ROOF PONDS

WHO FOUND THE IDEA?

• INVENTED BY: Harold Hay in 1973

• Experimented at: SKYTHERM HOUSEE,

Atascadero, California

• Objective: to demonstrate a roof-pond

system that uses water and sun to heat
and cool without electricity.
WHY WATER?

• The scientific properties of

different media are studied, to
come to a conclusion as to which
one is most suitable.
• The main intention being thermal
comfort by passive cooling, the
charts show the performance of
water as most effective.
ROOF PONDS- WHAT ARE THEY?
• The roofpond system: is a passive solar radiation
system

• Consists of motorized retractable insulation

panels, best defined as a hybrid system.

• It can be interactive: manual when at home, and

motorized when owners are away.

• The roof pond concept combines the traditional

functions of a roof with a means of natural
heating and cooling.
ROOF PONDS- HOW DO THEY WORK?
• The key elements of the concept are:
• Use of water for heat storage and as interim heat
sink.
• Thermal coupling of the water with the occupied
spaces.
• Exposure of the water pond to sunshine for
heating.
• Exposure of the water pond to the night sky for
cooling.

• The principal constituents of a roof pond system

are the containers for the water like, metal or
fiberglass tanks, plastic bags, the supporting
structure, and the thermal insulation.
COMPONENTS OF A ROOF POND
HOW DO THEY WORK?

FACTORS AFFECTING THEIR PERFORMANCE

• Meteorological conditions
• Water depth
• Roof deck material
• Thickness of the insulating panel
HOW ARE THEY ENERGY EFFICIENT?
• 19 roof pond cooling and 4 roof pond heating systems were identified.

• The review suggests that in some cases, roof ponds can provide year-round
thermal comfort while reducing demand for active heating and cooling systems.

• Therefore, they can be utilized in efforts towards the goal of carbon–neutral

design.

• Roof ponds with wet gunny bags, shaded roof ponds, ventilated roof ponds, and
roof ponds with movable insulation proved to be more effective relative to other
variants of roof pond cooling systems.

• More focus is on movable insulation systems because of its high efficiency in

maintaining thermal balance.
MOVABLE INSULATION- WHICH MATERIAL DO WE CHOOSE?

• The chart shows a study about different

types of insulation materials and their
efficiency.

• Considering the factors of Condensation

resisitance, Insulation value,
Affordability, Easy of installation,
Durability and Functionability, the
different materials' performances as
experimented had been recorded.

• According to this, Exterior Mechanical

Shutters were concluded and most
efficient.
SO WHERE ARE THEY APPLICABLE?

• Most applicable in regions with Composite

climates, where heat and cold are extreme.

• These are mainly intended to target the high

heating during summers, extreme colds
during winters.

• The benefits of a roof pond are also useful for

the desired mircoclimate during daytime and
night time.
 PERFORMANCE AS PER THE SEASONS

• The diagram explains the key features of a roof pond in two prototypes, using both to explain their
performance during two cycles:
1. Heating cycle during winters
2. Cooling cycle during summers
 HEATING CYCLE: FOR WINTERS

• The image shows two possibilities of roofing: flat and sloped roof.

• This image illustrates the movement of insulation panels with availability of necessary solar
radiation.
• This image illustrates the heat being absorbed by water due to sunlight striking
the surface of the metal decking.
This image illustrates that heat absorbed by the water is transferred into the interior by radiation.
• This ismage illustrates the closing of insulation panels when solar radiation is no longer enough to heat the
interior.
• This image illustrates the heat being retained in the interior throughout the night as the heat of the
water does not escape the space, but stays, hence affecting the interior temperature.
 2. DURING COOLING CYCLE

• During daytime in summers, the insulation panels are closed to reflect the solar radiation from the
water body to prevent it from heating up.
• As water absorbs heat, the hot air from the interior rises up and is siphoned by the water in the roof
pond.
• The air becomes cooler, sinking below into the building.
• In this way, the heat from the building interior is taken by the water and the interiors are maintained
cool.
• During the night, the pond is opened by retracting the insulation panels.
• During this time, the heat is released into the surrounding atmosphere and the water is cooled down,
which is applicable for the next day.