Saskatchewan House: 100 percent solar in a severe climate

The Saskatchewan Conservation House in Regina, Canada, receives 100% of its heating primarily from passive heat gain. The house incorporates insulation levels three-fold the current Canadian standard, caulked and sealed vapor barriers with an air-to-air heat exchanger utilizing plastic sheeting, south facing windows, a waste water heat exchanger for laundry and bath water, and an active system of 192 ft/sup 2/ of vacuum tube collectors with 2,800 gal water storage. Insulated shutters are used on all the windows. Problems have developed with controls for the active heating system which was designed to supply 100% of the space heating. Infiltration was measured at 5% air change/hr. The heat storage capacity, energy consumption, performance estimates, and system components of the house are reported in detail.