[Uncledave]

Thought the handyman types on the list might enjoy this one

[Uncledave]

Renewable Energy Ping

Please Freep Mail me if you'd like on/off

[Tinman]

Thanks for the post.

I plan on doing some building, well off the utility grid, and I'm always on the lookout for this kind of stuff.

Regards

[dayglored]

Passive solar is a great, simple, and reliable technology. I like this fellow's design.

Wife and I came up with a similar scheme for boosting the temperature of a second-floor space in a previous house. No electricity (we're off-grid), no moving parts, very little to go wrong or degrade over time.

It's not for the impatient -- passive solar is not going to raise temperatures immediately, nor every day (especially up here in Upstate NY where overcast is common). But it's very low investment, and has a very reasonable benefit/cost ratio.

[Right Wing Assault]

I would build in a way to vent summer heat to the outside. It's going to get blazing hot inside the thing. Bad for the glazing. Also, you don't want that hot thing against your house all summmer. I didn't read the whole article, but didn't see him say more than close vents in the summer. Sorry if I missed it.

[layman]

BTTT

[I see my hands]

"environmental concerns about using nonrenewable fossil fuels"

More accurately stated would be: religious concerns about using nonrenewable fossil fuels.

[Syntyr]

Thanks!!!

[southland]

BTT

[Leisler]

Get rid of the polycarbonate. Go to any glass supply, repair place. They usually have piles of intact but defective glass slide door inserts. Thermopane. The defects are cosmetic. Scratches, weird multihue colors, bb. size chip on surface, stuff like that. About $5 apiece for say a 3 foot by six foot six inches.

[msnimje]

I just bought a greenhouse this fall and I am shocked at just how hot it gets in there even when cold outside.

Thanks for posting this, maybe I can turn my greenhouse into a solar heater for my shed?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

That's nothing. I cook all my hot dogs on my solar cooker...

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

It looks like the "Trombe" wall they were hawking thirty years ago. They sure haven't taken the world by storm in that time.

[Revolting cat!]

Fantastic design! Unfortunately, my house only has a north wall.

[Tribune7]

So what happens in the summertime with this thing?

[BJClinton]

Just what I want in central Texas: more heat.

[southland]

btt

[RightWhale]

Step 1: Locate the sun. This may take up to six months depending when you begin the project.