Trombe wallsWhat are they? Trombe walls are classic passive heating systems. Consisting of a section of high thermal mass wall, whether concrete or another material, situated behind glass that faces the sun, trombe walls move heat without any mechanical input.
How do they work? The air that is between the glass wall and the concrete becomes hot quickly, and rises, sucking in cool air from a vent at the bottom of the trombe wall, and exhausting the hot air from a vent at the top of the trombe wall.
The cool air can be pulled from a cold area of the building, such as a shaded, northside (in the Northern hemisphere) room. The warm air is directed to living areas in the winter. In the summer, the trombe wall can be used as an exhaust fan, pulling fresh cool air through a house, and exhausting it as warm stale air.
How does Exup use them? For Exup designs, trombe walls have a dual benefit. Not only do they heat and cool a building for free, they use a high-mass (i.e. concrete, cob, adobe, rammed earth) wall to do it. Especially in high-threat areas, high mass always performs a dual purpose, protecting their occupants from human attack.
In hurricane areas, trombe walls can be protected at the first sign of an impending storm with heavy duty shutters. As soon as the storm passes, the shutters are opened and the trombe wall begins working for free again. Because trombe walls are high mass, they can protect occupants from wind-thrown debris. For hundreds of helpful facts and figures regarding green building, energy, and the economy, check out our GREEN FACTS page.
|
