Built as a minimalist example
of passive solar design, the cabin consists of prefabricated parts of locally sourced, red pine wood that have been cut - to - measure offsite and were then assembled on - site.
Though there might be a growing debate of how far designers might have to stick with the «stubborn legacy»
of passive solar design principles in this present era of super-sealed, super-insulated building, this is nevertheless a lovely little modern cabin.
Proper solar orientation of a building on a site has been one of the core practices
of passive solar design for decades.
So how will future green buildings look and perform if the relevance
of passive solar design wanes in the face of new green building tech?
Darryl believes that the natural ventilation
of passive solar design is not mutually exclusive to the design of Passive House homes in New Zealand.
If you want to spend some time with the people who built them and pick up some of the finer nuances
of passive solar design, make sure to keep an eye on our annual visitor program, and schedule a time to hang out with us soon.
You probably know that a key feature
of passive solar design is to construct your eaves in such a way that you block unwanted summer sun, while allowing those warming rays in during the winter, when you need them most.
This year I chose to tackle the challenging issue
of passive solar design versus Passive House.
Not exact matches
As part
of an undergraduate internship, Taya
designed and built a
passive - air
solar food dehydrator to address the needs
of a community in rural Rwanda.
Two beautiful mudbrick cottages close to the Shoalhaven River, Seven Mile Beach and Berry... just two hours south
of Sydney... feast your eyes on cows grazing in green paddocks, put your boat in at the ramp 200 metres away, or walk for miles along a deserted beach... Self - contained,
passive solar design, wood - lined cathedral ceilings, wheelchair - accessible, native animal sanctuary, solitude, breezeway, gas stove, rainwater, instant hot water... Fish, canoe, walk, ride, wineries, surf, golf, drives, markets, National Parks, Berry, Bundanon, lavender farm, plane rides, air museum... For further information please see our website.
You may not notice the
passive solar system, rainwater capture or LED lights, but you'll be stunned by the floor plan,
designed to make the most
of the ocean views, and the extensive use
of native woods, including in a helix - like central staircase in the airy great room.
One
of the key elements
of Passivhaus
design has been the use
of generous south - facing glazing for
passive solar gain.
Over long term time scales I see a smaller global population
of maybe 3 billions, living in cities but with low rise
passive solar design homes and offices.
Looking at woodant nests can show us how to
design to maximize
passive solar heating and cooling so that we can minimize energy use in HVAC systems in buildings - one
of the biggest energy suckers - and watching the process the organ - pipe wasp uses to build nests can inspire construction processes for quickset materials.
By building or retrofitting to achieve resilient
design, we can create homes that will never drop below 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit even if the house is totally cut off from power and heating fuel — they can do that with high levels
of insulation, top - performing windows,
passive solar gain, and other features..
This
passive solar greenhouse is
designed to house a productive, edible ecosystem which is also combined with a variety
of other complementary farming techniques such as producing fish and poultry food from insects, growing mushrooms from used coffee grounds and growing poultry, fed from by - products
of the system.
«The house has a
passive solar design, with most
of the windows installed on the southern exposure.
By cantilevering your second story, you can avail yourself
of the benefits
of this
of passive solar design technique, while extending the available floor space on your second story with minimal extra material expenditure.
Peter Olorenshaw has been developing his passion for
passive solar design for over 21 years in Nelson, one
of New Zealand's sunniest spots.
These pioneering minds understood the deep historical precedent
of thousands
of years
of solar utilization through
passive solar design and
solar thermal technology.
This house was
designed as a
passive solar home by architects at Solar Northern; designers of Post And Beam Homes who eventually became Woodhouse.The house is built on styrofoam insulated foundation walls and concrete floor which serves as a thermal flywheel to hold heat from the sun in heating months before and after winter solstice and moderate summer temps in house when the sun is not shining in the house due to summer sun an
solar home by architects at
Solar Northern; designers of Post And Beam Homes who eventually became Woodhouse.The house is built on styrofoam insulated foundation walls and concrete floor which serves as a thermal flywheel to hold heat from the sun in heating months before and after winter solstice and moderate summer temps in house when the sun is not shining in the house due to summer sun an
Solar Northern; designers
of Post And Beam Homes who eventually became Woodhouse.The house is built on styrofoam insulated foundation walls and concrete floor which serves as a thermal flywheel to hold heat from the sun in heating months before and after winter solstice and moderate summer temps in house when the sun is not shining in the house due to summer sun angles.
It can also be
designed according to
passive house standards, while there is also the option
of taking it off - the - grid by installing a
solar power array, composting toilet, water tanks and a gray water system.
Basic
Passive House concepts
Passive House criteria Principals
of thermal insulation Airtight building
design and construction Glazing system issues including thermal transfer mechanisms,
solar heat gain, and installation thermal bridges Basic ventilation concepts as well as issues related to mechanical and
passive ventilation and system
design.
The
design includes several homes clustered to benefit from roof gardens, building integrated photovoltaics,
passive solar strategies, a rainwater recovery system, and sliding, removable, and bendable walls and partitions for flexible occupant use
of space.
The best
design features from our grandparent's generation could be combined with high levels
of insulation,
passive solar heating, natural cooling, and other strategies that are key components
of good green
design today to product a home that would not only protect its occupants but also save energy and other resources throughout it's life.
As half
of a home - building team, I helped
design and build harmonious, sustainable and net - zero homes that incorporate clean air systems,
passive and active
solar energy as well as rainwater collection systems.
After we do our best to minimize energy consumption through energy - conserving
design (high levels
of insulation, high - performance windows, and such),
passive solar heating,
passive cooling strategies, and daylighting should dominate our energy
design efforts.
Coupled with other low - tech solutions such as thermal underwear, heated clothing and tile stoves,
passive solar design could all but eliminate the use
of fossil fuels and biomass for heating buildings throughout large parts
of the world.
By building or retrofitting to achieve resilient
design, we can create homes that will never drop below 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit even if the house is totally cut off from power and heating fuel — they can do that with high levels
of insulation, top - performing windows,
passive solar gain, and other features that I've been covering in these RDI blogs.
There are decades
of experience we can draw from in
passive design, starting with the knowledge gleaned from the
passive solar energy conferences
of the late 1970s and 1980s — many
of which I attended (even editing the proceedings
of one or two).
While most research in
passive solar design during the 1970s was directed at individual buildings, one man began forty years
of research into
solar oriented cities: Ralph Knowles, professor emeritus at the USC's School
of Architecture and author
of three fascinating books on the topic (1974, 1981, 2006).
For those interested in the history
of passive solar approaches to architecture, I would recommend Anthony Denzer's The Solar House: Pioneering Sustainable De
solar approaches to architecture, I would recommend Anthony Denzer's The
Solar House: Pioneering Sustainable De
Solar House: Pioneering Sustainable
Design.
Indeed, after decades
of computer modeling and field monitoring, engineers at the Passivhaus Institute have concluded that
passive solar design is far less significant than airtightness and insulation value.
Skylights are wonderful things; they bring in natural light for free and can be part
of a
passive solar heating
design.
All
of the buildings will feature green roofs,
passive solar design, beyond - code insulation and glazing, and low / no VOC paint and carpets.
Design to maximize exergy; use
passive solar and natural ventilation instead
of electricity and fossil fuels.
In addition to the intelligent configuration
of interior spaces, the home also integrates a number
of sustainable features, such as rainwater harvesting, geothermal heating and cooling, and heat recovery ventilation, in addition to employing
passive solar design principles.
Much
of the cabin's
design methodology is faithful to classic
passive solar design ideas: its long side has been oriented toward the south, and is covered with a deep overhang to shade it from too much summer
solar gain.
But as a number
of green building observers have noted before, times have changed, techniques and materials have evolved, and
passive solar design principles probably need to be rewritten to reflect these advances.
The house,
designed by renowned Swedish architect Gert Windgård, is not designated a
passive house per se, but is said to maximize its own electricity production through a complete front facade
of solar panels (
solar water heating and
solar electric) and minimize heat loss through a double - doored entry, built - out window boxes and fantastic insulation.
And that's one
of the conundrums with
passive solar design.
His group previously worked with Parsons the New School for
Design to build a two - unit
passive home that began as Parsons's Empowerhouse entry in the Department
of Energy's 2011
Solar Decathlon.
Construct Ireland, the magazine which evolved into
Passive House Plus, featured two
of his exemplary sustainable projects, perhaps most notably including a substantial mixed - use scheme on Galway's Forster Street from 2006 that featured
passive solar design, external insulation, triple - glazed curtain walling, airtightness, MVHR and renewables amongst other measures.
In terms
of green elements, E.D.G.E. has rainwater harvesting, geothermal heating and cooling, heat recovery ventilation,
passive solar design, and insulated shutter doors to control heat gain.
A good example
of passive solar is using sunlight to light a room during the daytime or
designing a home or building so that it captures the sun's energy to keep it warm in winter and cool in summer.
This home features the
solar awnings and a dedication to
passive solar design and thermal mass that makes it a cost effective example
of the net - zero form.