Experience with solar houses

Abstract Since 1959 four solar houses have been constructed by the author in the Washington, D. C. area. This report is primarily concerned with status of the solar heating, air conditioning, and water-heating system in the first house after about 6 years of service. Inspection of the heat storage bin shows no deterioration. The plumbing system has proved satisfactory and has required only minor repairs. The standby oil-heating system has needed only minor repairs. The collector glazing materials were deteriorating and were completely replaced at the end of 5 years. Rooftop evaporative cooling at night, while satisfactory most of the time was inadequate at others. After two years a low-power refrigerating compression system was substituted. The solar reflector-flux intensifier installed on the second house remains in good condition after 3 1 2 years, but its reflective surface is some-what dulled and is less efficient than when new. The experience to date, in short, is that no major flaw in design or construction has shown up.