Expert: Nazim Nice - 11/19/2011

Question
Hi, Nazim,

Since Allexperts only allows ONE attached image to a question, would you mind visiting the site for additional pictures and all the questions  

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/build/msg1113322430033.html?5

Since I don't really get "answers" there, I would like your help.  If my questions take too long for you to answer or too subjective to be answered, would you please at least the following questions for me?  Thank you.

1. Is this Prairie style plan good for Georgia climate?  It has the solarium, which I assume would create a lot of heat in summer?

2. I love this style architecture.  It is a shame that the entrance is at South, whereas the entrance to my site is North West.  I like the back of the house, so I wouldn't mind facing the back of the house at the front.  However, is this "legal" or against a code?

3. Passive solar designs utilize a lot of windows between 7%-12%.  This is good for winter sun gain, yet I would assume more windows exist the less insulation can be done.  Isn't that defeat the purpose of energy efficiency as a whole???

Answer
Hi Steph,

1. Is this Prairie style plan good for Georgia climate?  It has the solarium, which I assume would create a lot of heat in summer?

A:I don't think there is inherently anything wrong the prairie style in Georgia. In fact a deep roof eave might be a good thing in a sunny climate where the house could be shaded by the roof. The idea of a solarium may be more an issue with heat gain though. The Prairie style does not have to incorporate a solarium though.

2. I love this style architecture.  It is a shame that the entrance is at South, whereas the entrance to my site is North West.  I like the back of the house, so I wouldn't mind facing the back of the house at the front.  However, is this "legal" or against a code?

A: I don't believe it is against code to do this, but I don't see it working well on this site. I think you'd need a pretty large site to change the orientation of a house like that. I would suggest designing a house that has the right solar orientation as well as the entrance on the side it should be on. An alternative would be a side entry, which would at least allow for a visitor to find the front door if designed properly.

3. Passive solar designs utilize a lot of windows between 7%-12%.  This is good for winter sun gain, yet I would assume more windows exist the less insulation can be done.  Isn't that defeat the purpose of energy efficiency as a whole???

A: A well designed passive solar house will have something substantial to hold the heat inside. This would be something like a thick brick or concrete wall and/or floor. Once the sun has set, that heat from this surface (that the sun must be shining on during the day) radiates back out into the living space. At that time, the best thing to do is pull down custom insulated window shades over the windows, with as high of an R-value as you can get. These shades need to be sealed around the edges to be effective. An alternative system called a trombe wall does not require this shade system, and may be effective in a climate where there are large day/night temperature swings. I don't believe Georgia is like this most of the year though.

Many of the comments on the website you left a link on were correct. You are trying to design a passive solar house in a climate that is already warm much of the year. You would want to balance passive solar in the winter with passive cooling in the other months. If you are not going to design a house that really fits the site, solar orientation, and other site conditions you will probably be better off constructing as energy efficient home as possible, and forget about the passive solar features. You would probably be better off trying to figure out how to reduce your cooling load with a super insulated house, geothermal heating system (that gives you free hot water when cooling), solar panels, deciduous shade trees, etc.

I hope this helps! Good luck.

Nazim Nice
Principal / Architect
http://www.motion-space.com
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