Passive Solar, Fredericton

System

Sun: Thermo siphoning air panel, passive solar system in two storey sun porch and effectively creating a solar furnace with passive circulation.

Biomass: Water heated by wood furnace, stored in recycled NB Power tanks

Efficiency: Exterior insulated stone basement, insulated 720ft² heat mass under
sun porch for solar and wood heated forced-air storage

Cost: $6000 installation, O&M: None

Date of Installation: 2003

Type/kind: Residential (3 Occupants)

Installer: Self Installation / Contractor for heat mass concrete block wall

Supplier: Made own thermo siphoning unit

Experience: Very good system, thermo siphoning unit can produce temperatures over 130º Fahrenheit

Results: Produces a good amount of heat

Description of Case Study: The incorporation of the solar system and components had the advantage of being installed during a complete renovation of the two storey sun porch.

Recycled materials were used for all of these projects, including insulation, double paned glass, and copper sheet and piping. The thermo siphoning air panel (TAP) solar unit is built into the sun porch wall, which has been further modified to maximize passive solar potential. The sun porch is well insulated, ventilated and has duct work that connects the two levels, and which also circulates extra heat into thermal mass (concrete and crushed rock) below the porch, helping regulate heat.

Primary heating system is a combination of oil/wood furnaces. After making the upgrades in house insulation/energy efficiency, with the addition of the passive solar and thermo siphoning unit, total heating needs were reduced from 8 cords of wood to 3 cords and oil consumption was reduced by about 20%.

Future improvements include making the passive solar set up more active and increasing house insulation.  Eventually add a small solar hot water unit which would be connected to piping in the solar porch floor and the domestic hot water tank.