Roof Overhangs For Passive Solar

How roof overhangs or other window overhangs work to control heat and solar gain.

Roof overhangs for passive solar.

Here s a link to a free web based tool to help you size roof overhangs on a passive solar building. An important component of passive solar design is calculating building openings doors and windows and roof overhangs. Experienced passive solar home designers plan for summer comfort as well as winter heating. User 757117 jul 16 2012 05 54pm 3.

We design them primarily to shed water away from the foundation wall depending on wind direction orientation etc. Design the roof overhangs. Generally passive solar design requires overhangs that are sized to fully shade the south facing windows on the summer solstice june 21 and to allow full sunlight to enter on the winter solstice december 21. An overhang or some sort of solar control or solar shading is a crucial element in passive solar design because it blocks the sun s heat energy when it is not desired.

In passive solar home design exterior roof overhangs provide a practical method for shading building elements such as windows doors and walls. 24 dec 2012 02 45 pm. I also urge you to read this article. Erik not sure what kind of insolation you receive at your site but it might be worth it to consider the.

Work out the right window solar overhang required. A passive solar house requires careful design and siting which vary by local climate conditions. Borst passive solar roof overhang design calculator. Works worldwide by latitude or address.

You can use the free software sketchup to draw the house and it will draw sun shadows for any date time at your location. There is simulation software like sam to do this. This is a new overhang analysis tool providing visual feedback of the overhang shade at the selected date time as well as an annual performance chart. For instance several features of a window will influence gain of solar heat and shade.

Interactive online passive solar eaves calculator. This tool may not work in certain old browsers so in that case you may wish to try a different browser or use the old version feedback is welcome on this new tool and improvements continue to be made. In most climates an overhang or other devices such as awnings shutters and trellises will be necessary to block summer solar heat gain. Borst engineering construction llc competence integrity and professionalism are integral to all that we do.

Overhangs are most effective for south facing elements in the northern hemisphere and at midday. Of course we don t want to solar shade either unless intentionally. Because the sun travels different paths across the sky in the winter low and summer high time an overhang can be constructed to utilize and manipulate the heat energy. Jonr senior member posts 5341.

Cost effective passive solar design.