Masonry Magazine August 1981 Page. 25
PASSIVE SOLAR
Further deregulation of conventional fuels will increase both the demand for and the amount of savings to be gained from passive solar systems. The almost daily strides in the state-of-the-art of passive solar technology will also increase its efficiency and its potential to save money for home owners.
Chuck Ochsner, a builder in Denver, Colo., reports that the "tremendous consumer demand" for passive solar has convinced him to change his offerings from almost all conventionally heated homes to 90 percent passive solar homes. When he exhibited a passive solar house in a local "Tour of Homes," more than 14,000 persons went through the model and at least 10 duplicate houses were sold during the first three weeks.
Ochsner says that people want to buy his homes despite high mortgage interest rates because they feel their initial expenditure will be offset by fuel savings, and they like the way the homes integrate passive solar heating with an attractive masonry structure.
On the south-facing exterior of the Anders-built home in Waukesha, 475 sq. ft. of glass admit sunlight, and the sun's heat is stored in interior brick and concrete block walls. Shades are designed to reflect heat in summer and retain interior heat during winter nights. The 2,100 sq. ft. building is earth-sheltered on its west and north sides.
"Active" solar systems were initially embraced by the home building industry; however, the required water tanks, pumps, pipes and other paraphernalia were found to be complicated and unsightly, and typically added at least $10,000 to the asking price of a home.
Passive solar systems with masonry are less expensive than active solar systems, in most cases, and offer a fast payback in the form of utility savings.
Ochsner estimates that passive solar features add 6 to 8 percent to the cost of his buildings but with the 60 percent fuel savings projected in his standard passive solar home (the exact amount of fuel consumption is being scientifically monitored by the DOE Solar Energy Resource Institute), the home owner should make up for his initial outlay within just a few years.
A passive solar system with masonry is more efficient, because the heat storage materials-masonry floors and walls, and, in many cases, masonry fireplaces are also part of the structure of the home itself, and add to the home's beauty rather than detract from it.
In addition to being a superior heat storage material in a passive system, masonry, because of its mass and low conductivity, is an excellent choice for the exterior of any home. Because heat is transmitted through it slowly, less heat is lost to the outside in winter, and less outside heat enters the building in summer.
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