Human Comfort and Auxiliary Control Considerations in Passive Solar Structures

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Abstract
Energy consumption and human comfort implications of various passive solar and energy conservation strategies are investigated for single-family, one-story, slab-on-grade residences in Albuquerque, NM and Washington, DC. The building energy analysis computer program BLAST is used to perform annual dynamic heating and cooling load calculations for a building in which the glazing area, glazing location, and thermal mass are varied systematically. The impacts on building performance of forced-flow ventilative cooling and nighttime and weekday thermostat setpoint adjustments are investigated. The results indicate that the annual heating and cooling loads are highly sensitive to glazing area, glazing location, and thermostatic controls. Annual cooling loads are substantially reduced by increased thermal mass in the walls. In contrast, annual heating loads are fairly insensitive to increased thermal mass in the walls, unless very large areas of south glazing are involved. BLAST calculates the air temperatures (T/sub a/) and mean radiant temperatures (T/sub mr/) in each zone for every hour of the year; a weighted average of T/sub a/ and T/sub mr/ is used to evaluate comfort conditions under various circumstances.

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