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Posted by Kris Krieger on April 8, 2008, 3:13 pm
>
>
>
>> :
>>
>>>> I'm not sure whatehr this is a Q. for here, or the Building
>>>> Construction NG.
>>>>
>>>> What I started wondering about was this:
>>>>
>>>> It's often said that Thermal Mass, esp. high-mass in the walls, is
>>>> one of the best passive climate-control/insulation methods. SO
>>>> what I'm wondering is, If one buys an older home, can thermal mass
>>>> be added to the outside? How could that be done - I assume teh
>>>> siding would have to be removed, and "stuff" added to the walls...?
>>>> Is that even possible?
>>>>
>>>> I've been thinking a lot recently about how to get/have/make a
>>>> "green home", and trying to find not only ideas, but "how to" info.
>>>> So, I got that thought about whether thermal mass can be added to
>>>> exterior walls on an already-constructed house.
>>>
>>> Sorta kinda. Thermal mass is used as a heat sink/bank. It warms up
>>> during the day and releases the heat at night. In essence, you're
>>> shifting the diurnal heating cycle out of phase to help regulate the
>>> average temperature.
>>
>> THat's what I'd assumed - but it's always good to have confirmation!
>>
>>> Since you're starting with a completed house - one that has
>>> insulation on the wrong side of your heat bank, it won't be that
>>> effective. A trombe wall is an option in your situation.
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombe_wall You can make smaller
>>> versions that incorporate the existing glazing.
>>
>> INteresting info - I'd never heard the term "tromb wall" (at least,
>> not that I consciously remember, which has the same effect ;) ). I
>> added that to my "Architecture and Building" links, thanks!
>>
>> I'll have to study that.
>>
>>> Penn State's entry at last
>>> year's Solar Decathlon in DC had an operable wall made from recycled
>>> milk bottles.
>>> https://www.eere-pmc.energy.gov/Solar_Decathlon_07/images/10-14/10140
>>> 7- 10.jpg The rolling panels could be moved in front of the window
>>> to absorb the heat, or rolled out of the way if the heat bank wasn't
>>> needed. The Solar Decathlon web site would be a good place to poke
>>> around to see some fairly innovative incorporation of energy
>>> efficient details.
>>>
>>> R
>>>
>>
>> Interesting idea but not very aesthetic. OTOH, I suppose one could
>> use clear plastic tubing in front of the windows, and have the water
>> then create a loop over the house, down, then under, and back. Or
>> maybe not - I'll have to think about that one more.
>>
>> Good information, tho', thanks again :)
>>
>> - K.
>>
>
> Back in the late 70's / early 80's there were several companies
> producing phase changing eutectic salts that would melt upon heating
> in sunlight and store substantial amounts of heat to be released
> slowly during the night. Some were in tall metal or plastic tubes
> about 4" in diameter placed in front of windows, and others could be
> built into window seats and furniture. One installation I saw had the
> hot air ducted into an insulated basement area. The duct could be
> closed during the summer or maybe the system could be reversed? It all
> died when the Regan gvt. pulled out tax breaks for alternative energy.
>
> BTW the State just announced 5 wind turbines to be built to power the
> waste treatment system for Boston. These will be located on the island
> at the end of my town. I look forward to those guys.
> EDS
>
>
>
Very nifty! I googled "eutectic salts" and am going through the info -
Geez, I've learned *two* totally new things today :D
OK, so, why not use something like that as a "translucent view obscuring
window" - IOW, having water in a tube makes it hard for someone to see
into your place, but light still comes through, so why not MFG soemthing
that is a set of vertical cells (glass or maybe better/safer to use Lexan
or Plexiglass) with a circulation tubing connector, fused together into a
unit that could be set into window frames.
((I know what will happen - people I know would tell me I'm stupid for
thinking up *yet another* dumbass idea, and Lo!, in a couple years,
someone else will do it and make money <LOL!>))
SO, here we go:
http://tinyurl.com/5zx5v5
"LATENT HEAT STORAGE MATERIALS AND SYSTEMS:
A REVIEW" - S.D. Sharma and Kazunobu Sagara
I haven't finished reading the whole thing, but they show a diagram of a
system similar to what I described, the main difference (from what I can
so far tell) being that they're not using it as a window. THey show
their tilted, which *would* make it a more efficient solar collector -
OTOH, why does a house exterior *have* to be vertical? A lot fo passive-
solar designs show tilted "glass walls". SO why not make ti a design
feature?
THe *science* for so many of these things exists, it's mostly IMO a
matter of (1) design, (2) aesthetic "stuck-in-the-mud-ism", and (3)
economics. Obviously, there are designers who work with these things to
one degree or another. SO that's not *too* great of a hrudle, I don't
think.
There is the problem of economics, which would improve immensely if
*gov.t* (both federal, and non-federal) chose to change their wasteful
ways.
But mostly, and a far larger hurdle, is that people in general have a
certain view of what they think is and is not "aesthetic". I personally
think that's the largest hurdle.
Anyway, the articles on eutectics look fascinating - thanks for bringing
it up :D !
- K.
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