Passive Solar Home Design Project
This project was created so that we could have a deep understanding of sun angles and solar heat. It consisted of several small projects such as a solar water heater, daylighting techniques cardboard house, and building design. Each of these projects have increased our knowledge about sun angles.
Hot Water Heater
Our task was to create a passive solar water heater using materials provided to us. The goal was to focus to light of the sun onto copper pipes shaped best suitable for your design. Our design was built inside of a shoebox. Water would enter a large jug and travel through a tube leading to a copper pipe. this copper pipe was bent in to shape of a wave. On the top of the shoebox is a mirror that is angled at about sixty two degrees to capture as much light is possible. This angle was calculated using the angle of the sun to get the most direct light onto the pipe. Water flows out of the pipe and into a cup. This cycle is repeated for a half of an hour. The result was an increase of three degrees. Doesn't seem like much but that is actually a very successful heater.
This is our solar water heater model.
Solar Angles
We learned a lot about the angles of the sun and how it changes in each season. We learned about different types of techniques there are to light up a room without using artificial lighting. Some of those techniques are clerestory windows, light shelves, solar tubes, and skylights.
Daylighting Design
We used what we learned about sun angles to create a to scale model of a 1,000 square foot house. The challenge was that we could only use daylighting techniques to light up the house. The angles of the sun and what type of lighting desired at certain times of day we considered when making this house.
Our daylighting design house.
Materials Testing Lab
In this lab we gathered materials and tested them to see which materials were the best at conducting heat and insulating heat. We tested spray foam, rigid foam and fiber glass insulation. Different types if metal and wood were tested as well. We used this information in our next project.
Building Design
All of the information that we have gathered over the past weeks were done so that we could accomplish building our design that will be put into action. We were tasked with creating a reflector to get as much sunlight as possible into the north window if the Solar Studio on the San Marin campus, a cold frame to keep the plants at a healthy temperature for the garden club and a bonus project. I chose to create the bonus project. My idea was to make a chandelier out of a hula hoop, fishing line, and fragments of glass. Light would be reflected into the window and the chandelier would scatter the light all over the room.
Reflection
This project will give me skills that I can use for the rest of my life. Some things that went well during this project were how my group and I divided up the projects. Somethings that did not work well were the communication skills that my team had. I learned that I do not work well with people who do not listen and that I need to be more openminded. I could have communicated with the other members in my team and I could have used my time more responsibly. Two pits were the fights that my team got in and our lack of communication. Two peaks were the result of our projects and how successful our presentations were.