PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN
Through Ecorate Ltd Keith Huntington provides a range of professional services relating to the importance of Maximising Energy Conservation Through Design. His interest in solar energy began with a visit to the DSIRO laboratories when at college and continued with studies at the School of Architecture.
During the early years of architectural practice solar design was primarily a case of plan orientation, window size and placement, and the path of the sun through the seasons – fundamental factors still valid today. At that time the main technical aid was a simple sun protractor and a calculator to determine construction R-values. The advent of the personal computer has allowed experience and intuitive design to be supported by the objective results of sophisticated thermal simulation software.
To quote the foreword to New Zealand Standard NZS 4218:2009 - "In the New Zealand climate, good passive solar design incorporating appropriate areas of glazing and thermal mass, combined with a well-insulated thermal envelope, can significantly reduce the energy requirements to heat and cool buildings." All dwellings are Passive Houses because their thermal behaviour is moderated by the sun and daily ambient temperatures – the difference is just the degree of effectiveness.
EcoRate Ltd provides a service to Architects, Designers, Developers and Home Owners to objectively analyse the passive solar performance of their projects using AccuRateNZ thermal simulation computer software. This information can be used to modify the design so as to minimize any passive energy deficit through the exploration of various mix-n-match options of materials, construction, fenestration, planning, orientation, costings, etc. Such exploration by manual methods is not feasible, but is quick and simple when using computer software.
There are many urban myths surrounding passive solar design and sustainable architecture, especially with regard to the three well known basic features of insulation, glazing and thermal mass. There is no simple formula, (multi-variable relationships are complex to resolve), to define the ideal relationship between the three; instead each design, (in its location and orientation), needs to be specifically analysed. This is where Keith can, using AccuRateNZ and his experience, provide an objective exploration of your proposed design,
Check out my latest article on EBOSS https://www.eboss.co.nz/detailed/keith-huntington
CONTACT DETAILS: Please feel free to contact Keith for his C.V. and summary of experience. tel: 04 499-3015 mble: 021 890 251 e-mail: keith@settlement.co.nz
Keith Huntington - B.Arch, Dip.Urb.Val, Dip Bus.Stud(Disp.Res), FNZIA, FAMINZ(Med), LEADR Registered Architect (RAB# 1372) and NZGBC Homestar™ Practitioner & Assessor (reg# 6868)
