Solar Dwelling Design Concepts: Fid-Bau Portal

Solar Dwelling Design Concepts

The discussion of solar-dwelling design concepts traces the history of residential solar energy uses, reports on existing solar dwellings and systems, and discusses and describes design considerations and numerous dwelling and site design concepts. The book focuses on how the interaction of climate, comfort, building sites, and solar systems influence the design of solar heated and cooled dwellings. The emphasis is on new construction rather than the redesign of existing dwellings for solar heating and cooling systems. The many ways a dwelling can be fitted to its site and climate are discussed. The design techniques include but are not limited to the dwelling's orientation on the site; use of additional wall or roof insulation; selection of building materials and mechanical systems; placement and size of exterior wall openings; and location of trees, vegetation, and other elements on the site. The design alternatives illustrated include the integration of the dwelling into a hillside or earth berm, the use of double roof construction, and the incorporation of roof monitors for solar heat gain and natural ventilation enhancement. The selection and integration of solar systems for each of the design concepts is considered in relation to the design of the entire dwelling. Nine references and a 42-item bibliography are provided.