[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: rock storage + heat pump & water

[YankeePerm at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/21/08 5:51:01 PM, LLile at projsolco.com writes:


> Exactly, this is a good idea vs. using air as a medium.  But with water, 
> why use rocks at all?  Water is better at holding and storing heat than almost 
> anything else.
> 

Agreed.   I had that thought, but figured one would be more likely to change 
an idea somewhat, vs. a lot.   Since one is adding and removing heat at will, 
a buried and insulated masonry cistern filled with water would hold a huge 
amount of heat available on demand. The rate of discharge is much more under 
control than with passive thermal mass, with the drawback of all passive 
systems--that control is lost (except for convection heating) with the loss of electric 
service.

I proposed a similar measure in a design I did for a client in Northern 
Ontario, many years ago, on a very exposed site with high wind.   My first 
recommendation was to never move in, as the site was brutal from the point of view of 
cold and wind and humidity, being elevated on bare rock downwind from George's 
Bay by a few hundred yards.   That failing, I suggested the cistern heated by 
wind power, running year round to heat elements in the water, which was to 
circulate in winter by convection.   A comparatively small windmill would do the 
job because it would run year round, and the heat was supplemental to a wood 
stove.  However, with this arrangement, the client could leave home for a few 
days in winter and not worry about freezing her pipes.   (Possibly heat tape 
powered by the windmill would help, also.)   After the first winter, she 
decided to take my primary recommendation and moved to Parry Sound without ever 
implementing most of the design.   :-)

Dan Hemenway



Barking Frogs Permaculture Center
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