建物の南側に温室を追加すると、建物全体を暖めるのに十分な受動的な太陽熱が得られます。 日光と乾燥した空気を防ぎ、室内の空気循環を促進し、カビの問題を軽減します。
We design and build our homes to heat and cool naturally with super low energy bills by simply capturing the power of the sun and the cooling of the earth.
ancient wisdom + modern know-how
Passive Solar Heating x Earth Sheltered Foundations.
Passive Solar is Free Energy: Our buildings embrace the sun's warmth with sunrooms and large windows that are seamlessly integrated into the design. These elements capture the sun's heat during the day and release it gradually, ensuring comfort without traditional heating.
Beneath the Surface: Geothermal Innovation: To boost energy efficiency and independence, we harness the Earth's stable temperature through geothermal features. The steady ground temperature acts as a natural thermal reservoir, storing excess heat from our passive solar systems in winter and aiding natural cooling in summer. This lowers
heating and cooling costs.
Cooling the Natural Way
: Our dedication to energy efficiency extends to cooling. Thoughtfully designed natural ventilation systems utilize cross breezes and the stack effect, circulating fresh air. This maintains a comfortable indoor environment without energy-guzzling air conditioning. These natural cooling methods also promote healthier indoor a
Air quality.
Passive solar heating is an eco-friendly and efficient way to heat homes and commercial buildings. When we incorporate sunrooms and large south-facing windows into a building's design, we can reap several advantages:
1. **Energy Efficiency**: Passive solar heating relies on clever placement of windows, proper insulation, and thermal mass to capture and store the sun's warmth. When we introduce sunrooms and large south-facing windows, sunlight enters the building, gets absorbed by the thermal mass (like concrete or brick walls), and is then gradually released. This means we don't need traditional heating systems, which cuts down on energy consumption and costs.
2. **Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions**: Conventional heating often relies on fossil fuels, which significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Passive solar heating, bolstered by sunrooms and large windows, reduces our reliance on these polluting energy sources, thereby reducing a building's carbon footprint. This is vital for addressing climate change and lowering overall greenhouse gas emissions.
3. **Lower Heating and Cooling Costs**: Passive solar heating not only keeps us warm in winter but can also help with cooling during summer. By thoughtfully designing the sunrooms and incorporating shading techniques, we can vent excess heat when it's hot outside, reducing the need for energy-intensive air conditioning. This dual-purpose approach can lead to substantial savings over time.
4. **Improved Indoor Air Quality**: Passive solar heating with sunrooms and large windows also means better indoor air quality. Sunlight and dry air can reduce humidity, which, in turn, helps prevent mold growth. This is particularly valuable in regions prone to dampness and mold-related issues.
5. **Natural Ventilation and Air Circulation**: The sunrooms and large windows can promote natural air circulation. As the air in these areas heats up, it naturally rises, creating a stack effect that draws cooler air from inside the building. This continuous airflow improves indoor comfort and air quality without relying on mechanical ventilation systems.
6. **Enhanced Comfort**: Passive solar heating isn't just about warmth; it's about overall comfort. Sunlight streaming in through windows creates a well-lit and inviting atmosphere, positively impacting the well-being of the building's occupants.
7. **Long-Term Savings**: While there might be an initial cost to implement passive solar heating with sunrooms and large windows, the long-term savings on energy bills can more than make up for it. Reduced maintenance and operational costs of conventional heating and cooling systems also contribute to savings over the building's lifespan.
In summary, incorporating passive solar heating with sunrooms and large south-facing windows into building designs offers numerous benefits. These include energy efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, lower heating and cooling costs, improved indoor air quality, natural ventilation, enhanced comfort, and long-term financial savings. This approach aligns with the goals of reducing energy consumption and combating climate change while creating a more comfortable and sustainable living environment.
The Trombe Wall: A Smart Solution for Energy-Efficient Homes
Introduction to the Trombe Wall
For homeowners looking to reduce energy costs, increase sustainability, and achieve energy independence, passive solar design is one of the most effective solutions available. Among passive solar strategies, the Trombe wall is a time-tested yet innovative approach to heating and cooling homes with minimal energy consumption. This simple yet highly effective system uses the sun’s energy to naturally regulate indoor temperatures, reducing reliance on conventional heating and cooling systems.
As we enter a new age of passive solar technology, companies like ATOM HOUSE are developing advanced, smart, and slim Trombe wall systems designed for modern homes. These next-generation passive solar systems provide efficient climate control with minimal operational costs, making them an attractive option for homeowners who prioritize comfort, efficiency, and sustainability.
How a Trombe Wall Works
A Trombe wall is a thermal storage and distribution system that utilizes a wall, typically made of concrete, brick, or other high thermal mass material, placed behind a layer of glass. The space between the glass and the wall creates a greenhouse effect, trapping solar energy during the day and releasing it slowly into the home at night.
The principle behind the Trombe wall is simple:
Sunlight passes through the glass and is absorbed by the dark-colored wall behind it.
The heat is stored in the wall’s thermal mass and gradually released into the home as temperatures drop.
Ventilation openings can be added to allow warm air to circulate directly into the home’s living space during the day.
In summer, shading or insulated covers can be used to prevent overheating, ensuring year-round comfort.
Benefits of Passive Solar Heating
The advantages of incorporating a Trombe wall into a home design are numerous:
Energy Savings: Reduces the need for conventional heating systems, leading to lower utility bills.
Sustainability: Uses clean, renewable solar energy, reducing the home’s carbon footprint.
Comfort: Provides a steady and even heat source, avoiding sudden temperature fluctuations.
Low Maintenance: Requires little to no upkeep compared to active heating systems.
Independence from the Grid: Increases self-sufficiency by utilizing natural heat storage.
The New Age of Passive Solar: Smart & Slim Systems
While Trombe walls have been around for decades, modern advancements are making them even more efficient and accessible for today’s homeowners. At ATOM HOUSE, we are pioneering smart and slim Trombe wall systems that integrate seamlessly into modern architecture without the bulky appearance of traditional designs.
Our advanced Trombe walls use:
Smart Thermostatic Controls: To optimize heat retention and release based on real-time temperature needs.
Slim Profile Designs: Allowing integration into contemporary home aesthetics without compromising efficiency.
High-Performance Materials: For improved heat absorption and distribution, ensuring maximum energy efficiency.
Hybrid Systems: That work in conjunction with other passive and active energy solutions for complete home climate control.
OM Solar: A Japanese Innovation in Passive Solar Design
Japan has long been a leader in energy-efficient building technologies, and one standout innovation is the OM Solar System. This unique approach utilizes glass plates installed on a metal roof to collect solar energy. The captured heat is then directed into the house through an integrated piping system, providing passive heating and ventilation.
The OM Solar System offers similar benefits to the Trombe wall, such as:
Efficient Heat Collection & Distribution: Uses the entire roof as a solar collector, maximizing energy absorption.
Year-Round Climate Control: Provides both heating in winter and natural ventilation in summer.
Renewable & Sustainable: Uses the sun’s free energy to maintain a comfortable indoor environment.
Even Heat Distribution: Stores solar heat under the floor to gently warm the entire house, eliminating temperature differences between rooms and ensuring consistent comfort.
Integrated Ventilation: Uses solar-heated air to naturally ventilate the home, reducing the need for mechanical ventilation.
Hot Water Production: Solar heat can also be used to produce hot water, further increasing energy efficiency.
ATOM HOUSE’s Glass Panel System: Modeled on OM Solar
At ATOM HOUSE, we have developed a glass panel-based system inspired by OM Solar. Our system captures solar heat using roof-mounted glass panels, which transfer warm air through an integrated piping system to heat the home efficiently. By leveraging solar heat storage beneath the floors, we ensure a comfortable, even temperature throughout the house.
Unlike traditional HVAC systems, our system utilizes natural convection to circulate warm air, reducing reliance on mechanical components and lowering energy costs. The result is a smart, self-regulating passive solar system that offers year-round climate control with minimal maintenance and maximum efficiency.
Conclusion: The Future of Passive Solar Living
As energy costs continue to rise and environmental concerns grow, passive solar solutions like Trombe walls and OM Solar are becoming more attractive than ever. Companies like ATOM HOUSE are at the forefront of this revolution, bringing smart, slim, and highly efficient passive solar technologies to modern homes. These innovations make it easier than ever for homeowners to enjoy sustainable comfort while reducing their reliance on conventional heating and cooling systems.
If you are considering a Trombe wall or other passive solar solutions, now is the time to invest in energy-efficient, low-maintenance, and cost-saving technology that will benefit both your wallet and the environment for years to come.
Research Article
Passive down draught evaporative cooling wind-towers: A case study using simulation with field-corroborated results.
Sage Journal - Volume 37, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1177/0143624415603281
Abstract
Passive downdraught evaporative cooling wind-towers (cool-towers) have received special interests for their energy saving potential. Improving their performance and broadening their use will therefore be environmentally and economically beneficial. This paper presents a case study where cool-towers are designed and constructed to provide cool air to the semi-open courtyards of the Princess Nora University campus located in the hot, arid region of Riyadh, KSA. Each courtyard is served by two cool-towers, each of 30 m2 cross-sectional area, 32.8 m height. A brief on the system design is provided. The cool-towers performance is investigated through computational fluid dynamics simulation. Temperature and velocity profiles indicate an induced, cooler air breeze in the courtyard; outside air is cooled from 46℃ to 34–38℃, while the induced space velocity ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 m/s. A 560 kW cooling capacity is attained per tower. A substantial energy saving of around 3.30E+05 kW-h per courtyard per season is achieved. The expended energy associated with the used water is only 1% of the saved cooling energy. The normalized water consumption is around 0.04 kg/s per 100 kW cooling. The effect of distance between the towers on their performance is examined. The predicted performance is corroborated through field measurements.
Practical application: This article looks at a new breed of cooling wind-towers, which artfully blend the traditional principles behind a wind catcher with today’s technological advances. It tackles a study case where cool-towers are designed to cool outdoor courtyards across the Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman University (PNU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Using CFD, we find that the cool-towers are capable of generating a relatively comfortable zone in the courtyard. The result is an effective, power-efficient piece of technology that transforms the campus environment and the outdoor experience for students. The PNU cooling wind-towers are exceptional power savers, and demonstrate the power of tradition working in tandem with engineering ingenuity. Original link click here
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