Posted by lonlazarus on July 9, 2007, 12:22 pm
I've always been interested in alternative energy in the home, but
I've never been in a position to make an outlay to head that
direction. Recently I've decided to spacebase themed playhouse for
the kids (I have an interest in electronics), and I thought I would
make it a testbed for alternative energy and make it as self
sufficient as possible.
I think the best thing I could do for the playhouse is to make it
comfortable to play in even in part of the winter. I live in Nebraska
which can get to -10 F in the winter and up to 100 F in the summer. I
would like to use passive solar heating, but the site I have available
to build in is in the shade pretty much all day.
I was considering using reflectors to send light over to the area, but
I'm not sure if this is either feasable, or managable. The structure
of the playhouse itself is still being decided, although I was
thinking about going with a geodesic dome. Any ideas?
Lonlaz
Posted by Anthony Matonak on July 9, 2007, 1:03 pm
lonlazarus@gmail.com wrote:
...
> I think the best thing I could do for the playhouse is to make it
> comfortable to play in even in part of the winter. I live in Nebraska
> which can get to -10 F in the winter and up to 100 F in the summer. I
> would like to use passive solar heating, but the site I have available
> to build in is in the shade pretty much all day.
Obviously, if you want to heat it with passive solar then it has to
be in the sunlight. If you don't get enough sunlight and can't relocate
then you won't be able to do passive solar. Passive is overrated anyhow.
> I was considering using reflectors to send light over to the area, but
> I'm not sure if this is either feasable, or managable. The structure
> of the playhouse itself is still being decided, although I was
> thinking about going with a geodesic dome. Any ideas?
In Nebraska you might want to look into straw bale construction. : )
You might make a geodesic dome covered in greenhouse plastic where
it's sunny and construct a duct to the playhouse. A blower could
move the warm air when the sun shines.
Anthony
Posted by nicksanspam on July 9, 2007, 1:51 pm
>lonlazarus@gmail.com wrote:
>...
>> I think the best thing I could do for the playhouse is to make it
>> comfortable to play in even in part of the winter. I live in Nebraska
>> which can get to -10 F in the winter and up to 100 F in the summer. I
>> would like to use passive solar heating, but the site I have available
>> to build in is in the shade pretty much all day...
>> I was considering using reflectors to send light over to the area...
If you have room somewhere for reflectors, why not put the playhouse there?
>You might make a geodesic dome covered in greenhouse plastic where
>it's sunny and construct a duct to the playhouse. A blower could
>move the warm air when the sun shines.
It's hard to move warm air far without large ducts and heat losses.
You might circulate hot water from a remote solar water heater, eg a solar
pond as described at http://www.builditsolar.com . Then again, if you have
room for a remote water heater, why not build the playhouse there?
Nick
Posted by lonlazarus on July 9, 2007, 2:32 pm
nicksans...@ece.villanova.edu wrote:
> >lonlazarus@gmail.com wrote:
> >...
> >> I think the best thing I could do for the playhouse is to make it
> >> comfortable to play in even in part of the winter. I live in Nebraska
> >> which can get to -10 F in the winter and up to 100 F in the summer. I
> >> would like to use passive solar heating, but the site I have available
> >> to build in is in the shade pretty much all day...
> >
> >> I was considering using reflectors to send light over to the area...
> If you have room somewhere for reflectors, why not put the playhouse there?
> >You might make a geodesic dome covered in greenhouse plastic where
> >it's sunny and construct a duct to the playhouse. A blower could
> >move the warm air when the sun shines.
> It's hard to move warm air far without large ducts and heat losses.
> You might circulate hot water from a remote solar water heater, eg a solar
> pond as described at http://www.builditsolar.com . Then again, if you have
> room for a remote water heater, why not build the playhouse there?
> Nick
Hmm, now I'm going to have to think about electricity. I'm guessing
I'm going to have to either think about solar power as well, or tap
into the house's power. Hmm.. the word 'solar' keeps coming up
doesn't it, and it doesn't go well with 'shade'.
I was going to put the reflectors on the roof of the real house. We
do have a sunny bit of yard, but it may be reserved, and I'd have to
go through the 'committee' (wife). She likes the playhouse idea, but
she may have a different idea of what's going to go where.
Lonlaz
Posted by Neon John on July 9, 2007, 3:24 pm
On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 11:32:48 -0700, lonlazarus@gmail.com wrote:
>I was going to put the reflectors on the roof of the real house. We
>do have a sunny bit of yard, but it may be reserved, and I'd have to
>go through the 'committee' (wife). She likes the playhouse idea, but
>she may have a different idea of what's going to go where.
Put solar water heating collectors where you were considering locating the
collectors. Bury a couple of hard PVC tubes, suitably insulated, to run hot
water to
and from the playhouse. Install a few extra valves so that you can heat your
domestic hot water when no play is going on.
Drop some direct-burial power cable in the trench while you're at it. Winter
sun in
higher latitudes doesn't do a lot so it'll be nice to have an electric space
heater
for backup.
John
--
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
http://www.johndearmond.com <-- best little blog on the net!
Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
Multitasking: Reading in the bathroom!
XML site map
> comfortable to play in even in part of the winter. I live in Nebraska
> which can get to -10 F in the winter and up to 100 F in the summer. I
> would like to use passive solar heating, but the site I have available
> to build in is in the shade pretty much all day.