Introduction

The principles of passive solar heating, such as basic types of systems, their description and the components making up any passive system are presented in this three-hour course.  Sources of data for heating requirements and available solar radiation throughout the U.S. are identified and discussed along with a method for estimating the rate of heat loss from a home.  The use of these three inputs in a method for estimating performance of a passive heating system of specified size at a specified location is presented.  The data retrieval and calculations are illustrated with numerous examples.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course the student will:

• Be able to name the six components that typically make up a passive solar heating system;
• Be able to name five basic types of passive solar heating systems;
• Be able to describe the differences between daytime and nighttime operation of direct gain passive solar heating systems;
• Be able to describe the differences between daytime and nighttime operation of indirect gain passive solar heating systems;
• Be able to obtain and interpret data for solar radiation rate on vertical and horizontal surfaces of buildings at any of the 239 locations in the NREL database;
• Be able to estimate the rate of heat loss (Btu/degree F-day/sq. ft.) from a building if one year's monthly power bills for the building are available;
• Be able to estimate the monthly percentage of a building's heating requirement provided by a given size passive solar heating system at a given location in the U.S., with specified rate of heat loss from the building (BTU/degree F-day/sq. ft.);
• Be able to estimate the quantity of thermal storage needed for a passive solar heating system with specified area of glazing.

Qualifies for three credit hours of Green / Sustainable Design (3 PDH; 0.3 CEU).

Acceptable continuing education for:

(AL) ALABAMA:Architect, (AL) ALABAMA:Engineer, (AK) ALASKA:Architect, (AK) ALASKA:Engineer, (AK) ALASKA Landscape Architect, (AR) ARKANSAS:Engineer, (CO) COLORADO:Architect, (GA) GEORGIA:Architect, (GA) GEORGIA:Engineer, (ID) IDAHO:Engineer, (IL) ILLINOIS:Architect, (IN) INDIANA:Architect, (IN) INDIANA Landscape Architect, (IA) IOWA:Architect, (IA) IOWA:Engineer, (KS) KANSAS:Architect, (KS) KANSAS:Engineer, (KS) KANSAS Landscape Architect, (KY) KENTUCKY:Architect, (KY) KENTUCKY:Engineer, (LA) LOUISIANA:Architect, (LA) LOUISIANA; Engineer, (ME) MAINE:Engineer, (MN) MINNESOTA:Architect, (MN) MINNESOTA:Engineer, (MN) MINNESOTA Landscape Architect, (MS) MISSISSIPPI:Architect, (MS) MISSISSIPPI:Engineer, (MS) MISSISSIPPI Landscape Architect, (MO) MISSOURI:Architect, (MO) MISSOURI:Engineer, (MO) MISSOURI Landsacpe Architect, (MT) MONTANA:Engineer, (NE) NEBRASKA:Architect, (NE) NEBRASKA:Engineer, (NE) NEBRASKA Landscape Architect, (NV) NEVADA:Architect, (NV) NEVADA:Engineer, (NH) NEW HAMPSHIRE:Engineer, (NH) NEW HAMPSHIRE Landscape Architect, (NM) NEW MEXICO:Architect, (NM) NEW MEXICO:Engineer, (NC) NORTH CAROLINA:Architect, (ND) NORTH DAKOTA:Engineer, (OH) OHIO:Architect, (OH) OHIO:Engineer, (OK) OKLAHOMA:Architect, (OK) OKLAHOMA:Engineer, (OR) OREGON:Architect, (OR) OREGON:Engineer, (PA) PENNSYLVANIA Engineer, (RI) RHODE ISLAND:Architect, (SC) SOUTH CAROLINA:Architect, (SC) SOUTH CAROLINA:Engineer, (SD) SOUTH DAKOTA:Engineer, (SD) SOUTH DAKOTA:Architect, (SD) SOUTH DAKOTA Landscape Architect, (TN) TENNESSEE :Architect, (TN) TENNESSEE :Engineer, (TN) TENNESSEE: Landscape Architect, (TX) TEXAS:Architect, (TX) TEXAS:Engineer, (TX) Texas; Interior Designer, (TX) TEXAS: Landscape Architect, (UT) UTAH:Architect, (UT) UTAH:Engineer, (VT) VERMONT:Architect, (WV) WEST VIRGINIA:Architect, (WV) WEST VIRGINIA:Engineer, (WY) WYOMING:Engineer