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People > Photos > Gallery: FA Ecotecture > Album: EcoHouses designed by FA Ecotecture > Solar Hybrid Home
Solar Hybrid Home

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Date: 05/14/05

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acting acts air building clothes completely construction energy fact fresh garage growing heat helping house indoor interior northern oil opening roof season solar southern toilet typical windows wood

This EcoHouse is intended for Cold Climates, Continental Climates and Humid Middle Latitude Climates (i.e. Mediterranean Climate). Solar energy is a clean and abundant energy resource that can be used to supplement many of your energy needs. Solar energy can be utilised as a form of heat, such as solar water heating, and as electricity, such as solar photovoltaics. Solar water heating systems are commonly referred to in the industry as Solar Domestic Hot Water (SDHW) systems. Consumers often ask if there is enough sunlight in northern climates to support solar applications such as water heating. Basically, there is enough solar energy to deliver an average of 2500 kWh of energy per year in cold climates, such as that of Canada or Scandinavia. This means that a solar water heater can provide enough solar energy to meet about one half of the water heating energy needs for a family of four. Water heating is one of the most cost-effective uses of solar energy, providing hot water for showers, dishwashers and clothes washers, as well as heating. Consumers can now buy “off-the-shelf” solar water heaters that meet industry-wide standards, providing a clean alternative to gas, electric, oil or propane water heaters. A solar water heater reduces the amount of fuel you need to heat water because it captures the sun’s renewable energy. Many solar water heaters use a small solar electric (photovoltaic) module to power the pump needed to circulate the heat transfer fluid through the collectors. The use of such module allows the solar water heater to operate even during a power outage. As a matter of fact, what makes this EcoHouse design hybrid, is the sheer fact that both active and passive solar systems were employed, i.e: 1) Passive systems: - favourable building orientation on site, with the greenhouse facing south, whereby its heat flows into the EcoHouse interior simply by opening the sliding doors; - a compact, double-storied plan, that can be further subdivided into separate temperature zones, and heat storage, a large utility room, and garage in the basement, thus reducing the energy requirement significantly in northern climates; - a fireplace, used in conjuction with other solar heating solutions, located on an interior wall near the centre of the EcoHouse; - all windows are double-glazed, with the possibilities of the beadwall system inclusion; - increased wall and roof insulation, in order to reduce heat loss in typical construction; "breathing walls", naturally diffuse air and water between the interior and exterior, thus acting as the "third skin", were employed; they are constructed of concrete form made from mineralised wood chips and portland cement, making walls that are healthy, environmental, durable, easy to construct, and cost effective; roof tiles are earth-friendly, made of recycled materials and feature a Class 4 Impact Resistance and a Class A and Class C Fire Rating; - air infiltration losses have been reduced by using air locks at points of entry, whereas the northern roof, pitched at 30°, was designed to retain snow build-up, that acts as insulation during the winter season; - water-saving toilet seats and other water-saving sanitary equipment has been used throughout the project; - all installations between the lower and upper floors run through a vertical service duct, which is also fully accessible for inspection and maintenance; - the greenhouse makes use of the "greenhouse effect" principle to trap sunrays and build up hot air, that is further transferred to the living room and - using a system of open double storey spaces - further into bedrooms. The greenhouse also serves the purpose of a socialising space, and can be used for growing vegetables, breeding pets, etc; - sunscreening is envisaged as an option, provided that your local latitude and climate so require; - the southern roof has the optimum pitch of 45°, making it ideal for solar heat collection for latitudes from 30 to 60 degrees North; 2) Active systems: - Solar Domestic Hot Water (SDHW) System has been used in the form of The Solar Boiler™ state-of-the-art solar water heating appliances, manufactured by Thermo Dynamics Ltd; being environment-friendly and very affordable, 8 systems, amounting to 50% of the overall heated area in the EcoHouse were deployed across the southern roof, to supply domestic hot water and the entire quantites of water required to heat the premises; the heat pump used with the system is powered by the sun, and does not pollute; - ventilation, Indoor Air Quality and heat recovery from within the EcoHouse has been achieved using the brilliant Lifebreath Clean Air Furnace®, manufactured by Nutech Brands Inc. that uses a domestic water heater as its heat source; the Heat Recovery Ventilator removes stale, contaminated air from inside the EcoHouse to the outdoors and at the same time, draws fresh, oxygen-laden air from outside and distributes it throughout your home; the hot, stale air from the greenhouse and the EcoHouse's interior is converted to fresh air, which is then distributed as fresh air and heating through the registers throughout the home; - the water heated by the solar collectors is, in turn, used in the System Wall Heating, providing optimum heat transmission and operativity with lowest possible water heating temperature; having heating within the walls is cost-efficient, helps save heating costs, can be used reversibly during the summer season for cooling, and is completely ecological; - Central Vacuum System has been used to remove 100% of contacted dust, dirt, mites, pollen and other allergens, then carry them to a central canister located away from living areas (in the Utility room) — helping improve indoor air quality. Experience shows that by combining these passive ecodesign planning and construction techniques alone, the effect of reducing the total heating energy requirement by about 40% when compared to standard house construction can be achieved! In a well-insulated EcoHouse by the likes of Solar Hybrid, the size of the heating system can be smaller than that required in a conventional house, thus reducing heating equipment costs to offset the cost of increased insulation. It is an organised, well-zoned EcoHouse, energy-efficient in its planning and design. Copyright © 1992-2009 FA Ecotecture. All rights reserved.