thermal mass.
proportions: reduce energy performance as 40.--..-----------------~
• Start with a direct gain glass well. ~

a:
50#/c1
area equal to 7% of the house's /
,.----
..... ..: ............ aI
' ..... , l!! 30
total floor area. As noted above. / / c(
/ .......... en
75#/cf
the "free mass" in the house will /
/ '' gj
c; 20
be able to accommodate this <;, ....Q)
100#/cf
much solar energy.
:, ,~~.:--- a.
,, , aI
l!! 125#/cf
c( 10
• An additional 1.0 sf of direct en 150#/cf
gj
gain glazing may be added for ~
every 5.5 sf of uncovered. sunlit 0

0 5 10 15
mass. Carpet or area rugs will Thickness (inches)
seriously reduce the Mass Thickness
The effectiveness of thermal mass depends
effectiveness of the mass. The Mass Location and Effectiveness on the density of the material and thickness.
maximum mass that can be Additional mass must be provided for south This graph is for wall or ceiling mass in the
facing glass over 7% of the floor area. 171e
considered as "sunlit" may be ratio of mass area to additional glass area
direct gain space. The ratio of 8.3 was used
earlier as a representative value. More
estimated as about 1.5 times the depends on its location within the direct gain accurate values can be read from this graph
south window area. space. and used in the fourth step of the procedure.
• An additional 1.0 square foot
of direct gain glazing may be Thickness. For most materials. In cases in which you are still
added for every 40 sf of thermal the effectiveness of the thermal uncertain if thermal mass is
mass in the floor of the room. mass in the floor or interior wall adequate, you can go to
but not in the sun. increases proportionally with Worksheet III: Thermal
• An additional 1.0 square foot
thickness up to about 4 inches. Mass/Comfort. which is more
of direct gain glazing may be comprehensive.
Examples of Heat Energy Savings

Passive Solar-Direct Gain
1,500 sf Single Story House
Base
Case 20% 40% 60%
R-values
Ceiling/Roof 29 33 40 55
Walls 17 19 23 34
Basement Wall 5 6 7 14
Glass 1.8 1.8 2.7 3.3
Air Changes/Hour 0.50 0.41 0.35 0.37
Glass Area (percent of total floor area)

West 3.0% 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
North 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
East 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
South 3.0% 7.6% 9.3% 12.0%
Added Thermal Mass

Percent of Floor Area 0.0% 3.3% 13.7% 30.0%
Solar System Size (square feet)

South Glass 45 113 139 180
Added Thermal Mass 0 49 206 450

5% 13% 17% 26%
Performance (Btu/yr-sf)
Conservation 42,138 37,781 30,228 22,883
Auxiliary Heat 40,206 32,868 24,822 16,740
Cooling 6,470 4,258 3,306 3,349
Summary: Insulation and tightness have been increased. South-facing

glazing has been substantially increased. For these examples, added
mass area is assumed to be six times the excess south glass area.
·
4. Sunspaces The sunspace should not be The sunspace floor is a good
on the same heating system as location for thennal mass. The
The sunspace is a very popular the rest of the house. A well mass floors should be dark in
passive solar feature. adding an designed sunspace will probably color. No more than 15-25% of
attractive living space as well as need no mechanical heating the floor slab should be covered
system. but if necessary. a small with rugs or plants. The lower
energy perfonnance. There are
fan or heater may be used to edge of the south-facing
many variations on the basic
protect plants on extremely cold windows should be no more
theme of the sunspace. and the
winter nights. than six inches from the floor to
possibilities for sunspace design
The sunspace should be just make sure the mass in the floor
are extraordinarily diverse. As
as tightly constructed and receives suffiCient direct
used in this gUide. a sunspace
insulated as the rest of the sunlight. If the windows sills
is a separate direct-gain room
on the south side of the house. house. are higher than that. additional
The wall that separates the mass may have to be located in
house from the sunspace is the walls.
called a common wall. The Another good location for
common wall should include thennal mass is the coinmon
operable windows and doors wall (the wall separating the
that may be closed so that when sunspace from the rest of the
the sunspace is not providing house). Options for the
heat to the house it is not common wall are discussed in
draining heat from the house. more detail later.
The sunspace concept used Water in various types of
in these Guidelines can be used containers is another fonn of
year-round. will provide most or energy storage often used in
Sunspaces
all of its own energy needs. and Sunspaces provide useful passive solar sunspaces.
heating and also provide a valuable amenity to
will contribute to the energy homes.
needs of the rest of the house as Glazing
well. Clear. double-glazing is
Thennal Mass
Sunspaces are referred to as recommended for sunspaces.
A sunspace has extensive
"isolated gain" passive solar Adding the second pane makes
south-faCing glass. so sufficient
systems. because the sunlight is a large improvement in energy
thennal mass is very important.
collected in an area which can savings. Triple-glazing or low-e
Without it. the sunspace is
be closed off from the rest of the coatings. on the other hand. will
liable to be uncomfortably hot
house. During the day. the further improve comfort. but will
during the day. and too cold for
doors or windows between the have little effect on energy
plants or people at night.
sunspace and the house can be savings.
However. the temperature in
opened to circulate collected Windows on the east and
the sunspace can vary more
west walls should be small (no
heat. and then closed at night. than in the house itself. so
more than 10% of the total
and the temperature in the about three square feet of four
sunspace allowed to drop. It sunspace floor area) but they
inch thick thennal mass for
should be noted that the are useful for cross-ventilation.
each square foot of sunspace
common wall is often mass. and glazing should be adequate.
not necessarily sufficient for the With this glass-to-mass ratio. on
sunspace to be considered truly a clear winter day a temperature
thennally isolated. swing of about 30°F should be
expected.
Summer Overheating Common Wall Some solar energy may be

Probably the single biggest There are a number of options transferred from the sunspace to
problem encountered in for the sunspace common wall. the rest of the house by
sunspaces is summer The common wall may be a conduction through the
overheating. Largely, this stems masonry wall, it can also be common wall if it is made of
directly from poor design used for thermal mass, in which thermal mass. But energy is
practice and can be avoided. case it should be solid masonry mainly transferred by natural
The problem can usually be apprOximately 4 to 8 inches convection through openings in
traced directly to poor glazing thick. Another option is a frame the common wall - doors,
orientations - too much non- wall with masonry veneer. windows and/or vents.
south glazing. Glass on the roof In mild climates, and when • Doors are the most common
or on the west walls can create the sunspace is very tightly opening in the common wall. If
major overheating. constructed, an uninsulated only doorways are used, the
Like tilted or sloped glazing, frame wall is probably adequate. open area should be at least
glazed roofs can increase solar However, insulating the 15% of the sunspace south-
gain, but they can also present common wall to about R-lO is a glass area.
big overheating problems and good idea, especially in cold • Windows or sliding glass
become counter-productive. If climates. An insulated common doors will provide light and
either glazed roofs or tilted wall will help guard against heat views. The window area in the
glazing are used in the loss during prolonged cold, common wall should be no
sunspace, special care should cloudy periods, or if the thermal larger than about 40% of the
be taken to make sure they can storage in the sunspace is entire common wall area. Per
be effectively shaded during the insufficient. unit area, window and slider
summer and, if necessary, on Probably the most important openings are about one-half as
sunny days the rest of the year, factor in controlling the effective for natural convection
too. The manufacturers of temperature in the sunspace, as are door openings.
sunspaces and glazing are and thus keeping it as
developing products with better comfortable and efficient as
ability to control both heat loss possible, is to make sure the
and heat gain (for example, roof exterior walls are tightly
glazing with low shading constructed and well-insulated.
coefficients, shading treatments
and devices, etc.).
You'll note that in the
Performance Potential chart on
page 6, sunspaces with glazed
roofs or sloped glazing perform
very well. This analysis
assumes effective shading in the
summer. If such shading is not
economical or marketable in
your area, you should consider
using only vertical glazing, and
accepting somewhat less energy
performance in winter.
Summer ventilation
The sunspace must be vented to Examples of Heat Energy Savings
Passive Solar-Sunspace
the outside to avoid overheating
in the summer or on warm days 1,500 sf Single Story House
in spring and fall. A properly
vented and shaded sunspace Base
Case 20% 40% 60%
can function much like a R-Values
screened-in porch in late spring, Ceiling/Roof 29 30 38 50
summer, and early fall. Walls 17 17 23 31
Operable windows and/ or Basement Wall 5 5 8 12
Glass 1.8 1.8 1.8 2.7
vent openings should be located
for effective cross-ventilation. Air Changes/Hour 0.50 0.43 0.36 0.37
and to take advantage of the
prevailing summer wind. Low
West 3.0% 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
inlets and high outlets can be North 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
used in a "stack effect", since East 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
warm air will rise. These South (windows) 3.0% 3.0% 3.0% 3.0%
Sunspace 0.0% 6.4% 9.0% 13.0%
ventilation areas should be at
least 15% of the total sunspace Solar System Size (square feet)
south glass areas. South Glass 45 45 45 45
Where natural ventilation is Sunspace Glass 0 95 134 195
Sunspace Thermal Mass 0 286 403 586
insufficient, or access to natural
breezes is blocked, a small, Percent Solar Savings
thermostat-controlled fan set at 5% 19% 25% 35%
about 76°F will probably be a
useful addition.
Conservation 42,138 40,726 33,376 25,901
Auxiliary Heat 40,206 32,859 24,778 16,677
Cooling 6,470 4,275 3,080 2,997
Summary: Insulation (for the 40 and 60% savings) and tightness have
been increased. North and east-facing glazing have been increased
slightly. The sunspace assumed here is semi-enclosed (surrounded on
three sides by conditioned rooms of the house, as in Figure SSC1 of the
worksheets), with vertical south glazing. The common wall is a thermal
mass wall made of masonry. Sunspace glazing is assumed to be double.
5. Thermal Storage Selective Suifaces

A selective surface is a special
Wall adheSive foil applied to the
exterior side of the mass of
The Thermal Storage Wall- also Thermal Storage Walls.
referred to as a Trombe wall or Selective surfaces absorb a large
an indirect gain system - is a percentage of solar radiation but
south-facing glazed wall, usually radiate very little heat back to
built of masonry. but sometimes the out-of-doors (low emittance).
using water containers or phase Thermal Storage Wall To be effective, selective
change materials. The masonry A thermal storage wall is an effective passive surfaces must be applied
is separated from the glazing solar system, especially to provide nighttime
heating. carefully for 100% adhesion to
only by a air space. Sunlight is the mass surface.
absorbed directly into the wall In Boston, Massachusetts, a
A masonry Thermal Storage Wall
instead of into the living space. selective surface will improve
should be solid, and there
The energy is then released into Thermal Storage Wall
should be no openings or vents
the living space over a relatively performance by about 85%.
either to the outside or to the
long period. The time lag varies
living space. Although vents to
with different materials, Mass Material and
the living space were once
thicknesses and other factors, Thickness
commonly built into Thermal
but typically, energy stored in a In general. the effectiveness
Storage Walls, experience has
Thermal Storage Wall during the of the Thermal Storage Wall will
demonstrated that they are
day is released during the increase as the density of the
ineffective. Vents between the
evening and nighttime hours. material increases.
Thermal Storage Wall and the
The outside surface of a The optimum thickness of
house tend to reduce the
thermal storage wall should be a the wall depends on the denSity
system's nighttime heating
very dark color - an absorptance capability. and to increase the of the material chosen, but
greater than 0.92 is temperature fluctuation in the performance is not very
recommended. house. Vents to the outside are sensitive to thickness. The
The summer heat gain from follOwing chart indicates the
Similarly ineffective, and do little
a Thermal Storage Wall is much to reduce summer heat gains. recommended thickness of
less - roughly 87% less - than Thermal Storage Walls made of
from a comparable area of direct Glazing various materials. As thickness
gain glazing. Double glazing is recommended is increased. the time delay of
for Thermal Storage Walls heat flow through the wall is
unless a selective surface is increased. and the temperature
used. In this case, single variation on the inside surface is
glazing performs about the same decreased.
as double glazing.
The space between the
glazing and the thermal mass
should be one to three inches.
Mass Wall Thickness Examples of Heat Energy Savings
Passive Solar-Thermal Storage Wall
(inches)
Density Thick- 1,500 sf Single Story House
ness
Material (Ib/cf) (inches) Base
Case 20% 40% 60%
R-Values
Concrete 140 8-24 Ceiling/Roof 29 32 37 45
Concrete Masonry 130 7-18 Walls 17 19 23 28
Clay Brick 120 7-16 Basement Wall 5 6 8 10
Glass 1.8 1.8 1.8 2.7
Ltwt. Concrete 110 6-12
Masonry Air Changes/Hour 0.50 0.49 0.37 0.36
Adobe 100 6-12
West 3.0% 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Water Walls North 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
Water provides about twice the East 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
heat storage per unit volume as South 3.0% 3.0% 3.0% 3.0%
Thermal Storage Wall 0.0% 7.3% 11.3% 17.0%
masonry, so a smaller volume of
mass can be used. In "water Solar System Size (square feet)
walls" the water is in light, rigid South Glass 45 45 45 45
containers. The containers are Thermal Storage Wall 0 109 169 255
shipped empty and easily
installed. Manufacturers can 5% 17% 27% 40%
provide information about
durability, installation, Performance (Btu/yr-sf)
Conservation 42,138 40,081 34,016 27,893
protection against leakage and Auxiliary Heat 40,206 32,907 24,796 16,695
other characteristics. At least Cooling 6,470 3,374 2,026 1,632
30 pounds (3.5 gallons) of water
should be provided for each Summary: In the case of a Thermal Storage Wall, south-facing glazing
and thermal mass are incorporated together. The estimates here assume
square foot of glazing. This is a 12-inch thick concrete Thermal Storage Wall with a selective surface
equivalent to a water container and single glazing.
about six inches thick, having
the same area as the glazing.
6. Combined Syste·ms 7. Natural Cooling Fortunately, many of the

features that help maintain
Guidelines comfort and reduce energy
Although the previous sections
needs in winter also work well in
have presented separate The term "natural cooling" is summer. For instance,
discussions of four different used here to describe additional thermal mass
systems, it isn't necessary to techniques which help a house performs well year-round.
choose one and only one stay cool in summer but which Masonry materials are equally
system. In fact, paSSive solar require little or no energy. effective in staying cool and
features work well in Natural cooling techniques work storing heat. If mass surfaces
combination. to help reduce air-conditioning, can be exposed to cool night-
For example, direct gain not replace it. time temperatures - a technique
works very well in conjunction These techniques are useful referred to as "night ventilation"
with a sunspace or thermal not only in paSSive solar houses, - they will help the house stay
storage wall. Since thermal but in "conventional" houses as cooler the next day. A California
storage walls release energy well. The strategies outlined utility found during studies of
more slowly than direct gain below - attention to the location, small test buildings that on hot
systems, they are useful for size and shading of glazing, summer days the workmen at
supplying heat in the evening using the opportunities on the the facility always ate lunch in
and at night, whereas the direct site for shading and natural the masonry test building
gain system works best during ventilation, and using fans - can because it stayed much cooler
the day. Although using a reduce air conditioning needs than any of the others.
sunspace, thermal storage wall and increase comfort even if the The additional insulation
and direct gain system in the house has no passive solar that increases winter
same house may result in heating features. performance will also work to
excellent performance, such But shading is particularly improve summer performance
combinations do require a large important in passive solar by conserving the conditioned
south-faCing area, and careful houses, because the same air inside the house. And some
design to make sure the systems features that collect sunlight so low-e windows and other glazing
are well-integrated with each effectively in winter will go right with high R-value can help
other and with the house's on collecting it in summer - shield against unwanted heat
mechanical system. resulting in uncomfortably hot gain in summer.
rooms and big air conditioning
bills - unless they are shaded
and the house is designed to
help cool itself.
Boston, Massachusetts.
The potential of some Cooling Potential
Basecase 6,470 Btu/yr-sf
natural and low-energy cooling
strategies is shown in the
Energy
following table for Boston.
Savings Percent
Worksheet IV: CooHng Strategy (Btu/yr-sf) Savings
Performance Level indicates
the total annual cooling load. No Night Ventilation 1
without ceiling fans 0 0%
and so can give an idea of how 2,120 33%
with ceiling fans
the passive solar features
increase the cooling load and Night Ventilation 1
how much reduction is possible without ceiling fans 920 14%
with ceiling fans 2,510 39%
when natural cooling techniques
are used. High Mass2
It should be noted that the without ceiling fans 300 5%
Cooling Performance numbers with ceiling fans 290 4%
presented in the Examples for 1 With night ventilation, the house is ventilated at night when
each passive solar strategy temperature and humidity conditions are favorable.
assume that the design also
includes the recommended 2 A "high mass" building is one with a thermal mass area at least equal
to the house floor area.
natural cooling techniques.
This is especially true of the
higher percentage reductions;
these assume better heating
performance. but also better
shading and other natural
cooling strategies.
Glazing and so they may interfere with

As mentioned earlier, poorly Added Window Cooling Load deSirable views. It is important
placed windows can increase air to note, however, that some
conditioning loads dramatically. Added Annual types of low-e windows block
Cooling solar transmission but also
It is generally best in terms of
Orientation Load(Btu/yr-sf)
energy performance to carefully allow clear views. These
size non-solar glazing as treatments are not
North 28,200
indicated in the following table. recommended for south
East 55,080
windows.
South 49,580
Recommended Non-south Glass As the table shows, skylights
West 62,760
Guidelines present a high potential for
Skylights 94,190
Percent of Total overheating, and are usually
Floor Area difficult to shade properly. But
Orientation These values are based on double
glass with a shading coefficient of
skylights are very popular
0.88. When glazing with a different
features, and they save
East 4%
4% shading coefficient is used the
electricity by providing good
North
2% values may be scaled
natural daylight to the house.
West
In some parts of the country
proportionally.
almost every new house has at
West-facing windows present least one skylight. A good
These numbers can be reduced
particularly difficult shading working compromise can
by shading as described in the
problems. If glazing is added usually be achieved if skylight
next section.
above the levels indicated, the area is limited, and if careful
Using special glazing or
need for shading will become attention is paid to shading,
window films that block solar
even more critical. either by trees or by devices
transmission (low shading
Cooling loads increase as such as roller shades or blinds.
coeffiCient) is an option often
window area increases. This The manufacturer can usually
used in particularly hot
relationship for Boston is shown give guidance on shading
climates, but the more effective
in the following table for each of options for a particular skylight
they are at blocking sunlight,
the cardinal window design.
the less clear they are, as a rule,
orientations. For instance when
a square foot of west area is
added or subtracted, the annual
cooling load increases or
decreases by 62,760 Btu/yr-sf.
Boston. Massachusetts
Shading Roof Overhangs. Fixed
Shading strategies generally fall overhangs are an inexpensive
into three categories: feature, and require no
landscaping, roof overhangs and operation by the home owner.
exterior or interior shading They must be carefully
devices. designed, however. Otherwise,
an overhang that blocks
Landscaping. The ideal site for Landscaping for Summer Shade summer sun may also block sun
summer shading has deciduous Trees and other landscaping features may be in the spring, when solar
effectively used to shade east and west
trees to shade the east and west windows from summer solar gains.
heating is desired, and, by the
windows. Even small trees such same token, an overhang sized
as fruit trees can help block sun Other landscaping ideas for for maximum solar gain in
hitting the first story of a house. summer shade: winter will allow solar gain in
Trees on the south side can • Trellises on east and west the fall on hot days. The
present a difficult choice. Even covered with vines. following figure may be used to
deCiduous trees will shadow the • Shrubbery or other plantings determine the optimum
solar glazing during the winter to shade paved areas. overhang size.
and interfere with solar gain. In • Use of ground cover to In Boston, an ideal overhang
fact, trees on the south side can prevent glare and heat projection for a four foot high
all but eliminate passive solar absorption. window would be 28 inches and
performance, unless they are • Trees, fences, shrubbery or the bottom of the overhang
very close to the house and the other plantings to "channel" would be 15 inches above the
low branches can be removed, summer breezes into the house. top of the window.
allowing the winter sun to • Deciduous trees on the east
penetrate under the tree canopy. and west sides of the house, as
However, in many cases the shown above. to balance solar
trees around the house are gains in all seasons.
bigger selling pOints than the
energy efficiency and the builder
must make a choice.
If a careful study of the
shading patterns is done before
construction, it should be
possible to accomodate the
south-facing glazing while South Overhang Sizing
In 80S ton, an ideally sized south overhang
leaving in as many trees as should allow full exposure of the window when
possible (see page 17, Site the sun has a noon altitude of 29 degrees
Planning for Solar Access). (angle A) and fully shade the window when the
sun has a noon altitude of 66 degrees
(angle 8).
A combination of carefully sized Ceiling Fans

overhangs on the south Ceiling fans will probably save Ceiling Fan Sizes
windows and shading devices on more energy than any other Largest Room Minimum Fan
the other windows will probably single cooling strategy. Studies Dimension Diameter
be an effective solution. show that air movement can (inches)
Adjustable overhangs that can make people feel comfortable at
be seasonally regulated are higher temperatures. As a 12 feet or less 36
another option. general rule. the thermostat can 12 - 16 feet 48
be set 4 degrees higher without 16 - 17.5 feet 52
Shading Devices. External affecting comfort if the air is 17.5 - 18.5 feet 56
shades are the most effective moving at 100-150 feet per 18.5 or more feet 2 fans
because they stop solar gain minute. This is enough air
before the sun hits the building. movement to greatly improve
A ceiling fan should have a
A wide range of products are comfort but not enough to
minimum clearance of ten
aVailable. from canvas awnings disturb loose papers.
inches between ceiling and fan
to solar screens to roll-down
to provide adequate ventilation
blinds to shutters to vertical
in a standard room with eight-
louvers. They are adjustable
foot ceilings. In rooms with
and perform very well. but their
higher ceilings. fans should be
limitation is that they require
mounted 7.5 to 8.0 feet above
the home owner's cooperation.
the floor.
Usually external screens that
can be put up and taken down
once a year like storm windows
are more acceptable to home
owners than those requiring
more frequent operation.
Interior shades must be
operated. too. and have the
further disadvantage of
permitting the sun to enter the
house and be trapped between
the window and the shading
device. But highly reflective
interior blinds and curtains are
relatively low-cost and easy to
operate.
Another shading "device"
well worth considering is a
porch. Especially on the east
and west sides. porches add
pleasant spaces to houses and
are excellent for providing shade
to windows. Carports located on
the east or west are another
option.
Ventilation The best possible
When possible. the house performance of a whole-house
should be positioned on the site fan results when a timer. a
to take advantage of prevailing thermostat and a "humidistat"
winds. The prevailing wind are used. so that the fan would
direction is from the north only operate when there is less
during the cooling season. than 60% relative hUmidity and
Windows. staiIWells. transoms a temperature of less than 76°F.
and other elements should be Natural ventilation and
located for maximum cross- Ventilation for Summer Cooling whole-house fans are effective at
Natural ventilation is often impaired by
ventilation in each room. The vegetation and topography. Ventilation fans removing heat. but not at
free vent area (unobstructed do not depend on surroundings to be effective. moving air. Ceiling fans. on the
openings like open windows) other hand. can often create
should be between 6-7.5% of In cooling climates. a whole- enough of a breeze to maintain
total floor area. half located on house fan is a good idea for comfort at higher temperatures.
the leeward and half on the assisting ventilation. especially and still use less power than
windward side of the building. in houses with sites or designs required by air conditioning. By
Insect screens can reduce the that make natural ventilation using natural cooling strategies
effective free vent area by as difficult. On the other hand. and low-energy fans. the days
much as 50%. Casement or when the temperature is higher when air-conditioning is needed
awning windows have a 90% than about 76°F. a whole-house can be reduced substantially.
open area; double hung fan will not be very effective.
windows have only 50%. Research indicates that a
Casement windows extend whole-house fan should pull
outward from the house. apprOximately 10 ACR. A rule
tending to channel breezes of thumb: for rooms with eight
through the opening if properly foot ceilings. total floor area
placed. Improperly placed multiplied by 1.34 will equal the
casements might deflect breezes. necessary CFM of the fan. For
Double-hung windows do not 10 foot ceilings. multiply floor
have this advantage. area by 1.67.
Natural ventilation can help
keep houses cool and
comfortable at the beginning
and end of the cooling season
and thus shorten the time when
air conditioning is required. But
natural ventilation can seldom
do the entire coolingjob.
espeCially for less than ideal .
sites with little natural air
movement.
Passive Solar
Design Strategies
WORKSHEETS

With Support From: .
•
NOTE: Please make copies of the blank
worksheets and tables before entering
numbers so that the worksheets may be
used to evaluate several design options.
•
Boston, Worksheets
Massachusetts
•
t'ji::i::i/Vc ::iULAH UES/GN STRATEGIES
General Pro· ect Information

Project Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ floor Area
~-------------------------- ~ --------------
Designer
~------------------~.
Worksheet I: Conservation Performance Level
A. Envelope Heat Loss

Construction R-value Heat
Description Area [Table A] Loss
Ceilings/roofs _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
~-------------------------------
Insylated floors _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Non-solar Glazing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
+
~-------------------------- +
Total
B. Foundation Perimeter Heat Loss
Heat Loss
factor Heat
Description Perimeter [Table B] Loss
Slabs-on-Grade _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ x
Heated Basements _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
•
X
Unheated Basements _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ X
perjrneter Insylated Crawlspaces _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ X
Total
C. Infiltration Heat Loss

x X .018
Building Air Changes
Volume per Hour
D. Total Heat Loss per Square Foot

24 x + Btu/DD-sf
Total Heat Loss floor Area
(A+B+C)
E. Conservation Performance Level
X X Btu/yr-sf
Total Heat Heating Degree Heating Degree
Loss per Days [Table C] Day Multiplier
Square foot [Table C]
F. Comparison Conservation Performance (From Previous Calculation or from Table 0)

Btu/yr-sf
•
Com are Line E to Line F
t'A;:j;:jIVc ;:jULA.H Uc::5IC:iN ::5 I HATEGIES
Worksheet II: Auxili Heat Performance Level

"'.
A. Projected Area of Passive Solar Glazing
•
Solar System Rough Frame Net Area Adjustment Projected
Reference Code Area Factor Factor [Table E] Area
X 0.80 X
X 0.80 X
X 0.80 X
X 0.80 X
X 0.80 X
X 0.80 X
X 0.80 X
sf
Total Area Total
Projected
Area
...,..
Total Floor Total Projected
Projected Area Area per
Area Square Foot
B. Load Collector Ratio

24 X
Total Total
Heat Loss Projected
[Worksheet I] Area
C. Solar Savings Fraction

System
Solar Savings
•
Solar System Projected Fraction
Reference Code Area [Table F]
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
+
Total Total Solar
Projected Savings
Area Fraction
D. Auxiliary Heat Performance Level
[ 1- jx Btu/yr-sf
Solar Conservation
Savings Performance
Fraction Level [Worksheet I,
Step E]
E. Comparative Auxiliary Heat Performance (From Previous Calculation or from Table G)

Btulyr-st
• Compare Line D to Line E
t-'A::i::il VL: ::iULAH Ut:::;IC:iN ::; I HA I I::: GIl:::::;
Worksheet HI: Thermal Mass/Comfort

A. Heat Capacity of Sheetrock and Interior Furnishings
Unit Total
Heat Heat
Floor Area Capacity Capacity
RQQID:! with Direc! Ga.in X 4.7
SPiilC!il:! CQnnac!ed !Q Di[ac! Giilin spiilca:! _ _ _ _ _ __ X 4.5
Total
B. Heat Capacity of Mass Surfaces Enclosing Direct Gain Spaces
Unit Heat
Mass Description Capacity Total Heat
(include thickness) Area [Table H] Capacity
ImIDC!il V@lIs X 8.8
wa.te[ lNs!J1:! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ X 10.4
EXPQ:!ed Sliilc in Syn _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ X 13.4
EXPQ:!ed Sliilc NQ! in Syn X 1.8
X
X
X
Btu/OF
Total
C. Heat Capacity of Mass Surfaces Enclosing Spaces Connected to Direct Gain Spaces
Unit Heat
I[QIDca Wall:! X 3.8
WiiI!!il[Wall:i X 4.2
X
•
X
X
Btu/OF
Total
D. Total Heat Capacity

Btu/OF
(A+B+C)
E. Total Heat Capacity per Square Foot

+ Btu/OF-sf
Total Heat Conditioned
Capacity Floor Area
F. Clear Winter Day Temperature Swing

Total Comfort
Projected Area Factor
[Worksheet II] [Table I]
Di[ac! Ga.in X
Syn:!paca:! Q[ X =
Yilnted ImIDcalNs!Jl:! +
Total Total
Heat
Capacity
G. Recommended Maximum Temperature Swing
OF
Compare lAne F to Line G
~------------------------------------~.
, nvv, v J;; vVLJ"\n UC=~/U/V ~ I M-'I t cl:itC;:'
Table A-continued ..
Table A-Equivalent Thermal Table D-Base Case
Performance of Assemblies Conservation Performance (Btu/yr-
R-values (hr-F-sf/Btu) sf)
A5-0oors
•
Solid wood wHh 2.2 Base Case 42,138
Weatherstripping
A1-Ceilings/Roofs
Metal with rigid 5.9
Attic Insulation R-value foam core Table E-Projected Area
Construction R-30 R-38 R-49 R-60 Adjustment Factors
27.9 35.9 46.9 57.9 Degrees off Solar System Type
Framed Insulation R-value Table B-Perimeter Heat Loss True DG, TW, SSA SSB,
Construction R-19 R-22 R-30 R-3S Factors for Slabs-on-Grade and South WW, SSC SSD SSE
Unheated Basements (Btu/h-F-ft) o 1.00 0.77 0.75
2x6 at 16'oc 14.7 15.S 16.3 5 1.00 0.76 0.75
2x6 at 24'oc 15.3 16.5 17.1 Heated Unheated Insulated 10 0.98 0.75 0.74
2xS at 16'oc 17.0 IS.9 20.6 21.1 Perimeter Siabs-on- Base- Base- Crawl- 15 0.97 0.74 0.73
2xS at 24'oc 17.6 19.6 21.6 22.2 Insulation Grade ments ments spaces 20 0.94 0.72 0.70
2xl0 at 16'oc IS.1 20.1 24.5 25.7 None O.S 1.3 1.1 1.1 25 0.91 0.69 0.68
2xl0 at 24'oc IS.4 20.7 25.5 26.S R-5 0.4 O.S 0.7 0.6 30 0.87 0.66 0.65
2x12 at 16'oc IS.S 21.0 25.5 30.1 R-7 0.3 0.7 0.6 0.5
2x12 at 24'oc 19.0 21.4 27.3 31.4 R-ll 0.3 0.6 0.5 0.4
R-19 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.3 Table F-Solar System Saving
R-30 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.2 Fractions
A2-Framed Walls
Single
Wall Insulation R-value F1-Direct Gain
Framing R-ll R-13 R-19 R-25
Table C-Heating Degree Days
(F-day) Load DGCl DGC2 DGC3
2x4 at 16'oc 12.0 13.6 Collector Double Low-e R-9 Night
2x4 at 24'oc 12.7 13.9 Ratio Glazing Glazing Insulation
2x6 at 16"oc 14.1 15.4 17.7 19.2 C1-Heating Degree Days (Base 65°F) 400 0.03 0.04 0.05
2x6 at 24'oc 14.3 15.6 IS.2 19.5 300 0.04 0.05 0.06
Boston 5,593 200 0.05 0.07 0.09
Double Chatham 6,017 150 0.07 0.09 0.11
Wall Total Thickness (inches) Chestnut Hill 5,940 100 0.09 0.12 0.16
Framing S 10 12 14 80 0.10 0.14 0.19
Edgartown 6,024 60 0.13 0.18 0.24
25.0 31.3 37.5 43.S Haverhill 6,024 50 0.14 0.20 0.27
Hyannis 5,965 45 0.15 0.22 0.30
The R-value of insulating sheathing should be added to Middleton 6,057 40 0.16 0.24 0.32
the values in this table. 35 0.18 0.26 0.36
Nantucket 5,960 30 0.19 0.29 0.40
•
New Bedford 5,305 25 0.21 0.33 0.46
A3-lnsulated Floors Plymouth 6,013 20 0.24 0.38 0.53
15 0.27 0.45 0.63
Insulation R-value
Framing R-ll R-19 R-30 R-3S C2-Heating Degree Day Multiplier
F2-Trombe Walls
2x6s at 16'oc IS.2 23.S 29.9 Passive Solar
2x6s at 24'oc IS.4 24.5 31.5 Heat Loss Glazing Area per TWF3 TWA3 TWJ2 TWI4
2xSs at 16'oc IS.S 24.9 31.7 36.0 per Square per Square Foot Load Unvented Vented Unvented Unvented
2xSs at 24 'oc IS.9 25.4 33.1 37.9 Foot .00 .05 .10 .15 .20 Collector Non: Non: Selec- Night
2xl0 at 16'oc 19.3 25.S 33.4 3S.1 12.00 1.10 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.11 RatiO selective selectIVe tlve Insulation
2xl0 at 24'oc 19.3 26.1 34.4 39.S 11.50 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.10 1.11 400 0.01 0.04 0.01 0.00
2x12 at 16'oc 19.7 26.5 34.7 39.S 11.00 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.10 300 0.02 0.05 0.03 0.00
2x12 at 24'oc 19.6 26.7 35.5 41.2 10.50 LOS 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 200 0.04 0.07 0.06 0.03
10.00 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 150 0.06 O.OS 0.10 0.06
These R-values include the buffering effect of a 100 0.08 0.11 0.16 0.11
ventilated crawlspace or unconditioned basement. 9.50 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.09
9.00 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 80 0.10 0.13 0.20 0.15
S.50 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 60 0.13 0.16 0.25 0.20
S.OO 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.06 50 0.15 0.18 0.30 0.24
A4-Windows 7.50 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 45 0.16 0.20 0.32 0.26
7.00 0.99 1.00 1.02 1.03 1.04 40 0.18 0.21 0.35 0.29
Air Gap 35 0.20 0.23 0.39 0.32
6.50 0.97 0.99 1.00 1.01 1.02
6.00 0.95 0.97 0.98 1.00 1.01 30 0.22 0.25 0.43 0.36
1/4 in. 1/2 in. 1/2 in. argon 25 0.25 0.28 0.49 0.42
5.50 0.93 0.94 0.96 0.98 0.99
Standard Metal Frame 5.00 0.90 0.92 0.94 0.95 0.97 20 0.29 0.32 0.56 0.48
Single .9 4.50 0.S6 0.89 0.91 0.93 0.95 15 0.34 0.38 0.65 0.57
Double 1.1 1.2 1.2 4.00 0.82 0.85 0.88 0.90 0.92
Low-e (e<=O.40) 1.2 1.3 1.3 3.50 0.76 0.80 0.84 0.87 0.89
Metal frame with thermal break 3.00 0.69 0.74 0.79 0.83 0.86
Double 1.5 1.6 1.7 2.50 0.60 0.67 0.72 0.77 0.81
Low-e (e<=O.40) 1.6 loS 1.8 2.00 0.48 0.57 0.65 0.70 0.75
Low-e (e<=O.20) 1.7 1.9 2.0
Wood frame with vinyl cladding
Double 2.0 2.1 2.2
Low-e (e<=O.40) 2.1 2.4 2.5
Low-e (e<=O.20) 2.2 2.6 2.7
Low-e (e<=O.1 0) 2.3 2.6 2.9
•
These R-values are based on a 3 mph wind speed and
are typical for the entire rough framed opening.
Manufacture's data, based on National Fenestration
Rating Council procedures, should be used when
available. One half the R-value of movable insulation
should be added, when appropriate.
45
J PASSIVE SOLAH DESIGN STRA T£GI£S
F)-WII., Willi Table H-Unit Heat Capacities

(Btu/F-sf)
Table L-Heat Gain Factors
Ceilinglroofs 48.7
LOAd WNA3 WNB4 WNC2 Walls and Doors 29.1
•
Colleclor No Nlghl Nlghl SelectIVe North Glass 28.2
RDllo InsulatIOn Insulation Surface H1-Mass Surfaces Enclosing Direct Gain
Spaces East Glass 55.1
.00 0,03 0.00 0.00 West Glass 62.8
300 0.04 0.00 0.01 Skylights 94.2
200 0.06 0.04 0.05 Thickness (inches) Direct Gain Glazing 49.6
150 0.08 0.08 0.08 Material 1 2 3 4 6 8 12 Trombe Walls and 6.3
100 0.11 0.14 0.14 Poured Cone. 1.8 4.3 6.7 8.8 11.3 11.5 10.3 Water Walls
80 0.14 0.18 0.18 Conc. Masonry 1.8 4.2 6.5 8.4 10.2 10.0 9.0 Sunspaces
60 0.17 0.25 0.24 Face Brick 2.0 4.7 7.1 9.0 10.4 9.9 9.0 SSAI 17.1
50 0.19 0.29 0.28 Flag Stone 2.1 4.8 7.1 8.5 8.6 8.0 7.6 SSBI 17.1
45 0.21 0.32 0.31 Builder Brick 1.5 3.7 5.4 6.5 6.6 6.0 5.8 SSCI 6.3
40 0.23 0.35 0.34 Adobe 1.3 3.2 4.8 5.5 5.4 4.9 4.8 SSDI 17.1
35 0.25 0.39 0.38 Hardwood 0.4 1.4 1.8 1.7 1.5 1.5 1.5 SSEI 17.1
30 0.27 0.44 0.42 Water 5.2 10.4 15.6 20.8 31.2 41.6 62.4
25 0.31 0.50 0.48
20 0.35 0.57 0.55
15 0.41 0.66 0.64
H2-Rooms with no Direct Solar Gain Table M-Shading Factors
F4-Sunspaces Projection
Thickness (inches) Factor South East North West
Load Material 1 2 3 4 6 8 12 0.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Collector Sunspace Type Poured Conc. 1.7 3.0 3.6 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.4 0.20 0.87 0.94 0.91 0.94
Ratio SSAI SSBI SSCI SSDI SSEI Conc. Masonry 1.6 2.9 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.4 3.2 0.40 0.72 0.84 0.82 0.84
400 0.09 0.07 0.03 0.07 0.05 Face Brick 1.8 3.1 3.6 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.2 0.60 0.61 0.80 0.80 0.81
300 0.10 0.08 0.04 0.09 0.07 Flag Stone 1.9 3.1 3.4 3.4 3.2 3.1 3.0 0.80 0.57 0.72 0.74 0.72
200 0.12 0.10 0.06 0.12 0.09 Builder Brick 1.4 2.6 3.0 3.1 2.9 2.7 2.7 1.00 0.52 0.63 0.66 0.64
150 0.14 0.11 0.07 0.14 0.11 Adobe 1.2 2.4 2.8 2.8 2.6 2.4 2.4 1.20 0.48 0.55 0.58 0.55
100 0.17 0.14 0.10 0.18 0.14 Hardwood 0.5 1.1 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.1
80 0.19 0.16 0.12 0.21 0.17 Muniply by 0.8 for low-e glass, 0.7 for tinted glass and
60 0.22 0.18 0.14 0.25 0.20 0.6 for low-e tinted glass.
50 0.24 0.20 0.16 0.28 0.22
45 0.26 0.22 0.18 0.29 0.24 Table I-Comfort Factors
40 0.27 0.23 0.19 0.31 0.25 (Btu/sf) Table N-Intemal Gain Factors
35 0.29 0.25 0.21 0.34 0.27
30 0.32 0.27 0.23 0.36 0.30 Direct Gain 810
25 0.35 0.30 0.26 0.40 0.32 Constant Component 1,550
20 0.38 0.33 0.29 0.44 0.36 Suns paces and 270 kBtuiyr
15 0.44 0.38 0.34 0.50 0.41 Vented Trombe Walls Variable Component 650
•
kBtuiyr-BR
Table J-Radiant Barrier

Factors Table O-Thermal Mass and
Ventilation Adjustment (Btu/yr-sf)
Radiant Barrier 0.75
Total Heat Night Night No Night No Night
No Radiant Barrier 1.00 Capac~y Vent wi Vent wi No Vent wi Vent wi No
per SF Ceil. Fan Ceil. Fan Ceil. Fan Ceil. Fan
0.0 4,790 2,880 4.400 1,960
1.0 5,550 3,860 5,160 2,950
Table K-Solar Absorptances 2.0 5,970 4,380 5,580 3,460
3.0 6,200 4,640 5,820 3,730
Color Absorptance 4.0 6,330 4,790 5,940 3,870
5.0 6,400 4,860 6,020 3,940
Gloss White 0.25 6.0 6,440 4,900 6,050 3,980
Semi-gloss White 0.30
7.0 6,460 4,920 6,080 4,000
Light Green 0.47 8.0 6,480 4,930 6,090 4,010
Kelly Green 0.51 9.0 6,480 4,930 6,090 4,020
Medium Blue 0.51 10.0 6,490 4,940 6,100 4,020
Medium Yellow 0.57
Medium Orange 0.58 Total heat capacity per square foot is calculated on
Medium Green 0.59 Worksheet III, Step E.
Light Buff Brick 0.60
Bare Concrete 0.65
Red Brick 0.70
Medium Red 0.80
Medium Brown 0.84 Table P-Base Case Cooling
Dark Blue-Grey 0.88 Performance (Btu/ sf-yr)
Table G-Base Case Auxiliary
Heat Performance (Btu/yr-sf) Dark Brown 0.88
Base Case 6,470
Base Case 40,206
• Boston, Massachusetts
4ti PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN STRATEGIES
General on Worksheet I. Step D and Worksheet H. An exposed slab is one finished with
The Worksheets provide a Step A. vinyl tile. ceramic tile or other highly
calculation procedure to estimate the Should the estimated conservation conductive materials. Carpeted slabs
•
performance level of passive solar performance level be greater than should not be considered exposed. The
building designs. It is recommended desired. the designer should consider exposed slab area should be further
that the results be compared to additional building insulation or reduced by about 50 percent to account
Worksheet calculations for the builder's reducing non-south glass area. for throw rugs and furnishings.
typical house. Performance levels for the As a rule-of-thumb. exposed slab
Worksheet n-AuxiHary Heat
NAHB Base Case House used in the area should be considered to be in the
Performance Level
Guidelines are also provided for sun only when it is located directly
This is an estimate of the amount of
comparison. A separate worksheet is behind south glazing. The maximum
heat that must be provided each year
provided for the four separate slab area that is assumed to be in the
from the auxiliary heating system. It
performance levels and associated base sun should not exceed 1.5 times the
accounts for savings due to solar energy.
cases. adjacent south glass area.
In Step A .the user may enter the
The worksheets are supported by a In Step F. the projected area of solar
rough frame area of solar glazing. since
number of data tables. The tables are glazing calculated on Worksheet II is
it is generally easier to measure the
given a letter designation and are used to calculate the comfort
rough frame area than it is the net
referenced next to each worksheet entry. performance level. The projected area of
glazing area. The worksheet includes a
when applicable. water walls and unvented Trombe walls
net area factor of 0.80 to account for
The floor area used in the is excluded in this step.
window frames and mullions. If the
calculations should not include A high temperature swing indicates
designer enters the net glass area. then
suns paces. garages or other inadequate thermal mass or too much
the net area factor is 1.00.
unconditioned spaces. direct gain solar glazing. If the comfort
The projected area of the solar
performance level is greater than desired
Worksheet I-Conservation energy systems may be calculated using
(l3°F recommended). additional thermal
Performance Level the adjustment factors in Table E or by
mass should be added to the building or
This is an estimate of the amount of making a scaled elevation drawing of the
direct gain glazing should be reduced.
heat energy needed by the building each building facing exactly south and
year from both the solar system and the measuring the glazing area from the Worksheet IV-Smnmer Cooling
auxiliary heating system. scaled drawing. Performance Level
For Step A. it is necessary to The projected area per square foot is This is an estimate of the annual cooling
measure the net area of surfaces that calculated as the last part of Step A. load of the building-the heat that needs
enclose conditioned space. For walls. This is used to determine the heating to be removed from the building by an
the net surface area is the gross wall degree days adjustment used on air conditioner in order to maintain
area less the window and door area. Worksheet!. Step E. comfort during the summer.
•
Rough frame dimensions are The load collector ratio is calculated In Step A. only the envelope
generally used to measure window area. in Step B. This is used to determine the surfaces that are exposed to sunlight are
The R-values in Table A4 are for the solar savings fractions in Step C. to be included. For instance. floors over
rough frame window area. The solar energy systems used in crawlspaces and walls or doors adjacent
Heat loss from passive solar Step C should be identical to those used to garages are excluded.
systems is excluded. The surface area of in Step A. The fIrst and last columns of Steps B and C of the worksheet
direct gain glazing. Trombe walls. water Step A are simply carried down. account for solar gains. They use the
walls and the walls that separate The solar savings fraction is rough frame area since this is easier to
sunspaces from the house are ignored. determined separately for each type of measure. The worksheets include a net
Step A includes consideration of passive solar system by looking up area factor of 0.80 to account for window
insulated floors over crawlspaces. values in Tables Fl through F4. The frames and mullions. If the net window
unheated basements or garages. sunspace system types are shown area is used. the net area factor is 1.00.
R-values are provided in Table A3 that beneath Table F4. Table M gives the shade factor for
account for the buffering effect of these If the auxiliary heat performance windows with overhangs based on a
unconditioned spaces. When insulation level calculated in Step D is larger than projection factor. The projection factor
is not installed in the floor assembly. but desired. the designer should consider is the ratio between the horizontal
rather around the perimeter of a increasing the size of the solar energy projection of the overhang from the
crawlspace or unheated basement. Step systems or adding additional solar surface of window and the distance from
B should be used. energy systems. i.e. thermal storage the bottom of the window to the bottom
The perimeter method of Step B is walls. of the overhang. When windows have -
used for slabs-on-grade. the below-grade sunscreens. tints or illms. the shade
Worksheet m-Comfort factors in Table M should not be used.
portion of heated basements. unheated
Performance Level
basements (when the floor is not Instead. a shading coefficient should be
This is the temperature swing expected
insulated). and perimeter insulated determined from manufacturers'
on a clear winter day with the auxiliary
crawlspaces (when the floor is not
heating system not operating.
insulated). Heated basement walls that
This worksheet requires that two
are above grade should be considered in
sub-areas be defIned within the building:
Step A.
those areas that receive direct solar
Slab edge perimeter. unheated
gains and those areas that are
basements or perimeter insulated
connected to rooms that receive direct
•
crawlspaces adjacent to sunspaces
solar gains. Rooms that are separated
should not be included.
from direct gain spaces by more than
The conservation performance level
one door should not be included in
is calculated as the product of the heat
either category.
loss per degree day per square foot [Step
Thermal mass elements located in
D) and the heating degree days. adjusted If the cooling performance level is
unconditioned spaces such as sunspaces
for the heat loss and solar glazing per greater than desired. the designer
are not included.
square foot. The adjustment is taken should consider redUCing non-south
from Table C. based on data calculated glass. providing additional shading or
Boston, Massachusetts increasing thermal mass.
Passive Solar
Design Strategies
EXAMPLE

With Support From:
U.S. Department ofEnerg,y
Boston, The Worked

Massachusetts Example
48 WORKED EXAMPLE
The Worked Example The house has a semi- The house is equipped with
enclosed sunspace with vertical a ceiling fan to help reduce the
Description of glazing. The sunspace floor has air-conditioning load. North
Example Building a four-inch thick slab-on-grade windows have an overhang with
with quarry tile set in a mortar a projection factor of 0.30. East
A 1,504 square foot passive bed. The sunspace is separated and west windows are small and
solar, single-family home with from the conditioned portion of have no effective overhang
an 8.3 ft. average ceiling height the house by sliding glass doors because of the gable roof. South
is used to illustrate how to fill in and a masonry fireplace wall. windows, including the
the worksheets. See sketches Sunspace ventilation is provided sunspace windows, have an
for the building layout. A to the outside by awning overhang with a proj ection
variety of design features have windows located at the top and factor of 0.20.
been incorporated into the bottom of the south wall. Take-offs from the house are
house to help illustrate how to South facing windows given in the worksheets. Refer
handle different situations in provide direct gain solar heating to the circled values in the
the worksheets. to the dining area, kitchen and worksheet tables to locate where
The building selected has master bedroom. The south the various values which show
good insulation as described on glazing in the kitchen and up in the worksheets come from.
Worksheet I. dining area provides heat to an Performance is found to be
The east portion of the exposed slab-on-grade finished satisfactory on all four
house is slab on grade. The with ceramic tile to provide worksheets.
great room and master bedroom direct gain heat storage.
are constructed over a The house faces 10 degrees
basement. to the east of true south.
*'r------'2""O"-.'_ _---!),;;:j<'---__-'2=2'-'_ _----'}~<:------------------------~~r------------------------}j
Garage
3040 ' -I,'i-----"i(-
X------~-----A----- ~==C;::J
4040 "'< !
Bedroom - -------~~~-~~~~--- -----y I
! cJ 0 I
Lo: ,.-::@ Great Room
,
T"""~ o!
-'¥------- Mi
Co
N
Master ~~~~~~----0
Bedroom
en!
~-",J_-
-_---_i>_---_ _ ~:::::~~4O~5-0~~:::J-:: " ,:8088
· : : : r: =- iJ:" : jt, ,j-.: 806B
:- t, ",:- _S-: 8~ : :- p_a.uc80BB
-e : : : -: -. . . :JI __8068____-·_·5_~ ~_· __:-=*--c;8
:~.----------------------------*;--
1 4 ' : --------------------------------------------------------j(
28' 24':
----
------------------------------;l<i
'" 0 2 4 8 12
FLOOR PLAN
SOUTH ELEVATION
NORTH ELEVATION
o2
----
4 8 12
.........................:),
----
ABOVE GRADE SECTION
o2 4 8 12
50 WORKED EXAMPLE
iii-¥~4- Insulation
Insulation --+.o.",A,A;i:
. ". . ,:~_:" ':~ r--; .lIh-ml~ -I

1111 E 11IIl=' i 1111 E 1111 E IIIIE 1111
. IIIIEIIII'
1111'"
~IIIIEIIIIEIIII
"'1 EIIIIE 1111
"'~IIII~
" b"
... ".b.
'.
.. ". "
';";&<;";"",..()< );;~~ == 1111 ~ 1111 E 1111 E 1111 E I
.. "~IIIIEIIIIEIIiI
"II EIIIIE II
"11 E 11I1l;.·,c,.w.;;..:.L::,.L:.c>.L.;..:l
SLAB-ON-GRADE CRAWLSPACE FULL BASEMENT
TYPES OF FOUNDATIONS
NOTE: These worksheets are completed

for the example house described on the
previous pages. Also the reference tables
are marked up showing how the numbers
are selected.
Boston, Worked Example

Massachusetts
52 WORKED EXAMPLE WORKSHEETS
General Project Information

Floor Area I~~ s.f

Ceilings/roofs "1:- "t4 , .., A~ ID&Y + LtL.g = %.j
=
wm
'l.... AS ''''' LA'TWCM..&! c.oy..s.
\",. \~ "" 1...') SU£,Ab"t&&
1l.. lq A3 44!ILA6£
'tl..D
q~l..
\~O
+
+
+
~.::1
Ut~
'].=1 = 9
"
,",0
Insulated Floors _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ + =
+ =
Non-solar Glazing ,..,~"'t'~ f"""" ~ ,~ $1.. + \.~ = 2.1
.. \J..:' A\C, &AP,UM-e Lc.'zc) -.- =
~------~~~~u~=~~L~W~tLf.~~~~C~Q~~~£~--- 4() ..,... s:~ = 1
..,...
\L\ Btu/OF-h
Total
B. Foundation Perimeter Heat Loss

Heat Loss
Factor Heat
Slabs-on-Grade _ _ _ _ -=_._,-'--________ fU.. X D.,30 = 'Z5
Heated Basements _ _ _'L~.~\~,'__________ f'J'l.. X O,'D 49
Unheated Basements _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ X =
Perimeter Insylated Crawlspaces _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ X =
''t
Total
Btu/OF-h

lVi'J X C.So X .018 1l"L Btu/oF-h
Volume per Hour

24 X :30' ..,... \56"+ "t·fi~ Btu/DO-sf
Total Heat Loss Floor Area
(A+B+C)
~.e'\ X SS13 X O.~5 lrS~f'2- Btu/yr-sf

Square Foot [Table C]
F. Comparison Conservation Performance (From Previous Calculation or from Table 0)

"tL'JS Btu/yr-sf
Worksheet II: Auxiliar Heat Performance Level
D&.c.'Z- as x 1'J.'lS i:!

55:<=-\ 2.D. X
0.80
0.80
X
X D.qS = "3
X 0.80 X =
X 0.80 X
X 0.80 X =
X 0.80 X
X 0.80 X
ZA'
Total Area
7...~"Z-
Total
sf
Projected
Area
%3'2- + ,So.... = 0.15

Area Square Foot
24 x jot + 2..3'2- 3"2-

Total Total
Heat Loss Projected
[Worksheet I] Area

System
Solar Savings
""Dc..c:..."'L
SS'D' ,ti x
x
t:J. -z..g
"-.%:Z_
~~.·:!,:Z..
~S. '-'
x =
x
x =
x
x
Ss,lg
Total
.. 2.'3" = O.'Z."t
Total Solar
Projected Savings
Area Fraction
[1 - D.1..4.i X %.5182 ,cn't6 Btu/yr-sf

Solar Conservation
Savings Performance
Step E]

Ltc'ZO, Btu/yr-sf
Com are Line D to Line E

54 WORKED EXAMPLE WORKSHEETS
Worksheet III: Thermal Mass Comfort

A. Heat Capacity of Sheetrock and Interior Furnishings
Unit Total
Heat Heat
~~
X
X
4.7
4.5 =
1., 8'
4'1-' ,
'4S"l- Btu/OF
Total

Unit Heat
I[Qmb§! Wslill X 8.8
Wate[ Walill X 10.4 =
ElI:l2Qll§!d Slab iD SYD \":\ X 13.4 = 1390
ElI:l2Qll§!d Slab ~Qt iD SYD 1'3, X 1.8 = ~,
X =
X =
X =
""2-'
Total
Btu/OF
Unit Heat
l[Qmb§! Walill X 3.8
WiiIt§![Wslill X 4.2 =
f'~<.L -U-'-luc:. ","
'" X 1.' 'ttl
X =
X =
'ill Btu/OF
Total

84GD Btu/oF
(A+B+C)

""'''0
Total Heat
\5~l.t
Conditioned
S." Btu/OF-sf
Capacity Floor Area

Total Comfort
pir§!ct GaiD 5"58,{0

SYDSl2aC§!S Q[ '1"10\0
V§!Dted Immb§! Walls Sg4\OD +
Total Total
Heat
Capacity
\3 of
Com are Line F to Line G
Worksheet IV: Summer Coolin Performance Level
A. Opaque Surfaces
Radiant Barrier Absorp- Heat Gain
Heat Loss Factor tance Factor
Description [Worksheet I] [Table J] [Table K] [Table L] Load
Z~ 0.4' ~I.:I S'2.'

Q~iIiDg~l[QQf~
., X
X
X
'.00
1.00
X
X
X
Q.41
X
X
X
"fS.:r 3"
~ 90 X nfa D.-to X '2.!\., StS
X nfa X =
~ ~ X nfa ~·lO X "Z..9..l = 2.4
\:I~':\ kBtulyr
Total
B. Non-solar Glazing
Rough Frame Net Area Shade Factor Heat Gain
Description Area Factor [Table M] Factor [Table L] Load
~Q[tb ~Ia~~
,
'--" X
X
0.80
0.80
X
X
06~ X
X
~r."Z.. =
=
''2.3
, 0.90 SS.t 1-i'l-

Ea~t ~la!:!S X 0.80 X X
X 0.80 X X =
W!2st ~laS!:! X 0.80 X D·IO X ,~.S ~,
X 0.80 X X =
~Isllligbt!:! X 0.80 X X =
X 0.80 X X =
'O,~ kBtulyr
Total
C. Solar Glazing
Solar System Rough Frame Net Area Shade Factor Heat Gain
Oi[!2Qt ~aiD itS X 0.80 X O.JO X ~q.,

= z."t~~
X 0.80 X X =
StQ[a!;I!2 Wall!:! X 0.80 X X
X 0.80 X X
SU[)SI2;aQ!2 %..DB. X 0.80 X tJ.1D X &."3- = '1'3.4
X 0.80 X X
~\1S kBtufyr
Total
D. Internal Gain
~SSO
Constant
+( ,'6 0
Variable
x .3
Number of
) = :I$OO kBtufyr
Component Component Bedrooms

[Table N] [Table N]
E. Cooling Load per Square Foot
1,000 X ~"t6] + ,S'o~ '308 Btufyr-sf
(A+B+C+D) Floor Area
F. Adjustment for Thermal Mass and Ventilation
,.. ~ ~,~.n vt,...S'\. '-1~\'-'Nf: '04-:1 Btulyr-sf
(AN
[Table 0]
G. Cooling Performance Level
Uot; Btulyr-sf
(E -F)
H. Comparison Cooling Performance (From Previous Calculation or from Table P)
'''i-rc) Btulyr-sf
Com are Line G to Line H
56 WORKED EXAMPLE TABLES
Table A-continued ..
Table A-Equivalent Thermal Table D-Base Case Conservation
Performance of Assemblies A5-Doors Performance(Btu/~
R-values (hr-F-sf/Btu) Base Case ~
Solid wood wah 2.2
Weatherstripping
A1-Ceilings/Roofs Metal with rigid
foam core Table E-Projected Area Adjustment
Attic Insulation R-value
Construction
Framed
R-30 R-38 ~R-60
27.9 35.9 46.9
Insulation R-value
57.9 Table B-Perimeter Heat Loss
Factors for Slabs-on-Grade and
Degrees off
True
i
Factors
D,~
Solar System Type
SSA SSB,
Unheated Basements (Btu/h-F-ft) South ~ SSO SSE
Construction
2x6 at16"oc
2x6 at 24"oc
R-19 R-22
14.7
15.3
15.8
16.5
R-30 R-38
16.3
17.1
Perimeter
Insulation Grade
Heated Unheated Insulated
Siabs-on- Base-
ments
Base- Crawl-
ments spaces
o
5
10
15
ir
1.00
.9
.
0.77
0.76
0.75
0.74
0.75
0.75
0.74
0.73
2x8 at 16"oc 17.0 18.9 20.6 21.1
2x8 at 24'oc 17.6 19.6 21.6 None 0.8 1.3 1.1 1.1 20 0.94 0.72 0.70
R-5
~ ~
25 0.91 0.69 0.68
2xl0 at 16"oc
2xl0 at 24'oc
2x12 at 16'oc
18.1
18.4
18.8
20.1
20.7
21.0
24.5
25.5
25.5
4t.P
30.1
R-7
R-ll
0.8
0. 6
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.6
0.5
0.4
30 0.87 0.66 0.65
2x12 at 24'oc 19.0 21.4 27.3 31.4 R-19 0.2 0.5 0.3
R-30 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.2
Table F-8oiar System Saving
Fractions
A2-Framed Walls
Single Table C-Heating Degree Days
Wall Insulation R-value (F-day) Fl-Direct Gain
Framing R-l1 R-13 R-19 R-25
Load DGCl DGC2 DGC3
2x4 at 16'oc 12.0 13.6 Collector Double Low-e R-9 Night
2x4 at 24'oc 12.7 13.9 Ratio Glazing Glazing Insulation
2x6 at 16"oc
2x6 at 24"oc
14.1
14.3
15.4
15.6
@ 19.2
19.8
Cl-Heating Degree Days (Base 65°1J-......
Boston ~
400
300
0.03
0.04
0.04
0.05
0.05
0.06
Double Chatham 6,017 200 0.05 0.07 0.09
Wall Total Thickness (inches) Chestnut Hill 5,940 150 0.07 0.09 0.11
Framing 8 10 12 14 Edgartown 6,024 100 0.09 0.12 0.16
80 0.10 0.14 0.19
25.0 31.3 37.5 43.8 Haverhill 6,024 60 0.13 0.18 0.24
Hyannis 5,965 50 0.14 0.20 0.27
The R-value of insulating sheathing should be added to Middleton 6,057 45 0.15 0.22 0.30
e,~~
0.16 0.32
the values in this table.
A3-lnsulated Floors
Nantucket
New Bedford
Plymouth
5,960
5,305
6,013 25
20
0.18
0.19
0.21
0.24
®.. :LI
0.33
0.38
0.36
0.40
0.46
0.53
Insulation R-value 15 0.27 0.45 0.63
Framing R-ll R-19 R-30 R-38 C2-Heating Degree Day Multiplier
2x6s at 16" oc 18.2 23.8 29.9 Passive Solar F2-Trombe Walls
2x6s at 24"oc 18.4 24.5 31.5 Heat Loss Glazing Area per
per Square per Square Foot TWF3 TWA3 TWJ2 TWI4
2x8s at 16"oc 18.8 24.9 31.7 36.0
Foot .00 .05 .10 .15 .20 Load Unvented Vented Unvented Unvented
2x8s at 24 'oc 18.9 25.4 33.1 37.9 Collector Non- Non- Selec- Night
2xl0 at 16"oc 19.3 25.8 33.4 38.1 12.00 1.10 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.11
11.50 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.10 1.11 Ratio selective selective tive Insulation
2xl0 at 24"oc 19.3 26.1 34.4 39.8 400 0.01 0.04 0.01 0.00
2x12 at 16"oc 19.7 26.5 34.7 39.8 11.00 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.10
10.50 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 300 0.02 0.05 0.03 0.00
2x12 at 24"oc 19.6 26.7 35.5 41.2 200 0.04 0.07 0.06 0.03
10.00 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09
These R-values include the buffering effect of a 9.50 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.09 150 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.06
ventilated crawlspace or unconditioned basement. 9.00 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 100 0.08 0.11 0.16 0.11
8.50 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 80 0.10 0.13 0.20 0.15
8.00 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.06 60 0.13 0.16 0.25 0.20
7.50 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 50 0.15 0.18 0.30 0.24
A4-Windows 45 0.16 0.20 0.32 0.26
7.00 0.99 1.00 1.02 1.03 1.04
Air Gap 6.50 0.97 0.99 1.00 1.01 1.02 40 0.18 0.21 0.35 0.29
6.00 0.95 0.97 0.98 1.00 1.01 35 0.20 0.23 0.39 0.32
1/4 in. 1/2 in. 1/2 in. argon ~. 0.93 0.94 0.96 0.99 30 0.22 0.25 0.43 0.36
Standard Metal Frame
Single
Double
.9
1.1 1.2 1.2
d:
".'V' 4.00
.00 0.90
0.86
0.82
0.92
0.89
0.85
0.94
0.91
0.88
em0.90
0.97
0.95
0.92
25
20
15
0.25
0.29
Q~
0.28
0.32
Q~
0.49
0.56
Q~
0.42
0.48
Q~
3.50 0.76 0.80 0.84 0.87 0.89
Low-e (e<=0.40) 1.2 1.3 1.3 0.83 0.86
3.00 0.69 0.74 0.79
Metal frame with thermal break 0.72 0.77 0.81
2.50 0.60 0.67
Double 1.5 1.6 1.7
2.00 0.48 0.57 0.65 0.70 0.75
Low-e (e<=0.40) 1.6 1.8
Low-e (e<=0.20) 1.7
Wood frame with vinyl cladding
$ 2.0
Double 2.0 2.1 2.2

Low-e (e<=0.40) 2.1 2.4 2.5
Low-e (e<=0.20) 2.2 2.6 2.7
Low-e (e<=O.1 0) 2.3 2.6 2.9
These R-values are based on a 3 mph wind speed and
are typical for the entire rough framed opening.
Manufacture's data, based on National Fenestration
Rating Council procedures, should be used when
available. One half the R-value of movable insulation
should be added, when appropriate.
Fa-Water Walls Table H-Unit Heat Capacities

Load WWA3 WWB4 WWC2 (Btu/F-sf) Ceilinglroofs
Collector No Night Night Selective Walls and Doors
Ratio Insulation Insulation Surface North Glass
400 0.03 0.00 0.00 HI-Mass Surfaces Enclosing Direct Gain East Glass
300 0.04 0.00 0.01 Spaces West Glass
200 0.06 0.04 0.05 Skylights
150
100
0.08
0.11
0.08
0.14
0.08
0.14 Material 2
Thickness (inches)
3 4 6 8 12 Direct Gain Glazing
Trombe Walls and
~
6.3
80 0.14 0.18 0.18 Poured Conc. 1.8 4.3 6.7 8.8 11.3 11.5 10.3 Water Walls
60 0.17 0.25 0.24 Conc. Masonry 1.8 4.2 6.5 8.4 10.2 10.0 9.0 Sunspaces
50 0.19 0.29 0.28 Face Brick 2.0 4.7 7.1 9.0 10.4 9.9 9.0 SSAI 17.1
45 0.21 0.32 0.31 Flag stone 2.1 4.8 7.1 8.5 8.6 8.0 7.6 SSBI
40
35
30
0.23
0.25
0.27
0.35
0.39
0.44
0.34
0.38
0.42
Builder Brick
Adobe
Hardwood
1.5
1.3
0.4
3.7
3.2
1.4
5.4
4.8
1.8
6.5
5.5
1.7
6.6
5.4
1.5
6.0
4.9
1.5
5.8
4.8
1.5
SSCI
SSDI
SSEI
<M>
17.1
25 0.31 0.50 0.48 Water 5.2 10.4 15.6 20.8 31.2 41.6 62.4
20 0.35 0.57 0.55
15 0.41 0.66 0.64
Ii
H2-Rooms with no Direct Solar Gain Table M-ShadiDg Factors
F4-Sunspaces Thickness (inches) Projection
i~h
Material 2 3 4 6 8 12
~
Load Factor
Collector Sunspace Type Poured Conc. 1.7 3.0 3.6 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.4 0.00 1.00
NMh .
Ratio SSAI SSBI SSCI SSDI SSEI Conc. Masonry 1.6 2.9 3.54;P 3.6 3.4 3.2 0.20 0.94 . .94
400 0.09 0.07 0.03 0.07 0.05 Face Brick 1.8 3.1 3.6 3.7. 3.5 3.4 3.2 0.40
300 0.10 0.08 0.04 0.09 0.07 Flag stone 1.9 3.1 3.4 .4 3.2 3.1 3.0 0.60 :10 . 0. 60
200 0.12 0.10 0.06 0.12 0.09 Builder Brick 1.4 2.6 3.0 3.1 2.9 2.7 2.7 0.80 0.57 O.
150 0.14 0.11 0.07 0.14 0.11 Adobe 1.2 2.4 2.8 2.8 2.6 2.4 2.4 1.00 0.52 0.63 :(11 0.64
100 0.17 0.14 0.10 0.18 0.14 Hardwood 0.5 1.1 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.20 0.48 0.55 0.58 0.55
80 0.19 0.16 0.12 0.21 0.17
60 0.22 0.18 0.14 0.25 0.20 ~Muttiply by 0.8 for low-e glass, 0.7 for tinted glass and
50 0.24 0.20 0.16 0.28 0.22 -------------- 0.6 for low-e tinted glass.
45 0.26 0.22 0.18 0.29 0.24
40 0.27 0.23 0.19 0.31 0.25 Table I-Comfort Factors (Btu/sf)
1L.;en 0.29
UV' 0.32
0.25
0.27
~"i'~.34
~-u.36
0.27
0.30
Direct Gain ~
25 0.35 0.30 0.26 0.40 0.32 Suns paces and @ Table N-Internal Gain Factors
20 0.38 0.33 0.29 0.44 0.36 Vented Trombe Walls Constant Component ~kBtu/yr
15 0.44 0.38 0.34 0.50 0.41
Variable Component '@kBtulyr-BR
Table J-Radiant Barrier Factors

Radiant Barrier 0.75 Table O-Thermal Mass and
No Radiant Barrier ~ Ventilation Adjustment (Btu/yr-sf)
Total Heat Night Night No Night No Night
Capacity Vent wi Vent wi No Vent wi Vent wi No
per SF Ceil. Fan Ceil. Fan Ceil. Fan Ceil. Fan
0.0 4,790 2,880 4,400 1,960
Table K-Solar Absorptances 1.0 5,550 3,860 5,160 2,950
Color Absorptance 2.0 5,970 4,380 5,580 3,460
3.0 6,200 4,640 5,820 3,730
~
Gloss White
,D'"f"]
~
Semi-gloss White 6,330 4,790 ~3,870
&. /, .0 6,400 4,860 , 3,940
Light Green 7. 6. 6,440 4,900 , 0
Kelly Green 0.51 .0 6,460 4,920 6,080 4,000
Medium Blue 0.51 8.0 6,480 4,930 6,090 4,010
Medium Yellow 0.57 9.0 6,480 4,930 6,090 4,020
Medium Orange 0.58 10.0 6,490 4,940 6,100 4,020
Medium Green 0.59
Light Buff Brick 0.60 Total heat capacity per square foot is calculated on
Bare Concrete
~
Worksheet III, Step E.
Red Brick
Medium Red
Medium Brown 0.84
Dark Blue-Grey 0.88
Dark Brown 0.88 Table P-Base Case Cooling
Table G-Base Case Auxiliary Heat Performance (Btu/~
Performance (Btu~~ Base Case ~
Base Case ~
58 WORKED EXAMPLE TABLES
. Boston, Massachusetts
Note: This is a generic example to explain how to

fill out the worksheets. For an example specific to
this book, refer to the worked example on the
prior pages. The actual house design used for both
examples is the same, but specific numerical
values will be different.
Anytown ,
USA
Anytown, USA
60 INTRODUCTION
Introduction A separate worksheet is The estimates from

provided for each of four Worksheets I and II are based on
Purpose separate performance levels a heating thermostat setting of
perfo~ance level and 70°F. The .estimates from
The purpose of the Any Town, associated target. These are Worksheet IV are based on a
USA section is to explain how to deSCribed below: cooling thermostat setting of
use the passive solar Worksheet I: Conservation 78°F with no ceiling fans and
worksheets in the Passive Solar Performance Level: the 82°F with ceiling fans.
Design Strategies: Guidelines for estimated heat energy needed by The worksheets are
Home BUilding. Separate the building each year from both supported by a number of data
Worksheets booklets are the solar and auxiliary heating tables. The data tables are given
available for specific locations systems. The units are a letter deSignation and are
throughout the continental Btu/yr-sf. referenced when applicable next
USA. Each booklet contains Worksheet II: Auxiliary Heat to each worksheet entry.
detailed technical data for a Performance Level: the A description and drawings
specific location. Although the estimated heat that must be of the example building are
example presented in this provided each year by the provided below, followed by
booklet is for a moderate mid- auxiliary heating system. This completed worksheets. Data
Atlantic climate, the procedure worksheet accounts for the solar tables have also been included
is presented in a general savings. The units are when appropriate.
manner and is intended to be . Btu/yr-sf. Each step of the worksheets
used for all locations. Worksheet III: Thermal is then explained in detail.
Mass / Comfort: the temperature
swing expected on aclear winter
General Description day with the auxiliary heating
of Worksheets system not operating. The units \
are OF.
The Worksheets booklet for each
location provides an easy-to-use Worksheet N: Summer Cooling
calculation procedure, allowing Performance Level: the
the designer to estimate the estimated annual cooling load of
performance level of a particular the building. The units are
building design and compare it Btu/yr-sf.
against a base-case performance
level or against the performance
of the builder's more
conventional house.
Anytown, USA
Description of The building has an South facing windows
attached sunspace. The provide direct gain solar heating
Example Building
( ) sunspace floor has a four-inch
thick slab-on-grade with quarry
to the dining area. kitchen and
master bedroom. The south
A 1.504 square foot passive tile set in a mortar bed. The glazing in the kitchen and
solar. single-family home with sunspace is separated from the dining area provides heat to an
an 8.3 ft. average ceiling height conditioned portion of the house exposed slab-on-grade.
is used to illustrate how to use by sliding glass doors and a The east portion of the
the worksheets. A floor plan. masonry fireplace wall. Awning house is slab-on-grade
building elevations. building windows located at the top and construction. The great room
sections and details are shown bottom of the south wall provide and master bedroom suite are
below. outside ventilation for the raised floor construction. The
sunspace. slab-on-grade floor in the
kitchen and dining area is
finished with ceramic tile so that
the floor may function as
thermal mass.
The exterior doors are metal
with a foam core center.
~r--~2~O~'--.....;*~i~ __..!:2=2-'--~r·. . . ·. . ·..............g4.'............:...............

\
Garage
4040
Bedroom
Great Room
Master
;.. Bedroom
.,...
Suns pace
8088 8088
14'
FLOOR PLAN
----
o2 4 8 12
AnytOWD, USA
62 INTRODUCTION
SOUTH ELEVATION
NORTH ELEVATION
'........
----
024 B 12
.........................::::::::::::::J
"r
ABOVE GRADE SECTION
02 4
...... B 12
)
Insulation,.---i''ti"*t:=;::::::l I
. .,
. .... . .. ' : .r'''<:'.:l.-m~'-'-:!
""""!1rf"'_'11IT'nl-.LA .' .' •
§ 1111 § III I;, : .....: . ini~),i~,
§1I11 § 1111 ., ..•• ". 1I11§1Il1t='
•.• ' :." .•• 1I11§1II"
.• : .' ~'. 1111"
", • "II .~. ", 111'
.... . ....
'"
",
-... ... ." . .. . ..
..... .. .•....
.. '
'. -
"
",'.'
,'
'
• ' II' . ' II'
SLAB-ON-GRADE CRAWLSPACE FULL BASEMENT

\
TYPES OF FOUNDATIONS /
Anytown, USA
General pro~ect Information
1504 sf
~:Area

Q!!iliog~L[QQt~ B-;36 io 8!liQ ]Q64 + ;3f2!:! = ;3Q
B-;3Q io Qrull!!Qml Q!!iliog 42Q + 24f2 = ]I
WiillI~ B-l!:!± B-Z SIl!!iillIliog io BigiQ IO~!JliiI!iQO !:!!:!2 ..,... 24Z = 4Q
B-1!:! io ~iilmg!! 14Q + lZZ 6
IO~!JliiI!!!Q EIQQ[~ B-1!:! io EIQQ[ Qll!![ ~!!ois!Q Q[5nIl1~I2ii1Q!! Z64 + 2f26 = ;3Q
+ =
~Qo-~QliiI[ ~Iiili:iog OQ!Jbl!! !:aliilZ!!Q WQQQ E[iillD!! liZ' iili[ giill2 f22 + 16 2!:!
- L.QY:l-i; (!!:;;- 4Q) +
OQQ[~ M!!!iilllI:li!1l EQiillD QQ[!! 4Q + f2!:! = Z
+ =
1121 Btu/OF-h
Total
B. Foundation Perimeter Heat.Loss
Heat Loss
Factor Heat
Sliilb~-QO-!:a[iilQ!! B-Z 62 X Q;3Q 2f2
~ H!!iilis!Q BiilS!!ID!!O!S X =
I
Uoll!!ru!!Q Eliil~!!ID!!O!~ X =
E!![iID!!t!![ IO~!Jliilt!!Q Qmll:ll~I2ii1Q!!~ X =
2f2 Btu/oF-h
Total

1246;3 X Qf2Q X .018 112 Btu/OF-h
Volume per Hour

24 X 2~6 + lf2Q4 = 4Z!2 Btu/DD-sf
Total Heat Loss Floor Area
(A+B+C)
H!2 X nQ;3 X Qn = lZQn Btu/yr-sf

Square Foot [Table C]
F. Comparison Conservation Performance (From Previous Calculation or from Table O)

2f2 ;3!2Q Btu/yr-sf
Anytown, USA
64 CONSERVATION PERFORMANCE LEVEL
Worksheet I: Step A. Envelope Heat Loss Ceilings/Roofs

Conservation The first step is to calculate the There are two types of
Performance Level heat loss through the building ceiling/roof construction in t h e )
Worksheet I is essentially a heat envelope. The building envelope example building. R-38 mineral \
loss calculation, similar to the consists of all walls, roofs, insulation is located in an attic
type of calculation made to size floors, non-solar windows and space, and R-30 insulation is
heating and cooling equipment. doors that enclose the located in the framed cathedral
The major difference is that the conditioned space of the house. ceiling. The total R-value is
calculation does not consider Heat loss for each envelope selected from Table Al for each
heat loss through any of the component is calculated by ceiling/ roof component. The
passive solar systems. The dividing the surface area of the values in Table Al account for
following building corriponents component by the total R-value. the buffering effect of the attic
in the example building are not The total envelope heat loss is (when applicable), the ceiling
considered in the calculation: the sum of the heat loss for all material (sheetrock) and the
• Heat loss through direct gain of the envelope components. effect of framing.
solar glazing. Table A in the Worksheets
A 1-Ceilings/Roofs
• Heat loss through walls and booklet contains R-values that
windows that separate the may be used in the calculation.
Attic
Construction R-30 I!1J
Insulation R-value
27.9 35
R-49 R-60
46.9 57.9
house from the sunspace. There are actually five separate Framed Insulation R-value
If the example building had tables labeled AI, A2, A3, A4 Construction R-19 R-22 R-30 R-38
Trombe walls or water walls, and A5. A separate table is 2x6 at 16"oc 14.7 15.8 16.3 -
2x6 at 24'oc
2x8 at 16"oc
15.3 16.5 17.1
17.0 18.9 20.6 21.1
-
heat loss through these passive provided fQr ceilings/roofs, 2x8 at 24"oc 17.6 19.6~ 22.2
solar systems would also be walls, floors, windows and 2x10 at 16"oc 18.1 20.1 24. 25.7
2x10 at 24"oc 18.4 20.7 . 26.8
excluded from the calculation. doors. The R-values' in these 2x12 at 16"oc 18.8 21.0 25.5 30.1
2x12 at 24 'oc 19.0 21.4 27.3 31.4
Heat loss from the passive tables include the thermal
solar energy systems is excluded resistance of both the insulation The area and R-value of the )
since the solar savings fractions and other materials that two different types of
in Worksheet II take these losses typically make up the construction are entered on two
into account. construction assembly such as lines of the table under
exterior sheathing and "ceilings/roofs" and the heat
sheetrock. They also account loss is calculated by dividing the
for framing members that surface area by the total .
penetrate the insulation and R-value. Note that the ceiling
reduce the effectiveness. over the sunspace is not
included in this calculation.
Anytown, USA
Walls The R-value of each wall The total R-value is selected
There are two types of wall type is detennined from Table from Table A3, which considers
'\ construction in the example A2 in the Worksheets booklet. the buffering effect of the
)
building. The typical exterior The R-value of both wall types is crawlspace as well as framing
wall is of 2x6 wood frame 17.7 from the table, but since and the floor materials. The
construction with R-19 mineral the first wall type has R-7 area and R-value is entered on
insulation in the cavity. An insulating sheathing, this is one line of the table and the
insulating sheathing with an R- added to the value from the heat loss is calculated by .
7 rating is attached to the table so that 24.7 is used in the dividing the area by the R-value.
exterior surface of the framing. calculations. These R-values
A3-lnsulated Floors
The wall is finished with 1/2 along with the associated areas
Insulation R·value
inch sheetrock on the inside are entered on two lines of the Framing R-11 R-19 R-30 R-38
2x6s at 16"oc 18.2 23.8 29.9
and a brick veneer on the table and the heat loss is 2x6s at 24"oc 18.4 24.5 31.5
outside.
The second type of wall
calculated by dividing each
surface area by the
2x8s at 16"oc
2x8s at 24"oc
2x10 at 16"oc
2x10 at 24"oc
18.9 4W
18.8 24.9 31.7 36.0
33.1 37.9
19.3 25.8 33.4 38.1
19.3 .1 34.4 39.8
construction separates the corresponding R-value. 2x12 at 16"oc 19.7 26.5 34.7 39.8
2x12 at 24"oc 19.6 26.7 35.5 41.2
house from the garage. This These R·values include the buffering effect of a
A2-Framed Walls
wall is also of 2x6 wood frame ventilated crawlspace or unconditioned basement.
Single Wall Insulation R·value
construction With R-19 in the Framing R-11 R-13 R-19 R-25 Had there been different
2x4 at 16"oc 12.0 13.6 insulation conditions for the
cavity, but it does not have the 2x4 at 24"oc 12.7 13.9 ~ -
insulating sheathing or the 2x6 at 16"oc 14.1 15.4 17. 19.2 raised floor, an additional line of
2x6 at 24"oc 14.3 15.6 . 19.8
brick veneer. Note that the Double the table would be completed for
Wall Total Thickness (inches) each condition.
walls that separate the house Framing 8 10 12 14
from the sunspace are not 25.0 31.3 37.5 43.8 If the example building had
included. ..... The R·value of insulating. sheathing should be
insulated floors over a garage or
\
/ It is necessary to measure added to the values in this table. unheated basement, these
the surface area of each type of components would also be
wall construction. The surface Floors included in this step.
area may be determined by Only the raised floor is As an alternative to
multiplying the length of wall by considered in this step of the insulating between the floor
the average height and heat loss calculation; heat loss joists, the perimeter walls of the
subtracting the area of doors from the slab-on-grade floor is crawlspace could have b~en
and windows. conSidered in Step B. There is insulated and floor insulation
one type of raised floor eliminated. When this
construction in the example technique is used, the perimeter
building. R-19 mineral heat loss method in Step B
insulation is placed between should be used. Step A only
2xlO floor joists at 16 inches on includes floors when insulation
center; the crawlspace beneath is placed in the floor assembly.
is ventilated.
Anytown, USA
Non-solar Glazing Windows in the example These values are entered in

Next, heat loss from the non- building are all double-pane the table and the heat loss is
solar glazing is calculated. Note wood windows with a 1/2 inch calculated by dividing the door
that the passive solar direct gain air space between the panes. areas by the R-value. If the
glazing is not included. Also the The R-value for this window example building had more than
windows that separate the type is 2.1, selected from Table one door type (different
house from the sunspace are A4. R-values), then additional lines
not included. The non-solar window area of the table would be completed.
The rough frame opening of is taken from the building plans.
each window is generally used These values are entered in the Total
for the window area. This is table and the heat loss is The heat loss of all components
because the R-values presented calculated by dividing the of the building envelope is
in Table A4 and most heat loss window area by the window summed at the bottom of the
data presented by window R-value. If the example building table and this completes Step A
manufacturers is for the rough had more than one window type of the worksheet.
frame opening. Using the rough (different R-values), then
frame opening also makes it additional lines of the table
easier to estimate window areas would be completed.
since windows are usually
specified on the plans in terms Doors
of the rough frame dimensions. The doors are the last
component of the envelope to
A4-Windows consider. The example building
Air Gap
1/4 in. 1/2 in. 1/2 in. argon has two exterior doors: the main
Slandar'd Metal Frame
Single .9 entrance and an additional door
Double 1.1 1.2 1.2
Low-e (e<=0:40) 1.2 1.3 1.3 to the garage. These have a
Metal frame with thermal break
Double 1.5 <t.!> 1.7 total surface area of 40 square
Low-e le<=0.40} 1.6 '. I.S feet and an R-value is selected
Low-e e<=0.20} 1.7 2.0
Wood frame with vinyl cladding from Table A5. Note that the
Double 2.0 2.1 2.2
Low-e (e<=0.40l 2.1 2.4 2.5 door that separates the garage
Low-e le<=0.20 2.2 2.6 2.7
Low-e e<=0.10 2.3 2.6 2.9 from the exterior is not included
These R-values are based on a 3 mph wind speed
since the garage is
and are typical for the entire rough framed opening. unconditioned.
Manufacture's data, based on National
Fenestration Rating Council procedures, should be
used when available. One half the R-value of AS-Doors
movable insulation should be added, when Solid wood with 2.2
appropriate. Weatherstripping
Metal with rigid C1i)
foam core
Anytown, USA
Table B-Perimeter Heat Loss Factors
Step B. Foundation for Slabs·on·Grade and Unheated The building volume is
Perimeter Heat Loss . Basements (Btuth·F·ft) calculated by multiplying the
Heated Unheated Insulated
Foundation heat loss from average ceiling height by the
) slabs-on-grade. basements and
Perimeter Siabs-on- Base·
Insulation Grade ments
Base- Crawl·
ments spaces
conditioned floor area. In this
None 0.8 1.3 1.1 1.1
insulated crawispaces is R5 ~ 0.8 0.7 0.6 example the average ceiling
R:7 0.3 0.7 0.6 0.5
estimated by multiplying the R·11 . 0.6 0.5 0.4 height is 8.3 ft. The conditioned
R-19 0.2· 0.4 0.5 0.3
length of perimeter times an R-30 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.2 floor area is 1,504 sf which does
appropriate heat loss factor When a raised floor assembly is not include the garage or the
taken from Table B. not insulated, for instance, over sunspace. The resulting
The dining area, kitchen and crawlspaces insulated at the building volume is 12,483 cubic
secondary bedrooms in the perimeter or basements, heat feet.
example house have slab-on- loss occurs primarily at the The units of infiltration heat
grade construction. R-7 perimeter. loss are Btu;oF-h, the same as
insulation is installed around The example house does not for the building envelope and
the perimeter. have a basement or a heated the foundation perimeter.
The heat loss factor for the crawlspace, but if it did, the
slab edge is 0.3, selected from Step D. Total Heat Loss per
foundation heat loss would be
Table B. The heat loss factor is Square Foot
calculated by multip1ying the
multiplied by the perimeter to The total building heat loss is
perimeter of these elements by a
calculate the heat loss. The the sum of the heat loss for the
heat loss factor selected from
units of heat loss, using the building envelope (Step A), the
Table B.
perimeter method, are the same foundation perimeter (Step B)
When houses have heated
as for the building envelope and infiltration (Step C). For
basements, heat loss from ,
calculated in the previous step. residences this value will range
basement walls located above
Note that sunspace slab is not between 200 and 500. It
grade would be included in
included in this calculation. represents the Btu of heat loss
Step A.
The slab edge perimeter from the building envelope over
adjacent to the crawlspace and Step C. Infiltration Heat Loss the period of an hour when it is
the sunspace is also excluded. The heat loss from infiltration or one OF colder outside than
air leakage is estimated by inside. This total heat loss, of
multiplying the building volume course, does not include heat
times the air changes per hour loss from the solar systems,
times a heat loss factor of 0.018. including direct gain glazing.
The example building is The result of Step D,
estimated to have an infiltration however, is the annual heat loss
rate of 0.50 based on local per degree day per square foot.
building experience. This value is calculated by
mUltiplying the total heat loss
by 24 hours/ day and dividing
by the conditioned floor area.
Anytown, USA
Step E. Conservation The heating degree days are Step F. Comparison

Performance Level selected from Table C 1 and Conservation Performance
Once the total heat loss per based on specific locations. The The conservation performance
square foot is calculated, the heating degree day multiplier is level for the proposed design
conservation perfonnance level selected from Table C2 and is may be compared to the base
may be calculated by based on the total heat loss per case perfonnance level for the
multiplying the total heat loss square foot (Step D) and the area, given in Table D.
per square foot (Step D) by the passive solar glazing area per
Table D-Base Case Conservation
heating degree days times the square foot of floor area Performance (Btu/v. •
heating degree day multiplier. (Worksheet II, Step A). Base Case 25,38
Alternatively, the
C1-Heating Degree Days ~ 65°F) C2-Heating Degree Day Multiplier
Raleigh·Durham ~ Passive Solar conservation perfonnance level
Heat Loss Glazing Area per may be compared to other
This value is from TMY weather tapes and per Square per Square Foot
should be used for Worksheet Calculations. Foot .00 .05 .10 .15 .20 building designs considered by
It will vary from long term averages. 8.00 1.03 1.05 1.07 1.09 1.11
7.50 1.01 1.04 1.06 1.07 1.10 the builder to be typical of the
7.00 0.99 1.02 1.04 1.06 1.08
6.50 0.97 1.00 1.02 1.04 1.06 area. In this case, the
6.00 0.94 0.97 1.00 1.03 1.05 worksheets would first be
~
0.90 0.94 0.98~. 1.03
.00 0.86 0.91 0.95 . 1.01 completed for the typical design
~5 Q~ Q~ Q~ Q9 Q~
. 0 0.77 0.83 0.88 . 2 0.96 and the results of these
3.50 0.72 0.78 0.83 0.88 0.93
calculations would be entered in
The conservation Step F.
perfonnance level for the If the conservation
example building is compared to per.(onnance level of the
the base case conservation proposed building (Step E) is
perfonnance level in the next greater than the base case or
step. typical-design conservation
)
perfonnance level. the designer
should conSider additional
building insulation or reduced
non-solar glass area.
Anytown; USA
Worksheet II: Auxili Heat Performance Level
/
I. )
Q~QI ee X 0.80 X ~e fl~
SSQI 2Qe X 0.80 X ~e jfl~
X 0.80 X
X 0.80 X =
X 0.80 X =
X
X
0.80
0.80
X
X
=
=
2~fl 2~2 sf
Total Area Total
Projected
Area
2~2 -;- jf!Q4 = jf!

Area Square Foot

24 X 2~a + 2~2 = ~Q e~
Total Total
Heat Loss Projected
[Worksheet I] Area

) System
/ Solar Savings
Q~Qj fl~ X 44 ~Q ~fl
SSQl jfl~ X 4f! = Z~~f!
X =
X =
X =
X =
X =
jQ~ Zj + 2~2 Q4f!

Total Total Solar
Projected Savings
Area Fraction
[1 - Q4f! jx 1ZQ~Z = ~Q4~ Btu/yr-sf

Solar Conservation
Savings Performance
Step E]

23 Q99 Btu/yr-sf
Com are Line D to Line E

,
Anytown, USA
70 AUXILIARY HEA T PERFORMANCE LEVEL
Worksheet II: The reference codes are shown

Auxiliary Heat on Tables FI through F4 for
Performance Level various types of solar systems.
Worksheet II is used to estimate More information about the
the savings from passive solar system types is provided in the
systems and to estimate the discussion under Step C of this
auxiliary heat performance level.. worksheet. The reference code
This is the amount of heat that for the direct gain system is
must be provided to the building "DGC 1" because night
each year after the solar savings insulation is not proposed. The
have been accounted for. reference code for the sunspace
The example building has is "ssc 1" since all the sunspace
two solar systems: direct gain glazing is vertical.
south glazing and a sunspace. The south wall of the
South
example building actually faces
Step A. Projected Area of Projection 10° east of south because of site
Passive Solar Glazing Projected Area of Passive Solar Glazing
The solar savings fraction is based on the
conditions. The adjustment
The first step is to calculate the projected area of solar glazing. factor is therefore 0.98 for both
projected area of the solar The worksheet allows the solar systems as selected from
glazing. The proj ected area of user to enter the rough frame Table E. Each solar system area
passive solar glazing is the area area of solar glazing. since it is is multiplied by the net area
projected on a plane facing true generally easier to measure this. factor and the appropriate
south (the actual glazing may be The rough frame area is adj ustment factor to calculate
oriented slightly east or west of multiplied by a net area factor of the projected area. Both the
true south). The projected solar 0.80 to account for window total projected area and the total .
glazing also accounts for sloped framing and mullions. If the net area are summed at the bottom
glazing in certain types of glass area is entered. the net of the table.
sunspaces. area factor is 1.00.
For most solar systems the Table E-ProJected Area
The example building has Adjustment Factors
projected area may be calculated two separate passive solar Degrees off ~solar System Type
True D SSA SSB,
by multiplying the actual glazing systems: direct gain and a South ,S SSD SSE
area times an adjustment factor
taken from Table E.
sunspace. This means that two
lines of the table must be
o
5
10
c$? 1.00
0.98
0.77
0.76
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.74
15 . 0.74 0.73
Alternatively. the projected completed. If the example 20 0.94 0.72 0.70
area may be determined by 25 0.91 0.69 0.68
building had other types of solar 30 0.87 0.66 0.65
making a scaled elevation systems. for instance Trombe The last part of Step A is to
drawing of the building. looking walls or water walls. additional divide the total projected area by
exactly north. Surface areas lines in the table would be the conditioned floor area. giving
may then be measured from the completed. the total projected area per
scaled elevation drawing. This In the first column. the square foot. This value is used
concept is illustrated in the reference code for each type of in Worksheet I. Step E to
figure below. solar system is entered along determine the heating degree
with a description of the system. day multiplier.
,
./
Anytown, USA
Step B. Load Collector Ratio A reference code, for The solar savings fraction for
The load collector ratio is instance "DGC 1", is also each system is multiplied by the
calculated by taking the total provided for each solar system projected area and totaled at the
heat loss from Worksheet I, Step variation. These references are bottom of the table. This total is
D and multiplying this value entered on the worksheet "Solar then divided by the total
times 24 (hours/ day) and System Reference Code". They projected area from Step A to
dividing by the total projected are also a key to additional calculate the weighted average
area of the solar glazing information about each solar solar savings fraction for the
calculated in the previous step. system as provided in Passive whole building.
Solar Heating Analysis and The solar savings fractions
Step C. Solar Savings Fraction other reference manuals. are based on reference designs.
The next step is to calculate the The assumptions made about
solar savings fraction for the F1-Direct Gain
Load DGC3
these reference designs are
DGCI DGC2
building. This is calculated as a Collector Double Low-e R-9 Night summarized below.
Ratio Glazing Glazing Insulation
weighted average of the solar 200 0.10 0.11 0.13
savings fraction for the separate 155 0.13 0.14 0.17 Direct Gain
100 0.18 0.20 0.24
passive solar systems. The 80 0.22 0.25 0.30 The direct gain reference
60 0.28 0.31 0.38
weightings are based on 50 0.32 0.36 0.44 designs are all assumed to have
projected area. 45 0.34 0.39 0.47
40 0.37 0.43 0.51 double-pane glass and sufficient
The solar systems used in
this step should be identical to
those used above in Step A. The
ar 20
15
~ .9
0.55
0.62
0.47
0.52
0.58
0.65
0.74
0.56
0.62
0.69
0.77
0.85
heat storage to limit the clear
day temperature swing to 13°F.
For the case with night
first two columns are simply insulation, the thermal
carried down from the first and F4-Sunspaces resistance is assumed to be R-9.
last columns in· Step A. Load
Collector sunsEace Type
) The solar savings fraction for Ratio SSAI SSBI SCI SSDI SSEI Trombe Walls
200 '0.17 0.14 0.11 0.19 0.15
e9-ch individual system is taken 155 0.20 0.17 0.14 0.23 0.19 The Trombe wall reference
100 0.26 0.22 0.19 0.30 0.26
from Tables F1 through F4 80 0.30 0.25 0.23 0.35 0.30 designs are all assumed to have
based on the load collector ratio 60 0.35 0.30 0.28 0.42 0.36 double-pane glass. The mass
50 0.39 0.34 0.32 0.46 0.40
calculated in Step B and the 45 0.42 0.36 0.35 0.49 0.43 wall is assumed to be 12 inches
40 0.44 0.39 0.38 0.52 0.46
type of solar system. Table F1 is 0.49 thick and constructed of
~ ~
0.48 0.42 0.56
0.52 0.46 0.60 0.54
for direct gain systems, Table F2 0.56 0.50 .0 0.65 0.59 masonry or concrete.
for thermal storage walls, Table 20 0.62 0.56 0.57 0.72 0.65
15 0.70 0.64 0.65 0.79 0.73
F3 for water walls and Table F4 Water Walls
for sunspaces. There are The water wall reference designs
multiple columns in each table are all assumed to have double-
that account for system design pane glass. The water tank is
features such as night assumed to be nine inches
insulation or selective surfaces. thick, extending continuously in
front of the glazing surface. The
space between the water tank
and the glazing is assumed to be
sealed.
Anytown l USA
72 AUXILIARY HEA T PERFORMANCE LEVEL
Sunspaces Step D. Auxiliary Heat

Data is provided for five Performance Level
sunspace reference designs as The auxiliary heat performance
illustrated on the following level is calculated by multiplying
figure. Double glazing is the conservation performance
assumed for all reference level from Worksheet I, Step E,
designs. Reference designs times one minus the solar
SSAl, SSB 1 and SSD 1 are savings fraction, calculated in
assumed to have opaque end the previous step. This value
walls. All are assumed to have a represents the amount of heat
concrete or masonry floor about that must be provided to the
six inches thick and a masonry building by the auxiliary heating
or concrete common wall system(s).
separating the sunspace from
the living areas of the house. Step E. Comparative Auxiliary
The glazing for designs SSAI Heat Performance
and SSD 1 is assumed to be The calculated auxiliary heat
sloped at an angle of 50° from performance level may be
the horizon. The sloped glazing compared to the performance
in designs B and E is assumed level for a typical basecase
to be at an angle of 30°. building in the area. This may
be taken from Table G and is
23,099 Btu/yr-sf.
\)
I
Alternatively, the
performance level may be
compared to a previous
worksheet calculation made for
a typical builder house.
If the auxiliary heat
performance level calculated in
Step D were larger than the base
case auxiliary heat performance,
the designer should conSider
increasing the size of the solar
Sunspace Reference Designs systems, adding additional solar
Data is provided for five types of sunspaces. systems or increasing insulation
levels.
\
/
Anytown, USA
Worksheet III: Thermal Mass/Comfort
(
'\
\ A. Heat Capacity of Sheetrock and Interior Furnishings
) Unit Total
Heat Heat
BQQIDl! lIlli!b Qi[~Q! !:aiilie 424 X 4.7 2H~1
QRiilQ~l! QQee~Q!~g !Q Qi~Q! !:aiilie QRiilQ~l! ~4~ X 4.5 = 42Z1
2452 Btu/OF
Total
Unit Heat
Mass Description capaci~ Total Heat
(include thickness) Area [Table ] Capacity
nQIDb~ WslIIl! X 8.8
, wm~[Wiillll! X 10.4 =
E~RQl!~g Qliilb ie Que lQa X 13.4 = laaQ
E~RQl!~g Qliilb IlIQ! ie Que laZ X 1.8 = 24Z
X =
X =
X =
122Z Btu/OF
Total
Unit Heat
I[QIDb~ WslIIl! X 3.8
W~[WiillIl!
. X 4.2 =
) EiilQ~ 6[iQis 4" III X 3,Z = 4ll
X =
X =
4ll Btu/OF
Total

a4~Q Btu/OF
(A+B+C)

a4~Q + 15Q4 = 52 Btu/OF-sf
Total Heat Conditioned
Capacity Floor Area

Total Comfort
Qi~Q! !:aiilie 2~ X a22 = 5~Z54
Quel!RiilQ~l! Q[ 12a X 2~~ = 4a zaz
~e!~g nQIDb~ WslIIl! lQa 4~1 + a4~Q = 12 a OF
Total Total
Heat
Capacity
13 OF
) Com are Line F to Line G
Anytown, USA
74 COMFORT PERFORMANCE LEVEL
Worksheet III: Step A. Heat Capacity of In the example building, the

Thermal Sheetrock and Interior master bedroom, dining area
Mass/Comfort Furnishings and kitchen are all direct gain
This worksheet is used to The first step is to estimate the space.s. The secondary
calculate the thermal effective heat capacity bedrooms, bathrooms and
mass/comfort performance level, associated with low-mass master bedroom closet are
which is the temperature swing construction and interior directly connected to the direct
expected on a clear winter day furnishings. To complete this gain spaces. The utility room
with the auxiliary heating step it is necessary that two and entry foyer are not
system not operating. A high sub-areas be identified within conSidered in this calculation
temperature swing would the building: those areas that since they are not connected to
indicate that inadequate thermal receive direct solar gains and a direct gain space. These areas
mass is provided in the building those areas that are connected are illustrated for the example
design, which not only creates to rooms that receive direct solar building.
discomfort but decreases solar gains. This is because the mass The direct gain space is
heating performance. of sheetrock and furnishings multiplied by 4.7 and the spaces
The general procedure of the located in direct gain rooms is connected to direct gain spaces
worksheet is to calculate the more effective. Rooms that are are multiplied by 4.5. These
effective heat capacity of mass separated from direct gain products are summed and
elements located within the spaces by more than one door represent the effective heat
conditioned space of the should not be included in either capacity associated with the
building. The total effective heat category. sheetrock and interior
capacity is then combined with furnishings.
the direct gain projected area to
estimate the clear winter day
temperature swing. Note that )
thermal mass elements located
within unconditioned spaces
such as the sunspace are not
included in this calculation.
1i)))1 Direct Gain Spaces

Unconditioned
Garage I,l@ililm Spaces Connected to Direct Gain Spaces
moo Spaces Not Connected to Direct Gain Spaces
Suns pace
Building Sub-areas for Calculating Effective Heat Capacity

Worksheet 11/ requires that the building be divided into sub-areas.
Anytown, USA
Step B. Heat Capacity of Mass Exposed slabs-on-grade Step C. Heat Capacity of Mass
Surfaces Enclosing include those with a surface of Surfaces Enclosing Spaces
() Direct Gain Spaces
The heat capacity of thermal
vinyl tile. ceramic tile or other
materials that are highly
Connected to Direct Gain
Spaces
mass elements (other than conductive. Slabs that are The same type of calculation is
sheetrock and furnishings) that covered with carpet should not performed for mass surfaces
enclose the direct gain spaces is be considered to be exposed. that enclose spaces connected
conSidered in this step. The The exposed slab area should be to direct gain spaces. The
surface area of each element is further reduced. when primary difference is the unit
measured from the building appropriate. to account for heat capacity figures taken from
plans and multiplied by the unit throw rugs and furnishings. Table H2 instead of Table H 1.
heat capacity. The unit heat The exposed slab area is In the example building. the
capacity is printed directly in then subdivided into two areas: fireplace wall and hearth are
the table for Trombe walls. water that which is expected to be in considered in this category.
walls. and exposed slabs-on- the sun and that which is not. This area and the unit heat
grade. The unit heat capacity As a rule-of-thumb. slab area capacity is entered in the table
for other mass elements is should be considered in the sun and multiplied by each other.
selected from Table H 1. Note only when it is located directly This represents the total
that thermal mass located in the behind south glazing. In any effective heat capacity of mass
sunspace is not included in this event. the slab area assumed to elements that enclose the
calculation. be in the sun should not exceed spaces connected to direct gain
1.5 times the south glass area. spaces.
H1-Mass Surfaces Enclosing
Direct Gain Spaces . In the example building. the
H2-Rooms with no Direct Solar Gain
Thickness (inches) slabs-on-grade located in the Thickness (inches)
Material 1 2 3' 4 6 8 12
Poured Conc. 1.8 4.3 6.7 8.8 11.311.5 10.3 kitchen and dining room are Material 1 2 ~ 4 6 8 12
) Conc. Masonry 1.8 4.2 6.5 8.4 10.210.0 9.0
Face Brick 2.0 4.7 7.1 9.0 10.49.9 9.0
located within direct gain Poured Conc. 1.7 3.0 3.6 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.4
Conc. Masonry 1.6 2.9 3.5 ~.6 3.4 3.2
Flag Stone 2.1 4.8 7.1 8.5 8.6 8.0 7.6 spaces. Some of this area is Face Brick 1.8 3.1 3.6 3.7 .5 3.4 3.2
Builder Brick 1.5 3.7 5.4 6.5 6.6 6.0 5.8 Fla~Stone 1.9 3.1 3.4 . 3.2 3.1 3.0
Adobe 1.3 3.2 4.8 5.5 5.4 4.9 4.8 considered to De in the sun and Builder Brick 1.4 2.6 3.0 3.1 2.9 2.7 2.7
Hardwood 0.4 1.4 1.8 1.7 1.5 1.5 1.5 Adobe 1.2 2.4 2.8 2.8 2.6 2.4 2.4
Water 5.2 10.415.6 20.8 31.241.6 62.4 the remainder not. These Hardwood 0.5 1.1 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.1
surface areas are entered in the
table and multiplied by the
appropriate unit heat capacity.
The products are then summed
at the bottom of the table.
Anytown, USA
76 COMFORT PERFORMANCE LEVEL
Step D. Total Heat Capacity Step F. Clear Winter Day Step G. Recommended
The total heat capacity is the Temperature Swing Maximum Temperature Swing
sum of the heat capacity from The clear winter day The comfort performance target ' \
Steps A, B and C. This temperature swing is calculated for all locations is 13°F. If the )
represents the effective heat in Step F. The projected area of comfort performance level
capacity of all thermal mass all direct gain glazing is entered calculated in Step F had been
within the building. in the first row. This includes greater than 13°F, additional
all direct gain systems either thermal mass should be added
Step E. Total Heat Capacity with or without night insulation. to the building or direct gain
per Square Foot In the second row, the projected glazing should be reduced.
The total heat capacity area of sunspace glazing and
calculated in Step D is divided Trombe walls vented to the
by the total floor area of the indoors is entered. Unvented
building to get the total heat Trombe walls and water walls
capacity per square foot. The are not included in this
floor area used in this calculation since solar gain from
calculation should not include these systems does not
the sunspace or other contribute to the temperature
unconditioned spaces. This swing of the conditioned space.
value is calculated here for The appropriate comfort
convenience, but it is not used factor is entered in the second
until Worksheet IV is completed. column, selected from Table I.
,(he projected areas are
multiplied by the appropriate
comfort factors and summed.
This sum is then divided by the '!\
total heat capacity from Step D
to yield the clear winter day
temperature Swing.
Table I-Comfort Fact~rBtu/sf)

Direct Gain
Suns paces and 99
Vented Trombe Walls
Anytown, USA
Worksheet IV: Summer Coolin Performance Level
A. Opaque Surfaces
'\ Radiant Barrier Absorp- Heat Gain
j Heat Loss Factor tance Factor
Description [Worksheet I] [Table J] [Table K] [table L] Load
Q!2i1iDg:!lrQQf:! ~Q X j QQ X Q!lZ X !lZQ = !2!2~

lZ X j QQ X Q!I:Z X !lZQ = ~Z!2
X X X =
W§II:! !lQ X na QZQ X 2!2~ = Z~!2
X na X =
OQQ[:! ~fi X na Q~Q X 2!2~ = 2a
jaQ~ kBtu/yr
Total
B. Non-solar Glazing
Rough Frame Net Area Shade Factor Heat Gain
t!/Q[tb !:al~:!:! !lQ X 0.80 X Q!2Z X ~ZQ = ~~fi

X 0.80 X X =
ESI:!t !:a lSi:!:! !2 X 0.80 X QaQ X !2a ~ = ~~j
X 0.80 X X =
W!2:!t!:aI~:!:! !2 X 0.80 X QaQ X Z~2 = ~fij
X 0.80 X X =
Slsllligbt:! X 0.80 X X =
X 0.80 X X =
j!2ZZ kBtu/yr
Total
C. Solar Glazing
Solar System Rough Frame Net Area Shade Factor Heat Gain
\ Description Area Factor [Table M] Factor [Table L] Load
)
Oi[!2Qt !:a~iD aa X 0.80 X Qa~ X fifiQ = ~2g
X 0.80 X X =
StQ[~g!2 llll~lI~ X 0.80 X X
X 0.80 X X =
S!.ID:!J2~Q!2 2Qa X 0.80 X Qa~ X j22 = j!2afi
X 0.80 X X =
!la~~ kBtu/yr
Total
D. Internal Gain
22fiQ +( ~!lQ X ~ = fiQZQ kBtu/yr
Constant Variable Number of
Component Component Bedrooms
[Table N] [Table N]
E. Cooling Load per Square Foot
1,000 X j~ !I!I~ + jfiQ!I a~!l2 Btu/yr-sf
(A+B+C+D) Floor Area
F. Adjustment for Thermal Mass and Ventilation
No night vent with no ceiling fan Z~!2 Btu/yr-sf
[Table 0]
G. Cooling Performance Level
a2Q!2 Btu/yr-sf
(E -F)
H. Comparison Cooling Performance (From Previous Calculation or from Table P)
9Z!2!2 Btu/yr-sf
Com are Line G to Line H
Anytown, USA
78 SUMMER COOLING PERFORMANCE LEVEL
Worksheet IV: Table J-Radiant Barrier Factors

Radiant Barrier
The heat loss from each of
Summer Cooling No Radiant Barrier .0 these elements is carried over
Performance Level from Worksheet I. Note that the
Worksheet IV is used to Table K-Solar Absorptances door heat loss is reduced by half .
Color Absorptance
calculate the summer cooling Gloss White
since one of the two doors does
performance level. This is the
heat that would need to be
removed from the bUilding by an
Semi-gloss White
Light Green
Kelly Green
Medium Blue
Medium Yellow
I 0.51
0.57
not receive sunlight. The
proposed building does not have
a radiant barrier in the attic, so
air conditioner in order to Medium Orange 0.5B the radiant barrier factor is 1.00.
Medium Green 0.59
maintain comfort during the Light Buff Brick 0.60 Absorptances are selected based
Bare Concrete
summer.
The worksheet accounts for
Red Brick
Medium Red
Medium Brown
~ 0.B4
on the exterior building colors
and the heat gain factors are
four sources of cooling load: Dark Blue-Grey O.BB from Table L.
Dark Brown O.BB
opaque surfaces exposed to the
sun, non-solar windows, passive Step B. Non-solar Glazing
solar systems, and internal gain. Ceiling/roofs Cooling load associated with the
Walls and Doors
These loads are then adjusted to North Glass windows that do not face south,
East Glass
account for ventilation and West Glass i.e. those that are not part of one
Skylights of the solar systems, is
thermal mass .. Direct Gain Glazing
Trombe Walls and calculated by multiplying the
Water Walls
Step A. Opaque Surfaces Sunspaces surface area in each orientation
SSAl 39.3
Not all opaque surfaces times the net area factor, a
.~
SSBl
contribute to the cooling load of SSCl shade factor (from Table M) and
SSDl
the building: only those surfaces SSEl 39.3 a heat gain factor (from Table L).
exposed to sunlight In the example building, four This calculation gives the
(ceilings/roofs and walls) are lines of the table are completed, annual cooling load for each )
included in the calculation. For two for the ceiling/roof types, non-solar glazed surface. The
each ceiling and wall surface one for the exterior walls with total for the building is the sum
listed on Worksheet I and brick veneer and one for the of the cooling load for each
exposed to the sun, the heat entrance door. The wall that surface.
loss should be carried over to separates the house from the
Table M-Shading Factors
this worksheet along with a garage and the door in this wall Projection
21
~9'
consistent description. This are not included, since they are Factor South st North
0.00 ~ . 1.00 .
heat loss is then multiplied by a not exposed to sunlight. 0.20 . .93 ~ .93 . 4I1o,~
0.40 . 3 0.B1 1 O.Bl • c;1JC7
radiant barrier factor when 0.60 0.49 0.71 0.7 '67 0.6B
O.BO 0.35 0.60 0.6f 0.56
appropriate (from Table J), the 1.00 0.30 0.50 0.54 0.45
absorptance (from Table K) and 1.20 0.24 0.40 0.46 0.3B
a heat gain factor (from Table L). -... Multiply by O.B for low-e glass, 0.7 for tinted glass
and 0.6 for low-e tinted Qlass.
The end product of this
The rough frame area is
calculation is an estimate of the
generally entered in the table
annual cooling load that is
and adjusted by the net area
associated with each suIface in
factor. If the net glazing area is
thousands of Btu per year
entered instead, then the net
(kBtu/yr).
area factor is 1.00.
Anytown, USA
Table M gives the shade If the example building had Step C. Solar Glazing
factor for overhangs. The tinted glazing. glazing films or The solar systems addressed on
overhang shade factor depends external shading devices. the Worksheet II reduce heating
on the orientation of the window shade factors from Table M energy. but they also can
and the projection factor. The should not be used. Sunscreen increase cooling energy. The
proj ection factor is the overhang and glass manufacturers cooling energy impact of the
projection divided by the usually rate the shading effect of solar systems is calculated in
distance from the bottom of the their devices by publishing a this step. Each solar system
window to the bottom of the shading coefficient. The listed on Worksheet II should be
overhang. as illustrated below. shading coefficient is a number carried over to this worksheet.
between zero and one that The cooling energy for each
A indicates how much solar heat system is calculated by
makes it through the window multiplying the total surface
compared to an unshaded 1/8 area (not the projected area)
inch clear pane. This shading times the net area factor. the
coefficient may be used in the appropriate shade factor (as
calculation instead of the value discussed above) and a heat
from Table M. gain factor (from Table L). This
The overhang on the east calculation gives the annual
and west is at the eave. well cooling load for each passive
above the window. and does not solar system.
Overhang Projection Factor provide any useful shading. For A shade factor of 0.83 is
The projection factor is the overhang
projection divided by the distance between the
these windows. the shade factor used because of south
bottom of the window and the bottom of the is 1.00. overhangs. This is based on a
overhang. Each glazing area is projection factor of about 0.2 as
\ The north windows have a multiplied by the net area factor discussed above.
height of four feet and the and the appropriate shade The annual cooling load
bottom of the overhang is about factor. The products are associated with all the passive
six inches above the window summed at the bottom of the solar systems is summed at the
head. The overhang projection table. bottom of the table.
is 1.5 feet. The projection factor
is calculated by dividing the
overhang projection by the
distance from the bottom of the
window to the bottom of the
overhang. This is about 0.33. A
shade factor of 0.84 is used in
the calculations. which is
interpolated between the values
for a projection factor of 0.2 and
0.4
Anytown, USA
80 SUMMER COOLING PERFORMANCE LEVEL
Step D. Internal Gains Step F. Adjustment for Step G. Cooling

The last component of cooling Thermal Mass and Ventilation Performance Level
load is from internal gain. The total cooling load calculated The summer cooling \
Internal gain is heat given off by in Step E is adjusted in this step performance level is calculated' )
lights, appliances and people. to account for the effects of by subtracting the adjustment
Some of the cooling load thermal mass and ventilation. in Step F from the cooling load
associated with internal gain is The adjustment depends on per square foot calculated in
considered to be constant for all the total heat capacity per Step E. This is an estimate of
houses regardless of the number square foot calculated on the amount of heat that must be
of bedrooms or size. This is Worksheet III, Step E, but also removed from the building each
because all houses have a depends on whether or not the year by the air conditioner.
refrigerator and at least one building has night ventilation or
occupant. Another component ceiling fans. The adjustment is Step H. Comparison Cooling
of cooling load from internal entered in the blank in Step F. Performance
gain is considered to be variable The cooling performance level
Table 0-Thermal Mass and Ventilation for the proposed design may be
and depends on the number of Adjustment (Btu/yr-sf)
bedrooms. These components Total Heat Night Night No Night No Night compared to the base case
Capacity Vent wI Vent wI No Vent wI Vent wI N
are accounted for separately in per SF Ceil. Fan Ceil. Fan Ceil. Fan Ceil. Fan cooling performance level for the
0.0 4,250 400 2,320 -1,600
the calculation. 1.0 5,550 1,480 3,620 -520 area, given in Table P.
2.0 6,240 2,080 4,310 080
Both the constant 3.0 6,610 2,420 4,680 410
component and the variable 6,800 2,600 4,8 600
component are taken from Table

N. The variable component is
dP .
6.0
.
8.0
9.0
6,910
6,960
6,990
7,010
7,010
2,700
2,760
2,790
2,810
2,820
,0
5,0
, 60
5,080
5,080
700
760
790
810
820
Alternatively, the cooling
performance level may be
multiplied by the number of 10.0 7,020 2,820 5,090 820
bedrooms in the house and compared to other building
Total heat capacity per square foot is calculated on
added to the constant Worksheet III Ste E. designs conSidered by the )
component to yield the total The example building has a builder to be typical of the area.
cooling load from internal gain. total heat capacity per square In this case, the worksheets
foot of 5.6. It has neither night would first be completed for the
ventilation nor ceiling fans. typical design and the results of
Constant Component
Variable Component Night ventilation is a these calculations would be
building operation strategy entered in Step H.
Step E. Cooling Load per where windows are opened at If the cooling performance
Square Foot night when the air is cooler. level of the proposed building
This step sums the cooling load The cool night air allows heat to (Step G) is greater than the base
associated with opaque escape from the thermal mass case or typical-design
surfaces, non-solar glazing, elements in the building. The conservation performance level,
passive solar systems and cooler thermal mass elements the designer should conSider
internal gain (Steps A, B, C and help keep the building measures to reduce the cooling
D). The sum is then divided by comfortable the following day performance leveL Such
the floor area of the building when air temperatures rise. measures might include
and multiplied by 1,000 to reducing non-solar glass,
convert the cooling energy into providing additional shading or
terms consistent with the base increasing thermal mass.
case cooling performance.
Anytown, USA
Passive Solar
Design Strategies
APPENDIX

With Support From:
Passive Solar: a whole building design Suntempering: an increase of south-
Glossary and construction techniques which help facing glass to about 7 percent of a total
a building make use of solar energy by floor area, without additional thermal
non-mechanical means. as opposed to mass beyond the "free" mass already in a
active solar techniques which use typical house -- gypsum wall board,
Auxiliary Heating System: a tenn for equipment such as roof-top collectors. framing. conventional furnishings and
the system (gas. electric. oil. etc.) which floor coverings.
provides the non-solar portion of the
Phase-Change Materials: materials such
house's heating energy needs, referred to
as salts or waxes which store and release Temperature Swing: a measure of the
as the "auxilary heat."
energy by changing "phase". Most store number of degrees the temperature in a
energy when they turn liquid at a certain space will vaty during the course of a
British Thermal Unit (Btu): a unit used temperature and release energy when sunny winter day without the furnace
to measure heat. One Btu is about equal they turn solid at a certain temperature: operating; an indicator of the amount of
to the heat released from burning one some remain solid but undergo chemical thermal mass in the passive solar
kitchen match. changes which store and release energy. system.
Phase change materials can be used as
Conservation: in addition to energy thermal mass, but few products are Thermal Mass: material that stores
conservation in the general sense, the commerCially available at this time .. energy. although mass will also retain
tenn is used to refer to the non-solar. coolness. The thennal storage capacity
energy-saving measures in a house Purchased Energy: although the terms of a material is a measure of the
which are primarily involved with are often used interchangably. a house's material's ability to absorb and store
improving the building envelope to guard "purchased energy" is generally greater heat. Thermal mass in passive solar
against heat loss -- the insulation, and than its "auxilaIy heat" because heating buildings is usually dense material such
air infIltration reduction measures. as brick or concrete masonty. but can
systems are seldom 100% efficient. and
more energy is purchased than is also be tile. water. phase change
Direct Gain: a passive solar energy actually delivered to the house. materials. etc.
system in which the sunlight falls
directly into the space where it is stored R-Value: a unit that measures the Thermal Storage Wall: a passive solar
and used. resistance to heat flow through a given energy system also sometimes called
material. The higher the R-value. the Trombe Wall or indirect gain system; a
Glazing: often used interchangeably with better insulating capability the material south-facing glazed wall. usually made of
window or glass. the tenn actually refers has. The R-value is the reciprocal of the masooty but can also be made of
to specifically just to the clear material U-factor. containers of water.
which admits sunlight, and so can also
be plastic. Double and triple glazing Radiant Barrier: reflective material used Trombe Wall: a thermal storage wall,
refer to two or three panes. in hot climates to block radiant heat. referred to by the name of its inventor.
particularly in a house's roof. Dr. Felix Trombe.
Indirect Gain: a passive solar system in
which the sunlight falls onto thermal Shading Coefficient: a measure of how U-Factor: a unit representing the heat
mass which is positioned between the much solar heat will be transmitted by a loss per square foot of smface area per
glazing and the space to be heated. i.e. a glazing material. as compared to a single degree OF of temperature difference (see
Thermal Storage Wall or Trombe Wall. pane of clear uncoated glass. which has R-value above).
a shading coefficient (SC) of 1. For
Low-Emissivity: the term refers to a example. clear double-pane glass might
surface's ability to absorb and re-radiate have an SC in the range of .88.
heat. A material with a low emissivity Reflective glass might have SC's of .03-
absorbs and re-radiates relatively small .06. In general. lower shading
amounts of heat. Low-emissivity or "low- coefficients are desirable when heat gain
e" glass sandwiches a thin layer of is a problem.
metallic film or coating between two
panes of glass. The low-e glass blocks Sunspace: passive solar energy system
radiant heat. so it will tend to keep heat
sometimes also referred to as an isolated
energy inside the house during the
gain system, where sunlight is collected
winter. and keep heat energy outside the
and stored in a space separate from the
house dming the summer. living space. and must be transferred
there either by natural convection or by
fans.
82 SUMMARY FOR BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Example Tables
Examples of Heat Energy Savings Examples of Heat Energy Savings

Added Insulation Passive Solar-Direct Gain
1,500 sf Single Story House 1,500 sf Single Story House
Base Base
Case 20% 40% 60% Case 20% 40% 60%
R-values R-values
Walls Ceiling/Roof 29 33 40 55
17 21 27 42
Basement Wall Walls 17 19 23 34
5 7 10 19
Glass Basement Wall 5 6 7 14
1.8 1.8 2.7 3.3
Glass 1.8 1.8 2.7 3.3
Air Changes/Hour 0.50 0.40 0.38 0.36
Air Changes/Hour 0.50 0.41 0.35 0.37
West 3.0% 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
West 3.0% 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
North 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
North 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
East 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
East 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
South 3.0% 3.0% 3.0% 3.0%
South 3.0% 7.6% 9.3% 12.0%
Added Thermal Mass
.5% 6% 7% 10%
Percent of Floor Area 0.0% 3.3% 13.7% 30.0%
Performance (Btulyr-sf)
Conservation Solar System Size (square feet)
42,138 35,122 26,984 18,745
South Glass 45 113 139 180
Auxiliary Heat 40,206 32,903 24,845 16,789
Coolinq Added Thermal Mass 0 49 206 450
6470 2949 1 511 800
5% 13% 17% 26%
Conservation 42,138 37,781 30,228 22,883
Auxiliary Heat 40,206 32,868 24,822 16,740
Examples of Heat Energy Savings Cooling 6,470 4,258 3,306 3,349
Suntempered
1,500 sf Single Story House Summary: Insulation and tightness have been increased. South-
facing glazing has been substantially increased. For these
Base examples, added mass area is assumed to be six times the added
Case 20% 40% 60% south olass area. '."
R-Values
Walls 17 20 25 37
Basement Wall 5 6 8 16
Glass 1.8 1.8 2.7 3.3
Air ChangesIHour 0.50 0.41 0.37 0.35

West 3.0% 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
North 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
East 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
South 3.0% 6.7% 6.7% 6.7%
Solar System Size (square feet)

South Glass 45 100 100 100

5% 11% 14% 18%
Conservation 42,138 37,315 28,927 20,633
Auxiliary Heat 40,206 32,878 24,831 16,769
Cooling 6,470 3,963 2,445 1,694
Summary: Insulation values and tightness of the house (as

measured in ACH) have been increased. The window area has been
slightly decreased on the west, increased slightly on the east and
north, and increased significantly on the south.
C tE:
Examples of Heat Energy Savings Examples of Heat Energy Savings
Passive Solar-Sunspace Passive Solar-Thermal Storage Wall
1,500 sf Single Story House 1,500 sf Single Story House
Base Base
Case 20% 40% 60% Case 20% 40% 60%
R-Values R-Values
Ceiling/Roof 29 30 38 50 Ceiling/Roof 29 32 37 45
Walls 17 17 23 31 Walls 17 19 23 28
Basement Wall 5 5 8 12 Basement Wall 5 6 8 10
Glass 1.8 1.8 1.8 2.7 Glass 1.8 1.8 1.8 2.7
Air Changes/Hour 050 0.43 0.36 0.37 Air ChangesJHour 0.50 0.49 0.37 0.36
Glass Area (percent of total floor area) Glass Area (percent of total floor area)
West 3.0% 2.0% 2.0% 2.0% West 3.0% 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
North 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0% North 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
East 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0% East 3.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%
South (windows) 3.0% 3.0% 3.0% 3.0% South 3.0% 3.0% 3.0% 3.0%
Sunspace 0.0% 6.4% 9.0% 13.0% Thermal Storage Wall 0.0% 7.3% 11.3% 17.0%
Solar System Size (square feet) Solar System Size (square feet)
South Glass 45 45 45 45 South Glass 45 45 45 45
Sunspace Glass 0 95 134 195 Thermal Storage Wall 0 109 169 255
Suns pace Thermal Mass 0 286 403 586
Percent Solar Savings 5% 17% 27% 40%
5% 19% 25% 35%
Performance (Btulyr-sf) Conservation 42,138 40,081 34,016 27,893
Conservation 42,138 40,726 33,376 25,901 Auxiliary Heat 40,206 32,907 24,796 16,695
Auxiliary Heat 40,206 32,859 24,778 16,677 Cooling 6,470 3,374 2,026 1,632
Cooling 6,470 4,275 3,080 2,997
. Summary: In the case of a Thermal Storage Wall, south-facing
Summary: Insulation (for the 40 and 60% savings) and tightness glazing and thermal mass are incorporated together. The estimates
have been increased. North and east-facing glazing have been here assume a 12-inch thick concrete Thermal Storage Wall with a
increased slightly. The sunspace assumed here i~ .semi-enclosed selective surface and single glazing.
(surrounded on three sides by conditioned rooms of the house, as in
Figure SSC1 of the worksheets), with vertical south glazing. The
common wall is a thermal mass wall made of masonry. Sunspace
glazing is assumed to be double.
Cooling Potential
Basecase 6,470 Btu/yr-sf

Energy
Savings Percent
Strategy (Btulyr-sf) Savings
No Night Ventilation 1
without ceiling fans 0 0%
with ceiling fans 2,120 33
Night Ventilation 1
without ceiling fans 920 14
with ceiling fans 2,510 39
High Mass2
without ceiling fans 300 5
with ceiling fans 290 4
1 With night ventilation, the house is ventilated at night when

temperature and humidity conditions are favorable.
2A "high mass" building is one with':~.thermal mass area. a! lea.st

eaual to the house floor area.
84 TECHNICAL BASIS
Annual Heat Loss Central Ave. Unit B-1. Boulder. CO

Technical Basis for '80301.
(Worksheet 1)
the Builder 2. J. Douglas Balcomb. Robert W. Jones.
The heat-loss calculation is based on a
Guidelines' straightforward summation of the
Robert D. McFarland. and William O.
Wray. Passive Solar Heating Analysis.
traditional elements that make up the American Society of Heating.
building heat-loss coefficient (excluding Refrigerating. and Air-Conditioning
the solar components). The worksheet Engineers. 1984. Available from
How the Builder procedure estimates the annual heat loss ASHRAE. 1719 Tullie Circle. NE. Atlanta.
Guidelines Were by mUltiplying the heat-loss coefficient GA 30329.
by annual degree days (times 24 to
Produced convert from days to hours). Degree days
3. J. Douglas Balcomb and William O.
for each month were determined using
Wray. Passive Solar Heating Analysis,
The text of the Builder Guidelines book is an appropriate base temperature that
Supplement One, Thermal Mass Effects
generated by merging two computer files. accounts for an assumed thermostat
and Additional SLR Correlations.
The first is a word-processor file setting of 70 degrees. an assumed
American Society of Heating.
containing the text; it does not change internal heat generation of 36 Btu/day
Refrigerating. and Air-Conditioning
from location to location. The second per sq ft of floor area. and the total
Engineers. 1987. See ASHRAE address
contains numbers and text and is building loss coefficient. This forms. the
above.
location dependent. This second file is basis of the table of heating degree day
produced by running a computer multipliers. The result of the worksheet
program that calculates performance is an estimate of the annual heat Temperature Swing
numbers based on long-term monthly required to maintain comfort. excluding
weather and solar data compiled by the both positive and negative effects (Wo,.ksheet III)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric resulting from the solar components. In
Administration for a particular location. this estimate. no solar heating credit is The temperature swing estimate on
The merge operation slots the numbers given to east, west, and north windows. worksheet III is based on the diurnal
and text in the second file into their because it is assumed that these will be heat capacity (dhc) method (reference 3).
correct locations in the first file. This is protected by vegetation or other shading The method is an analytic procedure in
then laser printed to produce the in accordance with the Builder Guideline which the total heat stored in the
camera-ready manuscript. recommendations. This is a conservative building during one day is estimated by
assumption because there will always be summing the effective heat storage
some solar gain through these windows. potential of the all the various materials
More than a Decade of in the building for a 24-hour periodic
Experience Annual Auxiliary Heat
cycle of solar input. Rooms with direct
gain are assumed to have radiative
The concentrated effort of research. (Worksheet II) coupling of the solar heat to the mass.
Rooms connected to rooms with direct
design. construction. monitoring. and gain are assumed to have convective
evaluation of actual buildings that The tables of passive solar savings coupling. which is rather less effective.
started at the First Passive Solar fractions are calculated using the solar especially for massive elements. The dhc
Conference in Albuquerque in 1976 has load ratio (SLR) method (references 1 and of the sheetrock. framing. and furniture
continued up to the present. It is 2). Monthly solar savings fraction (SSF)
is approximated as 4.5 or 4.7 Btu/OF per
estimated that more than 200.000 values are determined using cOlTelation
sq ft of floor area. Worksheet Tables HI
passive solar homes have been built in fits to the results of hourly computer
and H2 list the increased value of diurnal
the United States during this time. This simulation calculations for a variety of
heat capacity for various conventional
wealth of experience has been reviewed climates. These 12 values are converted
materials that are often used to provide
by NREL. the Technical Committee of into an annual value and entered into
extra heat storage. assuming these
PSIC. and by the Standing Committee on worksheet Tables FI-F4. The SLR method
materials replace sheetrock.
Energy of the National Association of gives answers that agree within about
Home Builders and is distilled into these 5% of the hourly computer simulations
Guidelines. and within 11 % of the measured passive
solar performance of 55 buildings
monitored under the Solar Buildings
Analysis Procedures Program. The SSF estimat~s account ; ,
properly for both solar gains and heat
j.
The analysis procedures used throughout losses through the solar aperture and.
the Guidelines were developed using thus. correct for omitting the solar
Jf I h:'
simple. well-established methods for components from the calculation of
estimating the performance of passive annual heat loss.
solar heating and natural cooling
strategies. These procedures (described 1. J. Douglas Balcomb. Robert W. JO\1es.
below) were developed at the Los Alamos Robert D .. McFarland. and WiUiam O.
National Laboratory with funding from Wray. "ExpWlding the SLR Method".
the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Passive Solar Journal. Vol. 1. No,. 2.
Buildings Program. See the references for 1982. pp. 67-90. Available from the
more information. American Solar Energy Society. 2400
The only numbers in worksheet III temperature is less than 62 OF. This Getting Data
that are location dependent are the restriction avoids ventilation when high
comfort factors. taken from Table I. The humidity might cause discomfort
direct-gain comfort factor is 61 % of the Heating and cooling degree-day data can
solar gain transmitted through vertical. be obtained from the National Climatic
4. Robert D. McFarland and Gloria Center. Asheville. NC. Refer to
south-facing double glazing on a clear
Lazarus. Monthly Auxiliary Cooling Climatography of the United States No.
January day. The driving effect of
Estimation for Residential BuildingS. 81 which lists monthly normals for the
sunspaces and vented Trombe walls is
lA-11394-MS. Los Alamos National period 1951-1980 on a state-by-state
assumed to result in one-third this value.
Laboratory. NM 87545. 1989. basis. More than 2400 locations are
based on data from monitored buildings.
listed in this data base.
The origin of the 61 % factor is described
in the references. Notfor Sizing Equipment
Annual Auxiliary Cooling All heating and cooling values given in
the Builder Guidelines Tables and
(Worksheet IV} numbers calculated using the worksheets
are fOl' armual heat delivered or removed
The purpose of including the summer by the mechanical heating or cooling
cooling estimates in the Builder systtlm: You carmot directly use these
Guidelines is to (1) determine if design numbers for sizing the capacity of this
elements added to promote passive solar equipment. The methods developed by
heating will cause excessive summer " the American Society of Heating.
cooling loads and (2) provide a roqgh Refrigerating. and Air Conditioning
estimate of the effectiveness of solar Engineers for sizing eqUipment are well-
shading and natural cooling strategies. established and are recommended. The
The analysis method is based on a purpose of the gUidance proVided in
modified monthly degree-day procedure these booklets is to minimize the
in which the day is divided into day and operating time and resources consumed
night periods (reference 4). All estimates by this equipment.
are derived from correlations based on
hourly computer simulations. Solar.
conduction. and internal gains are Using the Worksheets in
estimated for each half-day period in Nearby Locations
each month. Delay factors are used to
account for heat carryover from day to
The aooycability9fworksheets I and II
night and night to day. The results are
can be extended somewhat by using the
estimates of annual sensible cooling .
base-65 OF degree-day value for a site
delivered by the air conditioner and do' .
which is close to the location for which
not include latent loads.
the worksheet tables were generated. We
Because the the original Los Alamos
recommend limiting such applications to
monthly procedure is too complex to be
sites where the annual heating degree-
implemented in a worksheet. a Simplified
days are within plus or minus 10% of the
procedure is adopted on worksheet IV.
parent location and where it is
Heat Gain Factors and Internal Gain
reasonable to assume that the solar
Factors in Tables L and N are the
radiation is about the same as in the
calculated annual incremental cooling
parent location. The procedure is simple:
loads resulting from a one-unit
incremental change in the respective Use the measured base-65 OF degree-day
heat input parameter (that is. a one-unit value in worksheet I. line F. instead of
change in UA, glazing area. or number of the degree-day value for the parent
bedrooms). The combined heat load locatiO!l,
resulting ii'om all inputs is summed and Worksheet III depends only slightly
then adjusted for thermal mass and on location. The only variables are the
ventilation. This con'ection includes a Comfort Factors in Table I. which only
constant required to match the change with latitude. Thus. this
calculated cooling load of the base-case worksheet can be used anywhere within
building. This linearized procedure gives 4 degrees of latitude of the parent
location. ·1
accurate estimates for cooling loads that
are less than about 150% of the base- The cooling estimate obtained ii'om
case building; however. it underestimates worksheet IV is specitlc to the location.
.,,\
velY large cooling loads in poorly Within the same vicinity and within plus
designed buildings. or minus 20%; the result could be
The adjustment factors for adjusted. based on a ratio of cooling
ventilation properly accmmt for' degree days. However. this adjustment is
maintaining comfort in hot and humid not done automatically within the
climates. Ventilation is restIicted to worksheet.
times when the outside dew-point
Boston, Ma~sa:chusetts

Passive Solar Design Strategies - Guidelines For Home Building

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Passive Solar Design Strategies - Guidelines For Home Building

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Passive Solar

Passive Solar Industries Council

Passive Solar Industrtes Council

This climate presents a challenge for passive solar

The general guidelines are applicable within 25-30

Part One. Introduction ... ................................................................................................. 1

Part Two. Basics of Passive Solar ............................................................................... 7

Part Three. Strategies for Improving Energy Performance

Passive Solar Industries Council

Part One: Introduction

2. Passive Solar Performance Potential

1. The Passive Solar Passive Solar Design BuilderGuide

Performance Potential of Passive Solar Strategies

Base Case 4.6 not applicable

Direct Gain (145 sf of south glass)

Sunspace (145 sf of south glass)

Thermal Storage Wall - Masonry/Concrete

Thermal Storage Wall - Water Wall

Part Two: Basics of Passive Solar

2. Key Concepts: Energy Conservation, Sun tempering,

3. Improving Conservation Performance

8. Site Planning for Solar Access

9. Interior Space Planning

10. Putting it Together: The House as a System

3. Improving The thermal resistance of Slab edge insulation should

./ Seal seams in exterior sheathing.

Non-Solar Glazing R-values that result from be balanced against the

6. Thermal Mass The thermal storage The design issues related to

7. Orientation When glazing is oriented In the ideal situation, the

8. Site Planning for situation for providing

9. Interior Space Another general principle is 10. Putting it

Part Three: Strategies for

5. Thermal Storage Wall

7. Natural Cooling Guidelines

1. The Example • Three numbers The R-values indicated in

• Start with a direct gain glass well. ~

every 5.5 sf of uncovered. sunlit 0

Examples of Heat Energy Savings

Air Changes/Hour 0.50 0.41 0.35 0.37

Glass Area (percent of total floor area)

Added Thermal Mass

Solar System Size (square feet)

Percent Solar Savings

Summary: Insulation and tightness have been increased. South-facing

Summer Overheating Common Wall Some solar energy may be

5. Thermal Storage Selective Suifaces

6. Combined Syste·ms 7. Natural Cooling Fortunately, many of the

Glazing and so they may interfere with

A combination of carefully sized Ceiling Fans

Passive Solar Industries Council

General Pro· ect Information

A. Envelope Heat Loss

C. Infiltration Heat Loss

D. Total Heat Loss per Square Foot

E. Conservation Performance Level

F. Comparison Conservation Performance (From Previous Calculation or from Table 0)

Worksheet II: Auxili Heat Performance Level

B. Load Collector Ratio

C. Solar Savings Fraction

D. Auxiliary Heat Performance Level

E. Comparative Auxiliary Heat Performance (From Previous Calculation or from Table G)

• Compare Line D to Line E

Worksheet HI: Thermal Mass/Comfort