College of Engineering & Architecture
ARC304
Environmental Control
Lecture 5
Passive Solar
The south facade is a goldmine for
harvesting winter sun, easy summer
shading, and year-round quality
daylighting.
Anonymous
Passive Heating
To heat buildings passively we have two main ways:
1 2
Minimise Heat Harvest the
Loss Sun’s Energy
Minimizing Heat Loss
minimizing heat loss in buildings can be achieved through:
• Insulation for the building envelop,
• Air-tightness,
• Surface-area-to-volume ratios
Minimizing Heat Loss: Insulation
• Conduction occurs when
heat is transferred
through a material, such
as the walls or ceiling of
a building.
• In cold regions, it is
important to have good
insulation in the walls
and ceiling to minimize
heat loss through
conduction.
M. Malviya 2023 ( P53)
Minimizing Heat Loss: Air-tightness
• Air tightness essentially is
a measure of how much
air leaks out from the
interior of a building when
there is a pressure
difference between the
interior and the exterior
• Air tightness and
controlled ventilation
losses account for 15 to
20 percent of heat loss.
https://www.backtoearth.co.uk/air-tightness-the-beginners-guide/
Minimizing Heat Loss: Surface-area-to-volume ratios
• The surface area to volume ratio is an important factor determining heat loss and
gain. The greater the surface area the more the heat gain/ loss through it.
• To minimize the losses and gains through the fabric of a building a compact shape is
desirable.
The Greenhouse Effect
• The greenhouse effect is a natural
phenomenon that occurs when
certain gases in the Earth’s
atmosphere trap heat from the sun,
causing the planet’s temperature to
rise.
• These gases allow sunlight to pass
through the atmosphere and reach
the Earth’s surface, but they absorb
and trap the heat that is radiated
back into space, which warms the
plane.
• Human activities, such as burning
fossil fuels have significantly
increased the concentrations of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,
leading to an enhanced greenhouse
effect and global warming
M. Malviya 2023 ( P47)
The Greenhouse Effect in
Buildings
• The short-wave solar radiation
is able to pass easily through
the glass, and it is absorbed by
indoor objects. As these objects
warm up, they increase their
emission of long-wave
radiation. Since glass is opaque
to this radiation, much of the
energy is trapped.
• The glass has created, in effect,
a heat trap, and the indoor
temperature begins to rise.
(Lechner 2015, P54)
The Green House Effect
• A conservatory uses
the concept of the
green house effect to
keep the space warm
during winter.
• This glazed space is
used as an additional
living space and for
growing plants in cold
climates.
Passive Solar
“Passive solar” refers to a
system that collects, stores,
and redistributes solar energy
without the use of fans,
pumps, or complex controllers.
(Lechner 2015, P169)
Passive Solar
Every passive solar heating
system has at least two
elements:
• A collector consisting of
south-facing glazing,
• An energy-storage
element that usually
consists of thermal mass,
such as rock or concrete.
(Lechner 2015, P169)
Passive Solar
There are three main concepts of
passive solar systems:
1. Direct gain
2. Trombe wall (indirect gain)
3. Sunspace (isolated gain)
Lechner (2015, P169)
Direct Heat Gain Systems
• Every south-facing window
creates a direct-gain system.
• The greenhouse effect lets
the short-wave solar energy
enter but blocks the heat
from escaping.
• The thermal mass inside
the building then absorbs
this heat, both to prevent
daytime overheating and
to store it for nighttime
use.
Lechner, 2015 (P171)
Direct Heat Gain Systems
• Although solar heat can be supplied by convection to the rooms on the north side
of a building, it is much better to supply solar radiation directly by means of south-
facing clerestory windows. The example shows the clerestories of the Smith
Middle School in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Lechner (2015, P172)
Guidelines for Direct-gain Systems
• Southern facades are ideal for heat gain systems.
• Very high R-value windows are usually not a good option for south
windows because the solar transmission decreases as the thermal
resistance increases.
• Adequate thermal mass must be supplied to regulate the space
temperature and avoid overheating in the afternoon and provide
heating at night.
• The ideal and most convenient location for thermal mass is the floor,
because it receives the most direct sunlight.
• Thermal mass should be about 10–15 cm thick (because of time lag).
• The thermal mass should be medium to dark in colour to enhance heat
absorption.
Lechner 2015 (P173-174)
Trombe Wall Systems
• The Trombe wall was named after
Professor Felix Trombe, who developed
this technique in France in 1966.
• In this passive system, the thermal mass
consists of a wall just inside the south-
facing glazing and the greenhouse effect
traps the solar radiation.
• Since the Trombe wall is quite thick (30
cm) and the time lag is quite long, the
heat does not reach the interior surface
until evening.
• If there is enough mass, the wall can act
as a radiant heater all night long.
Lechner 2015 (P176)
Trombe Wall Systems
• When only the sun’s
heat and not its light are
desired, the Trombe wall
is the system of choice.
However, Trombe wall is
usually used in
combination with direct
gain.
• Some Trombe walls are
built as a parapet wall.
• Trombe wall is usually
made of concrete, brick,
stone, adobe, and
containers of water.
Lechner 2015 (P176)
Trombe Wall Systems
• This building uses many passive strategies including the under window
Trombe walls. Note the ground level windows with three types of glazing:
Trombe wall, view, and daylighting. Water tanks are used instead of concrete.
Lechner 2015 (P177)
Sun Spaces
• Sunspaces are designed
to collect heat for the
main part of a building,
as well as to serve as a
secondary living area.
• Sunspaces are designed
to have a thermal mass
to regulate heat during
day and store it for night
time.
Sun Spaces
Sun Spaces
• Because the entire south
facade of a sunspace is
usually glass, both
shading and outdoor
venting should be used
to prevent severe
overheating in the
summer.
• The best venting is
achieved by having both
high and low openings
to maximize the stack
effect.
Lechner 2015 (P183)
Sun Spaces
• The Beddington Zero (fossil) Energy
Development (BedZED) uses sunspaces to
collect heat during the day, act as a buffer at
night, and serve as an additional living space
most of the time.
Solar Homes- Jacobs II House
• The Jacobs II House was designed
by architect Frank Lloyd Wright
and built in Madison, Wisconsin,
circa 1948.
(Lechner 2015, P168)
Solar Homes- Jacobs II House
• Most of the glazing faces the
winter sun but is well shaded
from the summer sun by a 1.8
m overhang.
• Plenty of thermal mass, in the
form of stone walls and a
concrete floor slab, stores heat
for the night and prevents
overheating during the day.
• The building is insulated to
reduce heat loss, and an earth
berm protects the northern
side.
• The exposed stone walls are
cavity walls filled with
vermiculite insulation.
(Lechner 2015, P168)
Questions ?
