Masonry Magazine February 1978 Page. 45
Solar Energy Home in Virginia Poses
Challenging Architectural Problems
When the builder decided to incorporate a super-sophisticated solar energy system into a home for his family, he faced a challenging set of circumstances. The design had to fit a narrow city lot in the historic Old Town Section of Alexandria, Virginia. In addition, local architectural requirements meant that the elements of the house visible from the street had to conform to the Colonial theme of structures in the district's narrow, cobbled streets.
The results indicate a challenge met superbly: a striking, contemporary brick home for parents and children that reveals its inner drama to passersby only through a steeply pitched roof. Set back from the street, the warm brick walls with mullioned windows blend with an entrance courtyard to form a gracious, modest exterior. The window mullions are a concession to architectural requirements; their working shutters are frequently closed, as they were in Colonial days, against winter drafts.
The attractive brick residence, constructed by builder Tom Rust, combines solar equipment with several "passive energy" design features that help minimize the energy requirements of the house. Chief among these features is an enclosed central atrium that brings light and heat to the three levels of the house.
In winter, the heat that is generated by sunlight reaching the atrium is used to help heat the house. When temperatures reach 80 degrees, automatic dampers open to circulate the air through the house. In summer, the damper system is reversed, and the atrium acts as an exhaust of hot air to the outside.
The exterior brick and block walls of the house form a seamless barrier against the outdoor climate. The sheer mass of the masonry helps conserve energy; it reacts slowly to changes in outdoor temperatures, thereby helping to keep indoor temperatures even. According to the Brick Institute of America, the mass or "M" factor of brick has a direct effect on the energy-conserving properties of masonry walls. For example, a computer study commissioned by the Institute found that if there is a 30-degree temperature difference from one side of a wall to the other, an insulated brick wall will take up to eight hours to transfer unwanted heat or cold into your home. An identically insulated wood wall will transfer these temperatures in about one hour.
Entrances and windows are designed to minimize heat loss. At the front and rear entrances, the old-fashioned vestibule has been translated into an air lock with an inner door that keeps drafts out. Windows, except for the mullioned front windows, are of insulated glass.
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