Dry stack block surface bonded concrete block walls for HTMs Dry stack concrete block (cinder block) technique uses surface bonding cement (SBC) instead of mortar for high thermal mass walls that are actually stronger than conventionally laid block walls. Only the first course is bedded in grout on the footer to establish plumb and level for the wall. The rest of the dry stack block courses are laid without need for any mortar between the cinder blocks. This building method has been around for well over a century, so it is nothing new or really even very unique in commercial buildings. SBC was formulated to build million gallon municipal cisterns for water storage. The original SBC recipe used horse hair for the structural fibers. Blocks need not be of any special design. Please note that solid, poured in place, concrete walls are just as effective, but forming and pouring is outside the skill level of most people. With any surface bonding cement, conventional mortared block, or poured-in-place cement wall, it is key to note:
Sybac Solar Sustainable design, zero energy passive solar green home HTM high thermal mass holistic housing consultation packages for the earthhome do-it-yourselfer With over 20 years of experience, we are the original zero-energy green home building company! Sustainable design, zero-energy, passive solar homes are free from mechanical climate control systems for truly independent living. Our website is packed with loads of valuable free information, so please take the time to read all of this passive solar chapter and all of the many detail pages. HTM construction homes will function just fine in any climate, anywhere in the world. Passive solar heating and radiant cooling energy needs to be quickly absorbed and released. Embodied energy in choice of construction materials is an important environmental concern. Chapter 2 - Photogallery of our most sustainable HTM design, created over twenty years ago Orientation naturally plays a major role in any passive solar design. Healthy homes ventilate constantly to ensure a fresh indoor air supply. Beware of envelope home stick-frame architecture still being sold as 'green building'.
Morgan Solar A Simple DIY Thermosyphon Solar Water Heating System Search The Renewable Energy site for Do-It-Yourselfers System schematic -- Thermosyphon Solar Water Heater As shown in the schematic, when sun is on the Solar Panel, the water in the panel is heated, becomes less dense and rises up into the Storage Tank. Sun and gravity take care of the circulating the water, so no pump is needed. The system as shown here does not have freeze protection, so it must be used in non-freezing climates, or be drained for the winter. Building the Collector I used a roll of aluminum 10 " wide, which I cut to length and fit under the tubes. There is a 3/4 insulation sheet behind the plywood and another thinner plywood on the back to protect the insulation sheet. There are two sheets of sun tuf corrugated polycarbonate on top. For more more construction details on on a similar type of collector construction here... and here... Collector Installation Some more pictures of the finished collector. Storage Tank and Plumbing Click on pictures for full size Results To Date
Energy Solar Central 7 Solar Water Heating System Designs by Michael Hackleman Issue #65 (Rob Harlan is a general and solar contractor with 25 years of experience with solar water heating systems in Mendocino County, California. Rob primarily designs and installs photovoltaic systems today.) MH: Rob, will you give a brief history of the last 30 years of solar-water heating system design and implementation? Rob: Solar-water heating systems got a real boost in the 1970s when tax credits were offered by state and federal programs to help folks make the investment. These systems were intended primarily for domestic hot water, i.e., showers, dishwashing, cooking, and clotheswashing. They were also popular for heating the water in pools and hot tubs. MH: As I recall, a lot of manufacturers also disappeared when the tax credits went away. Rob: Some designs were indeed flawed—poorly implemented, overly complex, or incorporating untested ideas. Rob: And—on active systems, a controller turns a pump on and off as solar heat is available. Rob: Freezing protection. Rob: True. 1. 2. 3.
Mr Solar WHICH KIT DO I NEED? Please contact us at rvkits@mrsolar.com, we are happy to assist. Contact Us Business Hours (ET/PT) Monday-Friday: 8am to 5pmSaturday: Closed Sunday: Closed Who are we? Online Solar, LLC and MrSolar.com are a family-owned and operated business based in Baltimore, MD, USA, that provides solar and wind energy products to customers across North America. A+ Rating at Better Business Bureau Solar energy equipment experts Project engineering available
Solar Hot Water Basics What is Solar Water Heating? Solar water heating collectors capture and retain heat from the sun and transfer this heat to a liquid. Solar thermal heat is trapped using the “greenhouse effect,” in this case is the ability of a reflective surface to transmit short wave radiation and reflect long wave radiation. Two principles govern solar thermal collectors. Second, heat loss is more rapid if the temperature difference between a hot object and its environment is larger, in this case between the temperature of the collector surface and the ambient temperature. The most basic approach to solar heating of water is to simply put a tank filled with water into the sun. A more common collector is called a flat plate collector. This is quite simple, but there are some very technical factors involved in making the collector as efficient as possible. Another popular type of collector is called evacuated tube, which has a long, skinny absorber that is inside a glass tube.
AM Solar Ask Us about the 30% Solar Tax Credit Our line of products are unique in the RV market. If we can't find some item already made to fit a need, then we'll have it custom built if necessary. We test our products in actual use on RVs to make sure they are appropriate. We also have a fully functioning Solar Powered Demonstration Board where you can see each of our controllers in action, along with three different monitors and a 2000 watt Magnum Inverter. We offer complete systems that are engineered for use on RVs and supply you with all the appropriate components you will need to have a successful experience the first time out. If something should go wrong, we'll work with you until it's right and are completely satisfied or we'll give you your money back. Have a look at our products and systems, then give us a call if you seek some help or clarification.
Pump and Pipe Sizing for a Solar Water or Space Heating System Search The Renewable Energy site for Do-It-Yourselfers Overview of Sizing the Plumbing and Pump for Solar Collectors The basic underlying requirement is that you want a pump and plumbing system that will push enough heat transfer fluid (typically water) through your solar collectors to efficiently remove the heat that the sun is depositing in them. Too little flow, and the collectors will run hotter and less efficiently, too much flow and you are wasting money on bigger pipes and pumps than the system needs, and using more pump power than you need to. The steps involved in the pump and plumbing sizing: Calculate the flow that the collectors need Measure the vertical distance between the top of the collector and the tank water level Calculate the pressure drop and flow velocity for the plumbing system. The Example I will use my Solar Shed project as an example. In a nutshell, it has 6 collectors of 40 sqft each. Step 1: Calculate the Flow to the Collectors Pipe Pressure Losses
V3Solar The Efficient Windows Collaborative: Guidance Efficient windows basics Designing new homes can be a complex issue, but some straightforward principles and guidelines may help you set a solid foundation for window energy efficiency upon which you can further improve with careful design. Two of the most straightforward principles of selecting efficient windows are these: The windows must meet the locally applicable energy code requirements ; Windows that are ENERGY STAR qualified for the home's climate ensure state-of-the-art energy performance even in locations with outdated or nonexistent energy codes. Code-compliant windows, especially if ENERGY STAR qualified, offer benefits including energy cost savings , improved comfort , less condensation and fading , and the potential for HVAC downsizing . Design considerations for window performance The figure below shows several design conditions affecting window performance.