Multi-unit Solar Housing Works Well
Oct
21
Solar heating is by no means limited to single-family homes. It adapts easily to multifamily housing, as long as there is the necessary south orientation and enough roof area to hold an adequate number of collectors.
In fact, from a solar viewpoint, adjoining multifamily units have two advantages over separate homes: they tend to be smaller, demanding less heat, and they share at least one wall (and often two) with neighbors, so fewer walls lose heat to the outdoors.
Space heating is more space- demanding than domestic water heating, making it a trickier design problem for multiunit housing, but it is becoming more frequently possible for a prospective solar homeowner to locate townhouses, duplexes, and even condominiums that have some form of solar heat.
Liquid systems are particularly adaptable to small-unit heating, since their pumps, pipes, and tanks take up considerably less room than an air system’s bulky components.
The evacuated-tube collector shown at top is compact compared to a flat-plate collector (though it is also more expensive): each narrow tube-within-a-tube is a very efficient collector in itself. The inner tube has a selective black coating and acts as the absorber; the heat-transfer liquid flows through this inner tube. The outer one is glass, forming the “collector glazing.” Between the two is a vacuum which admits solar radiation but cuts down on heat losses from the absorber to the outside air. The underside of the glazing tube is coated a shiny silver to concentrate even more sunlight onto the absorber tube.
Each of four adjacent townhouses has its own active liquid-type solar heating system, equipped with evacuated-tube collector array on sloping south roof and, in cellar, steel storage tank, pumps, heat pump, and backup electric water heater. Mini-computer controls complex system’s operations: phasing in solar heating from storage to house first; if storage is not hot enough for direct heating, directing heat pump to heat house, assisted by warm storage; or, if storage is really cold, switching on backup to provide enough heat to heat pump. Heat pump also provides summer cooling.
Solar-heated duplex: Unit in distance is an air-system retrofit; closer unit is a liquid system with three collector areas. Main collector-to-storage loop includes 560-square-foot double-glazed copper collector on house roof and 1000-gallon fiberglass tank in basement, with fan-coil system for heat distribution. Second collector is vertical window area in south wall, with bare, black-painted multi- finned heat exchanger mounted behind it as collector. For heating, water circulates up from 380-gallon black, uninsulated tank beneath window into heat exchanger. Tank itself is located in partially underground south greenhouse, which forms third passive heat collector.
Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Multi-unit Solar Housing Works Well
- Determining to be Energy-Efficient
- Office Eco-solution, Bring Green Plants into Workplace
- Solar Energy Assists These Heat Pumps
- Investing in Ethical Financial Products part 1
- Link Exchange
- Solar Pool Heating: Flexible and Economical
- A Green Home
- The Sun Heats These Hot Tubs
- Solar Energy and Air Systems Adapt to Many House Styles
- A (Nearly) 100% Solar-heated House
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:28 am
By collaborating with an electricity supplier that understands their needs, small businesses are finding they can help the environment and, save money. … Cheap Business Electricity
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:50 am
Media equipment, DVDs, cads, VCR tapes, clothing, jewellery, personal care products, toys, shoes, and more! … Organizing Products
July 14th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Other suppliers while not offering renewable energy will contribute part of your energy costs to a green fund. … Renewable Energy
August 15th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
The solar powered LED lights need no mains supply and as such safe and easy installation is achieved in seconds. … Solar Power
September 20th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Works at about 60% the effectiveness of a conventional plastic solar blanket, at a fraction of the cost and effort. … Solar Village Glad
October 10th, 2009 at 1:45 am
Compass is the big online shop for boat equipment and accessories, sailing clothing, outdoor clothing and water sports. … Water Farm