GBlist: Passive solar "Katchadorian-style" house?

["Bion D. Howard" <bdhoward@ix.netcom.com>]

Mr. Staniland:

Be careful in designing the air-flow approach to the floor system.

Using underfloor CMU cores as a RETURN rather than "supply" (fan
pressurized) leg of the forced air system can permit soil-gas like Radon,
Methane, and excess moisture to be drawn into the HVAC system, unless there
is virtually perfect air-sealing of air-core floor details at the below
grade interface with earth. (Not too likely given realities of construction)

This is why we recommend using the underfloor storage as a heat "sink," not
return air ducts.  A properly sized fan moves air from passive solar
(over)heated spaces into the floor system, via insulated duct, filter, and
into the core of block.  CMU "mass" warms then heat is reradiated to
conditioned spaces, and offsets some conductive heat loss to earth below home.

In your climate, go with at least 2 inch EPS board under whole thing, and
beef to 3 inch around perimeter of the slab system.  

Topping slab of concrete can be tooled or capped with tile.  Placing carpet
or thick wood flooring over hybrid radiant floor will reduce effectiveness
somewhat.  We like hard surfaces anyway due to IAQ advantages.

     FYI see ASME peer reviewed summary paper:
 via <http://www.energybuilder.com/ftp-resource.htm>
      scroll down for link to get PDF file of paper

Here's to your project being a complete success.  

     >> Bion

===
>Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2000 09:27:09 -0700
>From: "Staniland, Rob" <RStaniland@talisman-energy.com>
>Subject: RE: GBlist:soalr thermal/electric incentives- Canada  
>
>Does anyone know of a similar reference for incentives in Canada? A little
>late to ask, I suppose.
>
>Rob Staniland; having incorporated a Katchadorian-style design in a house
>I'm building, near Calgary, Alberta
===

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