Masonry Magazine June 1982 Page. 25
Brick Specified for High Efficiency Solar Home Construction
Hess Home Builders, Neffsville, Pa. specified a type of handmade brick from Glen-Gery Corp. for use in its passive solar homes constructed in southeastern Pennsylvania. Each home is custom built; however, a sample unit is open for inspection at Mountville (near Lancaster, Pa.) and demonstrates the overall efficiency of the solar design.
According to Donald L. White, who designed the solar home, brick was the natural choice for what he wanted to accomplish in the design. "I was responsible for both the interior and exterior of the home," states White, "and of the materials that I could have chosen, only brick accommodated my concepts of interior color and design. The final product is important; it should be attractive as well as efficient."
"Brick is ideal for solar design on both counts. It is a dense, thick building material, which means it has a high capacity of retaining heat. And it puts the least limitations on the designer. This results in a structure that can be interesting and colorful, as well as economical."
Trombe wall (right) stores heat from direct exposure to the sun during the day and emits retained heat at night. The interior brick walls also serve as thermal masses, releasing heat during the evening hours. The brick, Glen-Gery's Alwine Monticello, also gives the building a "restored" look which the designer sought.
The brick used on the Hess Solar Home is Alwine Monticello, and sand-mold, handmade, oversized brick manufactured by Glen-Gery Corp.
Brick was used extensively throughout the interior of the home. The primary brick thermal mass is the 8-in.-thick Trombe wall, which absorbs the sun's heat during the day and releases the retained heat at night.
Additionally, there is a brick wall in the kitchen and one in the great room, as well as a brick hearth and arched brick firewall behind the standard woodburning stove. All of these function as thermal masses. "The arched brick firewall," reports White, "is out of the ordinary in terms of brick application, but, as with all the brickwork, the masons did a tremendous job." Masonry work on the Hess Solar Homes was done by Witmer & Witmer Brothers, Manheim, Pa.
'82 AED "Green Book" In Distribution
The 1982 edition of the "Green Book" of nationally averaged construction equipment rental rates has been published by Associated Equipment Distributors and is being distributed.
This 33rd edition provides 1981 nationally averaged figures and complete model specifications to help users match the right machine to job requirements. The information includes more than 3,200 line items based on a comprehensive survey of AED-member firms. The book lists all sizes and types of equipment, from small hand tools to giant earthmovers.
The Green Book sells for $22 per copy from: Department R. AED, 615 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, IL 60521.
SCAFFOLDS & HOIST TOWERS!
You can't use more versatile, more durable equipment than Bil-Jax the complete line. including work platforms, swing stages, personnel lifts, and shoring equipment.