Masonry Magazine February 1979 Page. 39
Brick Design Keeps This Solar House
Warm Without Solar Hardware
Brick surfaces that retain the sun's heat play a key role in this energy-saving solar house in Royal Oak, Md. The masonry wall (left, behind glass) heats air in the space between the wall and the outer glass cover. The hot air rises naturally and circulates into the house through the decorative vents built into the brick.
You don't have to be an energy expert to be a solar pioneer. But it helps to have a son who is an architect.
When they planned their country home near Royal Oak, Maryland, Richard and Elaine Crosby gave their son Mark, an MIT architecture student, the opportunity to try out classroom theories in solar design. The result: a carefree retirement home with simple contemporary lines that conceal a sophisticated "passive solar" energy savings design.
The Crosbys 1,300 square foot house has no roof-top collectors, pumps, fans or other solar hardware. Unlike other solar home residents, they don't worry about pipes that can freeze or equipment that can break down.
Neither do they worry about stretching retirement income to pay fuel bills. During the cold winter of 1976-1977, the Crosbys paid only $104 for electric heating from November to February. Their highest heating bill so far: $50 for the month of January, 1977.
The Crosbys paid only one-third of the heating costs of a similar-sized house in their area, estimates the Choptank Electric Cooperative in Talbot County. The passive solar design, together with a wood-burning Franklin stove, made the difference.
Solar experts define a passive solar system as one in which thermal (heat) energy flows by natural means. In practice, this means that a house or other building is designed to absorb the greatest possible amount of heat from the sun in winter, and to retain the heat.
Passive solar designers also take advantage of the fact that heated air rises naturally. Their designs are planned to encourage this natural air flow to carry heat through the house.
RYD-UP SCAFFOLDING
Special truss support provides sturdy 10-foot sections... 30% less handling.
Put your masons on a RYD-UP scaffold and watch savings, production and efficiency get off the ground. Ten-foot sections provide 30% less scaffold to move, handle or erect over seven-foot platforms. Cross-planked platform provides extra strength and space for brick, block and mortar boards. No lengthwise slots to catch wheels.
Studies show production can rise 20%. Easy-to-pump double-action hoist maintains fully loaded scaffold at efficient wall height.
For more information about how you can move up with truss constructed RYD-UP scaffolding, call or write: Automatic Devices, Inc., 2440 Adie Road, Maryland Heights, Missouri 63043. Phone 314/432-5710.
Visit Us In BOOTHS 89 & 90 RYD-UP ☑ MASONRY SCAFFOLDING MCAA SHOW ustration may not show all of the latest features and safety equipment
MASONRY/FEBRUARY, 1979 39