Solar seems to be one of the key hot topics for home design these days, and if we ignore solar energy during the build design of a home it is possible to have a building which will benefit from solar energy and it just also possible the home or building will not benefit and in fact take abuse from solar energy. Passive solar is a key way to design and assist with lowering your utility bills, and this leads to comfort.
Some guidelines that I have found are from research and others from practical applications, others are from trial and error. In fact some findings have been published that were learned from early adaption’s all the way back to people that lived in caves and more currently from studies that are created by computer studies.
During the home design a key element if possible is to have the longest wall of the house facing south. Since the sun rises in the South East and sets in the South West, having a lot of glass on the South wall the home will receive solar energy. This can also have the exact opposite effect in homes in very warm climates; you would create too much heat and require cooling. This would need to be discussed with someone familiar with building efficient ‘green’ homes. The amount of glass that is required seems to be around seven percent of the total square footage. It is recommended that to avoid over heating, this amount should not be exceeded. The 7% number appears to apply to homes that have more traditional floor coverings like vinyl tile, wood and carpeting. If the home has more than 7% of glass coverage, then in order to compensate you would need more items that dissipate thermal temps such as concrete or tile floors and rock or brick walls.
It is also recommended that the North and East facing walls should have no more the four percent of the total square feet and that Walls facing West should not be greater than 2 percent. Outside plants can play an important role. If possible deciduous or evergreen should be located on the north, east and west sides of the home. Another worthy note is to avoid dark colors on the inside and on the outside.
Insulation is very key. During the build phase the recommended R’s are as follows: For the polystyrene panels they should be R5 for moderate climates and R10 for colder. In moderate climates standard 2x4 Frame with R13 and for colder climates use 2x6 Framing with R19. Spray in style cellulose insulation should be sued when possible as it fills in the gaps and open points and will reduce air passage. In the attic or roof area install insulation rated to R30 with the preferred method being the blown in style for moderate climates. For colder climates this number can be increased to R38 or even as high as R50. When sealing the walls you should use cans of expanding foam insulation or a caulk to seal all plumbing and electrical cutouts and also around windows and doors. All duct work should be taped and sealed and if possible ducts should be installed in the interior so that no heat or cold is lost in the attic area. When installing doors try to use steel of fiberglass insulated doors that have an R value of 5 or higher. Try to locate windows and doors to take advantage of breezes. And finally the use of ceiling fans can reduce the amount of time that you need to run your a/c units.
Always check with your local architect to make sure your designs work with the local environment
Information provided by Steve Aubin REALTOR
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Date: 2008-05-12 09:41:39
Eric Olson
I think the green homes are going to be hot in the next few years. Gas prices are going up, food prices are higher than ever and utilities are following. Having control over your monthly expenses is an excellent way to not only help your pocket book but also stabilize future costs associated with home ownership. http://buyorsellaustinhomes.com