[Strawbale] sunspaces

Wed Sep 27 19:25:43 CDT 2006

Yes, I've had a copy for a while which I just discovered again while packing
to evacuate for a fire (didn't happen).  The trick is that you need to know
your climate, or make some very tricky calculations, so the best thing is to
see what other people in your area have done that has worked.

John "Spaced in the Sun" Swearingen

John Swearingen
 SKILLFUL MEANS
design and construction
www.skillful-means.com

-----Original Message-----
From: strawbale-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:strawbale-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of N Leone
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 3:50 PM
To: Bill & Eva Kresge; strawbale at listserv.repp.org
Subject: Re: [Strawbale] sunspaces

Hey all,

There is a book called "The Homeowner's Complete Handbook for Add-on Solar 
Greenhouses and Sunspaces" by Andrew Shapiro that appears to be pretty much 
what the title indicates - at least from the design/construction end of 
things.  He covers the different design elements necessary for different 
uses (ie: heating, living space, gardening, etc.) and where those uses are 
and aren't compatible with each other.  He also covers a few DIY ways of 
building one.  I've found it to be pretty thorough and readable, but I 
haven't actually built mine yet.  (Gotta build the house first...)

I believe the book is out of print, but it looks like its readily available 
online used: 
http://www3.addall.com/New/compare.cgi?dispCurr=USD&id=150496&isbn=087857507
3&location=10000&thetime=20060927144237&author=&title=&state=AK . (Add if
that URL is too big, go to www.addall.com and search for ISBN number 
08785-7507-3 .)

Charmaine, if you have it for sale, pipe up!

Nick

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill & Eva Kresge" <islandmountainfarm at yahoo.com>
To: <archilogic at yahoo.ca>; <strawbale at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 4:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Strawbale] sunspaces

> Rob,
>
> I am delighted that you feel that way about sun spaces. I don't know 
> how
> many heating days we get in the Okanogan Highlands but we are less than 20

> miles from the Canadian border at almost 3000 feet so we do get cold in 
> the winter.
>
> We are currently leaning towards a one story partially dug in 
> structure.
> We have good southern exposure. We'd like to have enough thermal mass to 
> coast through our normal 4 to 6 weeks of zero solar gain, normally 
> accompanied by after dark temps in the 20s down to the minus teens 
> Fahrenheit. That in mind we are thinking about going Rastra along the back

> wall and about 8' out east and west. Then putting in a pantry/root 
> cellar/vertical utility space with a very well insulated wall to close off

> the concrete part of the structure. We'd tie that to a post and beam frame

> with straw bale infill to finish the east west walls and some of the south

> wall. The remaining south wall would be good quality angled glass with 
> continuous grow beds right inside. With the right overhang and shade 
> fabrics we can handle the summer heat and if we get the right combination 
> of glazing, high thermal mass, insulation and ventilation I think we can 
> stay warm and toasty with little need to burn wood.
>
> The design is simple, the devil is in the details. Namely the 
> junctions of
> different materials, ventilation, amount of mass, window area and glazing.

> I'm sure the details have already been published somewhere, I just haven't

> found the kind of detail I need to feel comfortable putting it all 
> together. Do you have any sources for this kind of information that 
> doesn't assume your read blueprints or have years of experience in the 
> field?
>
> Rob Tom <ArchiLogic at yahoo.ca> wrote: On Sat, 23 Sep 2006 16:54:36 
> -0400,
> wrote:
> [snipped]
>
>> [opinions re:] attached greenhouse/sunspace ?
>
>> one famous SB writer/speaker saying they are horrid.
>>      We'd be building this in SE Wisconsin
>
>
> Shiv;
>
> I'd be interested in seeing the famous SB writer speaker explain to 
> this List why (s)he feels attached greenhouses/sunspaces (AG/SS) are 
> "horrid".
>
> I live in a somewhat similar climate to the one you will be building 
> in (~8750 HDD/yr) and I wouldn't even think about building a house 
> without one.
>
> I suppose that one's opinion of AG/SS would depend upon what one's 
> expectations were from the space.
>
> If one had intended on using it as a living space in which to hang out 
> for most of one's non-sleeping time, then "yes" it would be horrid 
> simply because such an expectation would be ill-informed and hence, 
> unrealistic.
>
> Extensive areas of glass fully exposed to sun in the day and cold at 
> night ? Hello-o-o-o ???
>
> If one had intended to use it as a thermal buffer zone, a transitional 
> space, a solar furnace for the rest of the house, a place for 
> starting/growing plants and extending the growing season, then one 
> would be delighted ... as I am with mine.
>
> Given the minimal cost of including such a space on one's home and the 
> rapid payback via reduced space-heating energy load for the rest of 
> the house, not to mention the other non-monetary benefits that such a 
> space bestows to the dwelling, I do have to wonder why there is even a 
> question in anyone's mind as to whether or not to include one in our 
> climate.
>
>
>
>
> ===* ===
> Rob Tom
> Kanata, Ontario, Canada
>
> winnow the chaff from my edress in your reply
>
>
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