SOLAR THERMAL ROOF
Energy independence is possible with a solar
heated roof. We have grown accustomed to living in rectangular
dwellings that waste heat as well as valuable attic space . Developers and
builders are not concerned with the orientation of roofs for possible solar heat
gain. They are more concerned with selling traditional style houses that
facilitate the process of acquiring a building permit and are easy to sell. The
solar housing market could definitely use better government incentives to
promote energy efficient solar home designs. Since renewable energy benefits the
well being of everyone I believe government should give property tax reductions
based on energy efficiency renewable energy used.
It is now possible to build energy independent solar homes at a cost per square
foot comparable to traditional style housing.
This three story solar home gets all it's energy
from the sun. Photovoltaic panels, not shown, would be mounted on the shed roof
to supply electricity, and a built in solar thermal roof on the front
supplies all the needed heat. This house uses the entire surface area of the
roof to harvest the sun's energy. Why shouldn't we use our roofs to harvest free
energy? What else are we using them for?
An additional, unexpected benefit of this house style is a third floor that
would normally be wasted attic space, and a large solar greenhouse on the the
front. Side windows are not shown. I'm leaving this up to your imagination.
A
cross sectional view should give you an idea of the internal space available.
Notice the heat storage vault under the solar greenhouse. There is no need to
waste valuable basement space with this large storage vault that may be accessed
from the floor of the greenhouse.
A futuristic possibility of a design like this has to do with the hybrid
potential of a solar thermal engine working in conjunction with the solar
heating system.
Low temperature Sterling Engines do now exist that are capable of converting flat plate collector heat into electricity, but I have a more efficient design in mind.
A more futuristic solar thermal design might be based on something called a cube octahedron. This one floor building was designed as a proposal for the Solar Energy Center at Farmingdale University, NY. The cube octahedrons has a naturally occurring steep pitched, ideal for harvesting winter sunlight. The 250 sq ft roof should keep this well insulated structure above 600 F all year. A few PV panels and perhaps a differential thermal engine could supply all or most of the power requirements.
This simple one story hexagonal house has a diameter of 32 feet and an interior ceiling 12 feet high. It has a full basement insulated on the outside and stuccoed with Ferro Cement. Hexagonal units like this may be combined to make a variety of shapes suitable for luxurious living arrangements. Hexagonal units may be combined in a number of ways to increase living space arrangements like this:
The house below has is seventy feet long and varies in width between 16 feet and 32 feet. The available living space is about 3,500 sq ft. The 750 sq ft solar thermal roof should harvest about $3,000 worth of heat per year (with oil at $2/gallon)
For consultation contact John Canivan
For more solar home design considerations go to: Energy Independent Housing
Energy Message from Robert Redford
Strawberry Fields Solar Book
Store
How to Build a Solar Hot Water System
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Energy Independent Housing
Solar Thermal Energy Show
Alternative Housing for the 21st Century
Active Solar
Passive Solar
Greenhouse Effect and the Solar Greenhouse
Solar Energy the Alternative Energy of Choice
Heat Storage Vaults
Gallery of Solar Homes
Photovoltaic Electricity Animation
Solar Water Heating Animation
Our Sun and Our Future
Five Solar Thermal Principles
SOLAR
ENERGY FACTS
When the Lights go Out
Sun Dancing With Robert Redford
Earth Bound Leonardo
Bonnie
Raitt, the Sunshine Lady