PASSIVE SOLAR ENERGY USE IN BUILDINGS

This chapter discusses passive solar energy use for space heating in buildings. The emphasis is on a description of the five passive design approaches: the direct gain approach, the thermal storage wall, greenhouses attached to buildings, the thermal storage roof, and the thermosyphon concept. The chapter explains the dynamic thermal principles according to which the individual designs operate, and it is possible through location of the thermal heat storage capacity in the building fabric to adapt the internal heating requirements because of the daily and seasonal temperature variations to the intermittent solar energy irradiation. Experience with passive solar buildings suggests that they operate satisfactorily in a variety of climates. However, it appears that there are limits to the amount of heating that is achieved with the typical passive solar energy collection elements. It is recommended that consideration be given to hybrid systems, including some active system components, such as usual heat stores or fans, to improve heat distribution.