Passive solar design by software

The University of JordanFaculty of Engineering & TechnologyMechanical Engineering Department

Special Topics in Thermal- Energy Management (0954594)Spring Semester 2013/2014

Passive Solar Designby Software

AHMAD NAZIHStudent No. : 0095626

5 May 2014

“Passive solar heating, cooling and lighting design must

consider the building envelope and its orientation, the thermal storage mass, and window configuration and

design.”

– From ASHRAE Handbook –HVAC Applications 2007 , Ch. 33

• Passive solar buildings aim to maintain interior Thermal comfort.

• Passive solar building design is one part of green building design, and does not include active systems such as Mechanical ventilation or Photovoltaic.

Figure 1 : Design Aspects

:Three Passive Solar Principles that follow

Principle 1: Site of Design & Sun Position.

Principle 2: Windows Design .

Principle 3: Overhangs & Shading .

Passive Solar Principle 1

Site of Design & Sun PositionHistorical Perspective:

Figure 2: The colonial "salt box" housetypical of New England architecture

of the 18th century

Figure 3: The solar-heated Rose Elementary School in Tucson Arizona. It obtained over 80%

of its heat from solar energy for an entire decade, beginning in 1948

“Choosing a good building shape and orientation are two of the most critical elements of an integrated design”.

–Sustainable Buildings Industry Council


Site of Design & Sun Position

Figure 3: House Design before editing Figure 4: House Location before editing


Site of Design & Sun Position -Orient the long, east - west axis of a house within 10 degrees east or west of true south

Figure 5: House Location and sun path after editing (SketchUp software)



Figure 6: Sun Angle tool ( Sun Design Software)



Figure 7: Sun Position tool ( Sun Design Software)



Figure 8: Sun Path ( SunCalculator Software)

Figure 9: Sun Path tool (Sun Design Software)

Results and Conclusions:• The sun reaches higher in the sky in summer than in winter.

• The sun rises further northward in the summer than in the Winter.

• Relationship between Solar gain & degrees deviation from true south



Results of Calculations


Windows DesignWindow Software:

Calculates thermal performance of fenestration, solar optical characteristics & glazing.

-Window Library-Glass Library

-Gas Library-Glazing System Library

-Environment Condition Library-Divider Library

-Shading Layer Library

Figure 10: Window library (Window v6.3 Software)


Windows Design

–In general, we want to tune our windows thus:

•South: –High solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), >0.5

•East, west: –Low solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), <0.4

•All exposures: –Low U-factor to minimize heat loss (for best

overall performance for both seasons)


Windows Design

Window v6.3 Software


Windows Design-Locate most windows on the south side of a house.

-Minimize windows on the north, west, and east sides.

(Too much glazing on east and west walls causes summer overheating.)(Too much glazing on north walls results in excessive heat loss.)

Results and Conclusions:



Overhangs & Shading


Overhangs & Shading

Figure 11: Overhang Design tool(Sun Design Software) Figure 12: Overhang Recommendations tool(Sun Design Software )

In a typical commercial building, lighting, heating and cooling represents as much as 65% of the total energy consumption, which puts a significant burden on an

operating budget .


Overhangs & Shading

Recommended Pitched Overhang

Overhang Annual Analysis tool(Sun Design Software)

Recommended Horizontal Overhang

Non-Recommended Pitched Overhang


Overhangs & ShadingHorizontal Shading tool

(Sun Design Software)

Trees also clean the air, create habitat and play areas for children as well as add aesthetic beauty

to the neighborhood.


Overhangs & Shading

- -Passive solar design can reduce heating temperatures by 30-50%

-Sunlight is free and by reducing the use of artificial lighting allows energy savings . Artificial lighting can amount to 35% of a commercial building's energy costs!

-Passive solar systems require no maintenance, as there are no filters to change or ducts to clean.

-Passive solar design is a completely clean energy source. It produces no harmful fumes, pollutants or emissions that can harm the environment.


Overhangs & ShadingResults and Conclusions:


References1- Sustainable By Design, SunDesign Software

2- SunTool, SketchUp Software

3- Window v6.3 Software

4- HAP Software

5 -The Passive Solar House, James Kachadorian

7 -American Society of Landscaping Architects (ASLA) https://www.asla.org/

6 -ASHRAE Handbook ,HVAC Applications 2007