Of the five elements of passive solar design, two deal primarily with materials. These are the absorber and thermal mass and are often two characteristics of the same material. The absorber represents the surface of the material (e.g., masonry wall, water wall, floor, etc.). The thermal mass retains or stores the heat from sunlight. It is the interior, the substance behind that outer, absorbent surface.

Glass, of course, cannot be ignored as a passive solar material. But the effectiveness of a window in passive solar heating has as much to do with aperture – or placement relative to the sun – as it does with material. All windows, however, are not created equal. Windows that are double- or triple-glazed with low-e coatings and efficient frames are best for passive solar design.

There are three essential materials behind passive solar design: masonry material, glass, and water. Furthermore, there are also three ways to harness solar energy passively: direct gain, indirect gain, and isolated gain. Which materials you use, and how you use them, will depend largely on which approach you take. (more…)

There are many ways to integrate solar energy into your home design, from south-facing windows to skylights to Trombe walls. Incorporating your marine pets is just another option, albeit one you may find a little strange. The basic design, that is, a water wall, is nothing new. Water walls themselves provide quick and efficient heat exchange that can save up to 90 percent in heating and cooling. That being said, there is no reason why a fish tank couldn’t be integrated into that water wall, providing style and entertainment.

Rule number one of the passive solar fish tank is to purchase fish that can stand the heat. You’ll need a certain amount of education on this one. We do not want to needlessly kill off fish. Furthermore, there are some design considerations beyond those inherent in water wall construction. For one, access to the tank will be necessary for cleaning the tank and feeding the fish. So there are some challenges here, for you and your architect, but the solar fish tank is a most definite possibility. (more…)