F-Chart/SLR: an interactive program for determining the performance of active and passive solar buildings

Methods for determining the performance of active and passive buildings have been developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Solar Energy Laboratory and the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, respectively. The University of Wisconsin work, FCHART, is documented in Solar Heating Design by the F-chart Method, and in an interactive computer program available from the University. Los Alamos' work, the Solar Load Ratio (SLR) method, is documented in a number of individual papers as well as in the Passive Design Handbook. The SLR method is at present primarily a hand calculational procedure although the main features of the program have previously been incorporated in a hand-held programmable calculator program, PASCALC. An overview of a Northeast Solar Energy Center/Total Environmental Action, Inc. computer program which combines the detailed calculational procedures of the SLR method with the interactive features of the FCHART program is presented.