Projects

Rush NY, Passive Solar Construction

Hightower, Jason, jah3603@rit.edu, Mechanical Engineering Technology, CAST Rochester Institute of Technology

Mentor/Supervisors: Lundgren, Carl. MET Professor. calite@rit.edu

Incorporating the use of passive solar designs was used to optimize the efficiency of heating and cooling of a contemporary timber-frame residential home. This was done to create a cost effective means to supplement the indoor climate controls throughout the year without the use of active fluid controls (i.e., pumps, compressors, gas..). The main processes and methodologies used include:

• Direct gain solar collection which orientates the majority of the glazed surfaces to a southern exposure. • Optimization of high capacitance materials (masonry and stone) to store thermal energy and regulate indoor temperatures. • A solar chimney to improve air circulation and passive cooling. • The incorporation of earth tube heat exchangers to replace exhausted air via: bathroom fan, rang hood, wood stove, solar chimney etc. The primary effect is to preheat/cool air, while also minimizes possible drafts and unwanted air seepage.

The result from the implementation of these methods is a passively cooled/warmed residential home which simply adapted the design of a traditional timber frame constriction and adding simple modifications to improve its overall efficiency. Concluding of the design work, close observation will ensure the optimum use of the processes and methodologies during the construction, as well as performance reviews once system is in use.