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Free Energy? Sunrooms that actually cool your house, and your energy bill.

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.


  1. 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.

  2. 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.


  1. 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


ir 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.




Research Article

Passive down draught evaporative cooling wind-towers: A case study using simulation with field-corroborated results.




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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