Is Passive Solar A Viable Home Heating Option In Cold Areas
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Is Passive Solar a Viable Home Heating Option in Cold Areas?
Summary:
Passive solar heating uses the sun's energy to warm homes, offering a cost-effective solution once a solar-friendly design is in place. However, its effectiveness in colder climates depends on proper implementation and expectations.
Article Body:
Passive solar heating harnesses the sun's energy to warm homes, making it a cost-effective solution once the appropriate design is in place. But is it viable in cold climates?
While passive solar can be used in colder regions, it’s essential to have realistic expectations. The main challenge isn't just the cold, but the limited sunlight your property might receive. Homes with only four or five hours of direct sunlight per day are unlikely to generate enough energy for consistent warmth.
Passive solar design is popular in milder climates because it provides a nearly free heating solution. Strategies include orienting the home for optimal sunlight and using large windows on the south-facing wall. However, in colder areas, large windows can lead to significant heat loss, unless they are of high quality.
To make passive solar work in winter, two main strategies can be employed: Trombe walls and greenhouse designs.
Trombe Walls:
Trombe walls are effective in converting sunlight into heat while adding aesthetic appeal. Typically ranging from 8 to 12 feet on a south-facing wall, they need to be larger in colder areas?"potentially spanning the full length of the home based on an energy analysis. An energy audit can provide precise guidance.
A crucial aspect of Trombe wall design is managing heat retention. As sunlight heats the wall's masonry through the glass, there’s a risk of losing warmth back through the glass. This can be mitigated by creating an air circulation system that moves the heated air to a secondary space behind the wall, possibly a designated room, using a timer-controlled system similar to those in solar water heaters. This method helps prevent heat escape.
Greenhouse Design:
The greenhouse method involves constructing an insulated sunspace to collect and store heat during the day. Despite cold temperatures, even minimal sunlight can generate significant warmth. The challenge is retaining this heat. Since sunlight enters through transparent surfaces, there’s a risk of heat loss. The optimal solution is to use a controlled timer to transfer the warm air into the home once desired temperatures are reached, though this isn’t highly efficient.
Alternative Solution:
In very cold areas, biomass heating can be an alternative. Corn-burning furnaces, for instance, offer a cost-effective solution and are becoming increasingly popular. They provide a reliable and economical heating option, which might be a more practical choice in extremely cold conditions.
In conclusion, while passive solar is an attractive option, its success in cold climates requires thoughtful design and execution. Meanwhile, biomass heating remains a reliable alternative.
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