[GBlist] Re: thermal mass

[Matthew Weinreb <mwphoto@mac.com>]

So Speireag,
If I understand correctly - in a 'moderate' climate (where you need heating
for about 5 months of the year and the summer is HOT, but not hot enough
that aircon or an equivalent is really needed..) a thermal mass interior of
say 200mm thickness surrounded by an insulating thickness of say 200mm would
be the ideal scenario -- ?  Perhaps a solid concrete wall insulated from the
foundation and the exterior?

Matt W

>    Now, if thermal mass and insulation were equally costly, you
> might find that you wanted to buy lots and lots of insulation.
> However, generally speaking thermal mass is pretty cheap compared to
> insulation.  Sometimes it's even dirt cheap, literally.  So they
> aren't equal, and if you have a good layer of insulation all around
> the house, you will find that additional insulation has a diminishing
> return, while a small investment in some thermal mass can make a big
> difference in stabilizing temperatures in the house, providing
> greater comfort and energy efficiency.


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