Healthy House

Through effective passive solar design we can harness the power of the sun in heating our healthy house whilst protecting inhabitants from excess heat.

What do we mean by passive solar heating?
Solar radiation (heat from the sun) enters the building via glazed surfaces, it is then absorbed and stored by the thermal mass of the building - for example, masonry walls and floors. Once stored we then employ appropriate technology to retain the heat, mainly through insulation and then utilise it in an effective and targeted manner. There are numerous method of doing this such as via well designed radiation, convection and conduction paths and powered methods such as fans and air blowers.

Our design will need to take account of many factors such as:

• The strength of the sun throughout the year.
• The latitude, altitude and azimuth of the site.
• Shading of the building and prevalent weather conditions.
• Ways to maximise the use of the sun in providing heating whilst avoiding over exposure to solar radiation.
• The technology and techniques that can be employed to control and manage heat.
• Methods of storing and releasing heat.
• Ventilation.

There are two key types of passive solar heating system design. Direct gain whereby thermal gain is through direct heating of the thermal mass by solar radiation. Indirect gain whereby solar radiation is captured by a component of the building with a high thermal mass and then released into different areas within the building that need to be heated.

Sue Roaf, Manuel Fuentes, Stephanie Thomas ~ 2007, Architectural Press.

This book carries a strong Healthy House theme throughout and is recommended as a source of information for all aspects of the eco-build.

Of special interest to readers of this site, the chapter on Health and Happiness in the Home is a great primer for consideration and planning of your own healthy house.

The book contains much that is of use to the eco builder, from building in soul to ground source heat pumps there is something here for everyone. The book finishes with a set of insightful and stat packed case studies from around the world.

If you want to learn how to use analogy of a house as a <em>A Hobbit Hole</em> to provoke consideration of building and home design then look no further…

A healthy alternative to traditional paints are clayed based paints. Made from a mix of ingredients but based around clay and water, these products offer health benefits such as:

<blockquote>
# [they] minimises condensation and deters fungal growth such as mildew
# [they are] water-borne, VOC free, low odour
# [they are] highly breathable, making for a more comfortable living environment and minimising the impact of damp
# [they offer a] beneficial impact on health for many allergy and asthma sufferers 
<small>from earthbornpaints.co.uk</small>
</blockquote>

It gives a lovely tactile finish, that has the warmth and the comfortable feel of an unglazed pot and provides an ultra matt, flat finish. As it’s <em>water-borne</em> it washes easily off the brush or roller and a further major benefit is that there is no strong odour during or after application of the paint, just a gentle wiff of clay.

Whilst a little more expensive than a standard emulsions, it compares favourably with premium brands.