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When building a new home or an addition
When building a new home or an addition, be sure to take advantage of some
key design elements:
When building a new home or an addition, be sure to take advantage of some
key design elements:
APEX Thermal Services
Solar Systems Radiant Heating Energy Efficiency Consultation
Strive to have a minimal impact on the surrounding environment.
Orient the home to take advantage of southerly exposure, using
abundant windows on the South side.
Design South side of home so that a dark colored stone/tile floor over
concrete (thermal mass) can absorb and store heat from winter sun.
Installing such a floor with integrated radiant tubing will also allow for
transferring a portion of collected energy (with a circulator) to the
cooler north side of your home.
Design and utilize overhangs/aunings that will block the hottest
summer sun from windows, to prevent overheating the space.
Integrate roofing designs that aim toward the South, lending
themselves to solar panel installations (steeper pitches are better for
collecting heat in the winter). You might consider some roofing
products which also serve as solar collectors.
Minimize windows on the cold North side of the home.
Integrate day-lighting to take advantage of utilizing free sunlight
during daylight hours.
Install Pex tubing in all concrete slabs you pour, including garages and
basements.
Insulate slabs and foundations from the earth for use as thermal
storage banks (this should be done whether Pex tubing is installed or
not).
Increase thickness of concrete slabs and/or use additional gravel or
sand underneath to increase thermal mass and thermal storage
capacity.
Install a well insulated thermal vault under or near your home, to save
excess solar-thermal summer heat, for heating your home in cooler
months.
Use and purchase highly efficient appliances and fixtures.
Install radiant heat throughout the house (radiant heating systems
require water temperatures in the exact range that solar thermal
systems provide).
Install highly efficient windows and doors.
Install extra insulation to keep future energy costs down.
Consider a greenhouse for generating heat for space heating and for
thermal storage purposes.
Purchase and use earth-friendly materials whenever possible.
Orient the home to take advantage of southerly exposure, using
abundant windows on the South side.
Design South side of home so that a dark colored stone/tile floor over
concrete (thermal mass) can absorb and store heat from winter sun.
Installing such a floor with integrated radiant tubing will also allow for
transferring a portion of collected energy (with a circulator) to the
cooler north side of your home.
Design and utilize overhangs/aunings that will block the hottest
summer sun from windows, to prevent overheating the space.
Integrate roofing designs that aim toward the South, lending
themselves to solar panel installations (steeper pitches are better for
collecting heat in the winter). You might consider some roofing
products which also serve as solar collectors.
Minimize windows on the cold North side of the home.
Integrate day-lighting to take advantage of utilizing free sunlight
during daylight hours.
Install Pex tubing in all concrete slabs you pour, including garages and
basements.
Insulate slabs and foundations from the earth for use as thermal
storage banks (this should be done whether Pex tubing is installed or
not).
Increase thickness of concrete slabs and/or use additional gravel or
sand underneath to increase thermal mass and thermal storage
capacity.
Install a well insulated thermal vault under or near your home, to save
excess solar-thermal summer heat, for heating your home in cooler
months.
Use and purchase highly efficient appliances and fixtures.
Install radiant heat throughout the house (radiant heating systems
require water temperatures in the exact range that solar thermal
systems provide).
Install highly efficient windows and doors.
Install extra insulation to keep future energy costs down.
Consider a greenhouse for generating heat for space heating and for
thermal storage purposes.
Purchase and use earth-friendly materials whenever possible.
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