What makes your home a Green or Healthy Home?
A Passive Solar Home utilizes Solar energy, a radiant heat source to manage natural processes through building design
in a manner that helps heat and cool the building. The basic natural processes that are used in passive solar energy are
the thermal energy flows associated with radiation, conduction, and natural convection. When sunlight strikes a
building, the building materials can reflect, transmit, or absorb the solar radiation. Additionally, the heat produced by
the sun causes air movement that can be predictable in designed spaces. These basic responses to solar heat lead to
design elements, material choices and placements that can provide heating and cooling effects in a home.
Passive solar energy means that mechanical means are not employed to utilize solar energy.
Passive solar systems rules of thumb:
• The building should be elongated on an east-west axis.
• The building's south face should receive sunlight between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. (sun
time) during the heating season.
• Interior spaces requiring the most light and heating and cooling should be along the south face of the
building. Less used spaces should be located on the north.
• An open floor plan optimizes passive system operation.
• Use shading to prevent summer sun entering the interior.
Passive Solar Heating
Two primary elements of passive solar heating are required:
• South facing glass
• Thermal mass to absorb, store, and distribute heat
There are three approaches to passive systems -direct gain, indirect gain, and isolated gain. The goal of all passive
solar heating systems is to capture the sun's heat within the building's elements and release that heat during periods
when the sun is not shining. At the same time that the building's elements (or materials) is absorbing heat for later use,
solar heat is available for keeping the space comfortable (not overheated). This home uses isolated gain.
Isolated Gain
An isolated gain system has its integral parts separate from the main living area of a
house. Here we have a sun-room (solarium) with easy access from the main living areas.
The ability to isolate the system from the primary living areas is the point of distinction
for this type of system.
Day and Night Operation of the Solarium Isolated Gain System
Winter Season
During the daytime in the heating season the doors to the main living area are opened.
The house warms during the day. At sunset the doors are closed and the heat is
preserved in the living space.
option
December 2008 to December 2009
(103 GJ at $4.30/GJ)
All walls are constructed with R40 insulation and the ceiling is R60. Infiltration loss in
minimized by Thermal mass in the interior absorbs the sunlight and radiates the heat at
night. All vapour barrier seams are sealed with caulking.
The isolated gain system will utilize 30-45% of the sunlight striking the glazing toward
heating the adjoining living areas. Solar energy is also retained in the solarium itself. The
front of the solarium is sloped at ~ 10° from the vertical to take advantage of maximum
gain during the winter months.
Solariums employ a combination of direct gain and indirect gain system features.
Sunlight entering the solarium is retained in the thermal mass and air of the room.
Sunlight is brought into the house by means of conduction through a shared mass wall
in the rear of the solarium, and by interior doors and windows that permit convection air
exchange between the solarium and living space. In addition to natural convection, air
circulation is also enhanced with the use inertial drive ceiling fans on the ceiling of the
solarium. Even during the winter months this space is quite useable.
Summer Season
During the Summer season the doors and windows are closed to the main living space during the heat of the day. This
prevents the main living area from heating up. The superior insulation and sealed vapour barrier keeps the main living
space cool during the day. During the summer months, Spring and Fall excess heat is controlled by opening the Vents
at the top of the solarium and the patio doors on each end of the solarium. During the summer months the 4’ overhang
on the front of the house and interior decks provide shading from the direct rays of the sun. On very hot days cool air
from the basement can be circulated by turning on the furnace fan.
Passive solar strategies to provide cooling:
Passive solar cooling can reduce or even eliminate the need for air conditioning in homes. At its simplest, passive
cooling includes overhangs for south-facing windows, few windows on the west, shade trees, thermal mass and cross
ventilation. Some of the same strategies that help to heat a home in the winter also cool it in the summer. For example,
with a well-designed overhang, the south-facing windows that admit the low-angled rays of the winter sun are shaded
from the high-angled summer sun. Thermal mass, which stores heat in the winter to release in the evening, works in
reverse in the summer. The mass cools down in the evening and retains that coolness the next day, moderating the
effects of high daytime temperatures.
Back Up Heating
Backup heating is provided by a high
efficiency naturalgas furnace and a
wood burningfireplace. The fireplace alone can maintain the temperature of the living area at about17°C even on the coldest winter days
without any sunlight.
Air Lock Entry
The main entryto the house was designed to provide an airlock to
prevent excess air exchange to
the main living area during the
winter months.
The access door to the main living area
should be closed during the winter months to prevent thisProperty Description
ENERGY EFFICIENT SOLAR home close to Sherwood Park and ten minutes east of Edmonton city limits! Expect to be impressed when you enter this one of a kind passive solar home! This incredible 2 storey plus loft, sits on 3 beautiful acres and boasts 3121 Square Feet (main and second floor) with an additional loft space, 3+1 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a chef’s kitchen, a spacious living room, a sitting room/library that is divided by a wood burning fire place, a partially finished basement including a 4 piece bathroom, a loft off the upstairs master bedroom, and an amazing solarium that runs along the south side of the house that provides tons of sun year round! Other features of this unique home include gleaming oak hardwood floors, staircase, and French doors on the main and second level; unique circular windows in the living room and upper floor solarium; a corner two person jetted tub; a laundry and pantry room off the kitchen; and custom kitchen appliances including a sub-zero refrigerator, double built in ovens, counter top stove, natural gas burner, and large island with lots of drawer space.
Five minutes from the Anthony Henday, this amazing 3 acre property is convenient to all city amenities and allows you to enjoy country living. Watch deer, birds, and other wildlife right in your own back yard from your home filled with windows or oversized front porch! The property is partially treed, including a tree enclosed green space perfect for family gatherings! It has its own well, septic field, recently replaced septic tank, a chain linked fence, wood and tool shed, and newly-finished 26’ x 27’ garage that is roughed in for in floor active solar heating.
A passive Solar Home utilizes solar energy through building design in a manner that helps heat and cool the building. It is warm in the winter and cool in the summer! Because of its unique design, heating bills are significantly reduced (e.g. gas consumption from Dec/08 to Dec/09 ($443 - 103 GJ @ $4.30/GJ)
Don’t miss this unique opportunity! This house is ready for you to move in and call home. Call today to view!
Neighborhood Description
Market Area
School District
Location of Home or Land
Rural
Elevation of Home
Sea Level
Air Quality
| Agriculture in Area | yes |
| Industry in Area | no |
| Air Pollution in Area | no |
| Pesticide Free | yes |
| Fragrance Free | no |
| Cleaned with Green Products | yes |
Interior Environment
| Heating System | Fireplace |
| Cooling System | Passive Cooling |
| Ventilation System | Heat Exchanger |
| Whole House Filtration | None |
| Whole House Vacuum | yes |
Energy & Water
| Water System | Well |
| Wastewater System | Septic System |
Construction Information
| Exterior Finish | Shingles - Wood Stucco Wood |
| Interior Finish | Gypsum Board - Sheet Rock |
| Interior Paint | Other |
| Floor Material | Carpet |
| Roof Material | Other |
| Window Material | Metal Dual Glazed |
| Insulation Material | Fiberglass |
Garage / Car Port
| Garage / Carport | yes |
| Garage Type | detached |
| Number of Cars | 2 |
| Garage Area | 26 sqft |
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