MakeHeat

Green roofs are the rage, but green walls are up and coming.  ”…The benefits of green walls are not only for aesthetics’ sake, but can also provide shade and cooling for solar heating.  Over time there has emerged a number of products for green walls – some consist of simple trays hanging with soil and others work with hanging textiles (nonwoven, etc.).  I will not evaluate these methods, but only describe the basic technique in my proposal for a vertical planting technique. …”

Greenroofs.com: In the Shadow of the Vertical Garden, By Lars Kronborg Bak.

I read through a lot of Nick Park’s postings about three years ago, and was delighted, and upset – as he had the information (delight), and pointed out my home’s gaping weak points (upset).  I, like most people, want to build things, not repair them as much.  Nick pointed out – time and time again, using mathematics and common sense that you have to insulate first, heat second.  You just can’t make a solar heater that will give you any benefits no matter how many screen doors you have on your front door.  Many people’s arguments sounded compelling at first, but the facts remain, and Nick would just point to them and say “…put in the numbers, look at the result…”

 So, now that I’m almost completely insulated, I’m setting up my own solar air heater to start with. Not because it’s the most efficient, but because it’s the most bang for the buck, and it’s a good learning experience.  I’ve made it to be removeable, upgradeable, or even redeployed with a little elbow grease.  Worst case I can burn the wood parts in a rocket stove if I get desparate enough, and sell the scrap metal by the pound – but I think I’ll be working with it for awhile.  Check out his site – it’s worth the read into the old usenet posts too – you’ll be amazed!

Solar Closets and Sunspaces.

Wish I’d have run across this before I’d built mine, but I can still use it to finish mine up.  He goes over gap size, fan power and more in an easy to understand page that should never be lost to internet antiquity.  Print out a copy for yourselves if you’re even considering making such a device for yourself – it’ll be worth the three pages of (recycled) paper!

http://www.green-trust.org/2000/solar/solair.htm