Solar Air Heating and Night Time Summer Purging System
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House Notes – Solar Air Heating and Night Time Summer Purging System
Weatherboard Edwardian/Californian front with a late 90’s extension retrofitted with a Solar Air Heating, night time summer ventilation and day time attic ventilation system from www.heatwithsolar.com.au, installed by www.pythonsolarheating.com.au.
FOR DETAILED DESCRIPTION of this system please see ‘ACTIVE HEATING COOLING’ in RHS Sustainable Features LIST. Also See PHOTOS of heating and cooling SCHEMATICS.
Top of the range Brightgreen LED downlights, LED globes and insulation in floor, walls and ceiling plus around hot water pipes under house.
Electricity and gas usage since 2010, before any work was done, graphed year on year will be available.
Features includes;
- Solar air heating and night time summer purging (intake + extraction fans) whole house
- Old insulation plus new full layer of “Floorseal R2 Thermal Polyester Ausmalt” on top.
- 40% GHG savings on gas, 30% on electricity
- LED’s brightgreen DR700 downlights. LED bulbs and a few CFL lights left.
- 4.5 stars energy rating
- R2.5 floor rating
- Polyester Insulation around hot water pipes all the way from gas hot water outlet and inlet which also gets hot! Polyester insulation stuffed up chimney after balloon failed
- R2.5 walls rating
- Solar PV grid connect
Sustainability Features
- Energy efficiency:
- Efficient lighting
Draught proofing
- Energy efficiency:
- LED's brightgreen DR700 downlights. LED bulbs and a few CFL lights left.
- Active heating cooling:
- Solar air heating and night time summer purging (intake + extraction fans) whole house. The Python Solar Heating system harvests solar heated, fresh air from roof mounted panels (collectors). The heated air is drawn into the home through insulated ducts, providing most of the daytime space heating, for most of the year. There is also a significant contribution to night time heating through daytime heat accumulation, and humidity reduction. The system comes with a lifetime supply of fuel – solar energy! During hot weather, two high-flow, roof-cooling fans operate to keep the roof space temperature as low as possible. The system also operates in Economy Room Cooling mode to remove hot air directly from the living spaces. Cool, fresh, replacement air flows in through the existing ducts of the, below floor, central heating system. In combination, these low energy cooling systems help eliminate the need for air-conditioning, on all but the hottest days. System description - Solar Air heating The solar heat source consists of 14 Solar Air Modules (SAM), in four, roof mounted, arrays, delivering a total maximum heat energy of 9.8KW. Brush-less DC, low-energy, in-line fans deliver fresh, heated air, via insulated ducting and 200mm, gimble-style, ceiling outlet registers. Motorised dampers close snugly when the fans go off duty. This means accumulated heat is captured in the home, and not lost through the ducting. The system provides most of the daytime heating, for most of the year, plus a significant contribution to night time heating through daytime heat accumulation, and humidity reduction. Lower humidity means less energy is required to raise the air temperature if required for evening comfort. This system produces around 1200 cubic metres of warm, fresh air for every hour of operation. The inflowing air creates a slight positive pressure within the building. This is helpful in eliminating drafts, as the displaced, cooler air will find its way out through any gaps around doors and windows, but mainly through the bathroom and ensuite exhaust fans. The flow of air through the dampest rooms reduces the possibility of unhealthy mould growth. A Python differential energy controller manages energy flow from the roof mounted, solar heater panels, by constantly monitoring the panel and room temperatures; calling the fans into operation, whenever a higher room temperature is desired, and there is heat available. The Python fans draw a total of 56 watts of electrical energy to deliver 9,800 watts of heat energy in full sun, creating a spectacular EROEI-Energy Return on Energy Invested. The heated air is fresh air. It displaces Typically indoor air is laden with moisture, carbon dioxide and VOC- laden (volatile organic compound laden) in the home with fresh air, heated to up to 25 degrees above the ambient temperature in full sun. The system continues to run even in overcast weather, as long as the panel temperature is above the room temperature. Operating the system lowers the relative humidity in the home from around 75% to around 50%. Furnishings, bedding, carpets and clothing are dry and fresh, and the air is healthier to breathe. Research has shown that air between 45% and 55% relative humidity is ideal for respiratory health. System description - Roof Cooling The high volume extraction fans draw a total of just 60 watts of electrical energy to flow around 6,000 cubic metres of warm air, out of the roof cavity, during each hour of operation. On hot days, the system is activated using the touch-screen controller. Motorised dampers open, and the extraction fans begin drawing warm air from the roof space. The fans continue to run in Roof Cooling mode until Economy Room Cooling mode is called by the system controller. System description - Economy Room Cooling Room cooling will operate whenever the room thermostat settings call for cooling, and the outside air is at least three degrees cooler than the room temperature. The motorised roof-cool dampers will close, and the room-cool dampers will open, allowing warm air to flow directly out of the living spaces. In the bedrooms, warm air is drawn out through the same registers that deliver heat from the solar heating system. In the kitchen/family/living room, warm air is drawn from two 300mm ceiling intakes. Cool outside replacement air flows in via the under-floor ducts of the central heating system. The flow is controlled using a motorised damper, which opens for cooling and closes snugly during normal heating operation. The room cooling system can run throughout the night, or until it achieves the desired temperature. On the morning of hot days, cool fresh air will continue to flow, until it is warmer outside than inside. This way the homeowners start the day with a house full of fresh, cool air, minimising or eliminating the need for air-conditioning. System description - Room thermostat The intelligent touchscreen thermostat is wall mounted in the living room. It displays outside, inside, roof, and set temperatures, on the one graphical interface—so that system performance can be seen at a glance. It also produces a graph to show how it has performed over a 24hr period, and stores data from the previous 14 days. The thermostat manages all system functions, including differential functions and mode/zone selection. System benefits. The homeowners notice a qualitative change in how their home feels. The indoor air is not only warmer in winter and cooler in summer; but also healthier, with reduced levels of carcinogenic VOCs, and carbon dioxide. A CSIRO Study has shown measurable cognitive decline with carbon dioxide levels above 600ppm, which is common in well sealed homes during winter months. This system represents a significant investment in the home; however, from the first day of operation, the homeowners began reducing their reliance on energy utilities. Approximately, half the yearly energy spend, in Melbourne households, is for space heating. As energy prices rise inexorably, Solar Air Heating with Economy Room Cooling will prove to be a very wise choice.
- Water heating:
- Gas - insulated pipe work
- Water harvesting and saving features:
- Low flow shower heads
- Insulation Type:
- Ceiling
Internal and external walls
Floor
- Ceiling Type:
- Old insulation plus new full layer of "Floorseal R2 Thermal Polyester Ausmalt" on top.
- Ceiling Rating:
- R2 + R2?
- Floor Type:
- Masterfloor polystyrene 75 mm from https://masterwall.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Masterfloor-Brochure.pdf
- Floor Rating:
- R2.5
- Other Insulation Methods:
- Polyester Insulation around hot water pipes all the way from gas hot water outlet and inlet which also gets hot! Polyester insulation stuffed up chimney after balloon failed
- Internal / External Walls Type:
- Enviroflex Blow-in insulation external Earth Superfil 040
- Internal / External Walls Rating:
- R2.5
- Energy star rating:
- 4.5 stars
- Renewable energy used:
- Solar PV grid connect
- Renewable energy
- SAM solar air heat modules plus summer night time cooling ventilation mode from www.heatwithsolar.com.au
- Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
- 18000
- Estimate of annual savings:
- 40% GHG savings on gas, 30% on electricity
- House Size
- 150 m2
- Number of bedrooms
- 4
- Number of bathrooms
- 2
- Garden / Outdoors
- Composting
- Housing Type:
- Standalone House
- Project Type:
- Retrofit
Continual Improvement
- Builder
- -
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