Sol^Arc Design & Consulting:  Elements Of  Solar Architecture

Calculating the SOLAR ARC

Solar Architecture is composed of several different determining practices. The Solar Arc that the sun travels each day is constantly changing according to the seasons and one's latitude. This arc is mathematically calculated and charted by the solar designer who then can properly configure your house design on your  lot for maximum solar advantage. This is then used to advantage by the solar design and construction of the house envelope. Active systems may be added to enhance the efficiency of the passive structure.

Elements Of Solar Architecture

Energy Envelope

If a building is super Insulated, sealed against air intrusion, site orientation to sun & shade respectively for passive heating and cooling , It may be said to be an energy envelope. This type of a building would also need a method to hold the heat or cold, such as a gravel pit under the slab & air handling system.

Active Collectors

While a building can capture a lot of solar energy for warmth during sunny days;... nights and clouds can become problems. To collect energy more intensely, and with more control, active collectors with pumps and piped handling systems deliver the energy to and from the storage units.

Thermal Mass

When bright sunlight comes in contact with a dark masonry wall it heats up the masonry a little at a time eventually penetrating into the thickest wall. If that wall was added Inside a glass room type enclosure, then the thermal storage wall would be used for Thermal Mass or called a "Trombe Wall".

Compressed/Stabilized Earth Structure

The Oldest and one of the longest lasting building materials yet found on Earth Is, Earth! The most abundant material on the planet. The history of earth building is fascinating. When sufficient cement stabilized earth is compacted into walls that are finished with protective coatings on the outside and protected by roof overhang they tend to last forever providing the perfect shelter that easily incorporates all of the solar principals into a simple house with  thick walls that are warm in winter and cool in summer.

Here are the principals of thermal mass applied totally and directly to the architecture of a house.

Earth Sheltered Or Underground House

Mans very oldest shelter that kept him warm and cool was no doubt a cave because of the year round climate control. To achieve the same results we but have to do an obvious thing, which is build our house under ground. Or we could just build a sunken house with an earthen berm. Thus, a sheltered house with an earth buffer zone of thermal mass to moderate climate changes to the comfort zone for those inside.

Photo Voltaic Array (Solar Electric Collectors)

Free Electricity from the sun to power your house and hi-tech goodies, you may even be able to sell some to your local power company and you get a check in your mail for a change.

Hot Water Heating

The most common use for solar collectors

Computer Controlled Systems Automation

All those valves, switches, vents, controls, sensors, fans , pumps, louvers, gauges, warnings, and other gadgets have to be operated all the time. A perfect job for a computerized robot system operator.

Architectural Glazing & Greenhouse Systems

A building that is designed with many of these principals incorporated into the house design itself, will have large south facing windows or other architectural glazing admitting light directly into the structure for heat absorption and lot of natural light. Indoor plants take on another life. Some form of solar control will be necessary during the summer and at night.

Active Glazing Systems "Smart Glass"

A building that is constructed like a conventional structure and all of the active elements are installed as separate components like separate mechanical devices ="Mechanically Active Systems".

New glazing materials have gone hi-tech & can be lightened or darkened to the extreme as needs change on a minute to minute basis. Some even have built in sensors and do the job themselves, while some will need controllers and monitors.

Desktop and SmartHouse Controllers Are Here

Energy Engineering is the mathematical method used to calculate the amount of energy used as BTU's in the production and shipping of major building materials from raw resource to delivered product. This gives us some Idea of the air and thermal pollution created in the manufacture of houses and other objects. Energy engineering is also done on the house envelope itself for reasons of efficient use of energy for heating, cooling and lighting.

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