Environmental

Environmental Controls
Controls I/IG
I/IG

Lecture
Lecture 11
11
Passive
Passive Heating
Heating
Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics and
and Active
Active Solar
Solar Panels
Panels
Passive Heating
 Passive Solar Heating
Zoning:

Solar Gain varies

throughout the day

Configure building
in accordance
thermal patterns
and usage needs
 Passive Solar Heating
Three major types:
 Thermal Mass
Creates time lag for
indoor air temperature
changes and reduces
temperature swings

Note: Temperature swings ≥ 13ºF

are not acceptable L: p. 154, F7.6c&d
 Thermal Mass & Insulation
Insulation decreases temperature swings
 Direct Gain System
Heat gain occurs directly in living space

Mass moderates the “greenhouse effect”

L: p. 154 Fig. 7.6a&b

 Direct Gain Sizing Guidelines
Glazing area

L: p.156 T7.7a
 Direct Gain Sizing Guidelines
Thermal Mass

L: p.157, T7.7B
 Direct Gain—Sizing Example
Design a direct gain system with night
insulation for Salt Lake City for a 40’ x 20’
(800 sf) house.

L
 Direct Gain—Sizing Example
Find glazing area

Salt Lake City

800sf x 26%=208sf

L: p.156 T7.7a
 Direct Gain—Sizing Example
Find thermal mass area

208sf x 3=624sf
6” thick

Revise mass
location to
suit design
conditions

L: p.157, T7.7B
 Direct Gain—Sizing Example
Design a direct gain system with night
insulation for Salt Lake City for a 40’ x 20’
(800 sf) house.

If glazing is 8’ tall, how long is the

window?
208sf/8’=26’ long

8’

26’

Note: verify solar

aperture and adjust dimensions accordingly
 Thermal Storage Wall
Commonly known as a “Trombe Wall”

Space between glazing and wall is not

habitable

L: p. 159, F7.9a&b
 Trombe Wall
Provides only a
limited view to
outdoors

Sante Fe, NM
 Trombe Wall Sizing Guidelines
Glazing area

L: p.156, T7.7a
 Trombe Wall Sizing Guidelines
Wall Thickness

L: p.163, T7.10
 Sun Spaces
Sun spaces come in three configurations

L: p.164, F7.12a
 Sun Spaces
Sloped glazing presents
shading and space
problems

L: p.161, F7.14a-c
 Sun Spaces
Sun heat gain
space separated
from living space
by thermal mass
and operable
partitions

L: pp. 164, F.7.12b&c

 Sun Space Overheating
Venting and
insulation may be
needed to prevent
overheating
Upper and lower outside
vents: each should 5% of
glazing area

Upper and lower “common

wall” inside vents should be
≥10% of glazing area

L: p.167, F7.14ab
 Sun Space Sizing Guidelines
Glazing area

Note: convert
sloped glazing
to the vertical
equivalent
L: p.156 T7.7a
 Sun Space Mass Sizing Guidelines

Wall Thickness

L: p.168, T7.14
Photovoltaics and
Solar Panels
 Photovoltaics
Produce high grade energy (electricity)

NREL PV Testing Facility, Golden, CO

Photovoltaics
Can be integrated into
numerous building products

Entrance canopy,
Thoreau Center for
the Environment,
San Francisco, CA

Roof shingles, NREL Testing Facility,

Golden, Co
 Solar Panels
Produce low grade energy (warm/hot water)

Flat Plate Solar Panel, Salt Lake City, UT