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<small>A question....
<br>
How much mass would I lose by floating bamboo flooring over a slab
floor in a passive solar home? South glass exposure is significant
(25%) of south wall, but 3' overhangs allow direct sun in December
and January only.
<br>
<br>
Many thanks!
<br>
<br>
Lynelle
</small>
<br>
<small><small><font size="+1"><small><small><font face="Verdana">...................................................................................................................<br>
<br>
Hi Lynelle, <br>
<br>
The ratio of glass-to-mass-to-surface area is a do-able,
( and necessary), pre-calculation, I would think.<br>
And Dan Chiras has enlightened us with his ratios! They
work well, in my building owners' experience. <br>
<br>
That the Sunlit floor-</font></small></small></font><font
size="+1"><small><small><font face="Verdana">to-glass</font></small></small></font></small></small><font
size="+1"><font face="Verdana"><small><small>-area's ratio is
worth *1-to-5.5*.<br>
Where-as the Unlit floor-to-glass area is *1-to-40*. <br>
<br>
So that means, in my pea brain, that getting sunlight
directly on the floor mass is worth doing, (if
pre-calculations say it's needed), <br>
... and that a Bamboo-Matt-Covered floor glass-to-mass
ratio would be calculated at somewhere in between those two
above ratios. <br>
Say *1-to-25*, or even *1-to-30*?<br>
<br>
However, if it's a thickly plastered straw bale house, there
is a huge wall surface area to add to the total South facing
square footage, <br>
at the rate of *1-to-8.3*. <br>
<br>
You could add up your areas, do the math, and see how much
mass area you would require with the different calculated
ratios. Then you could see if you can easily afford to lose
the best sunlit ratio a bit, and make up with it with
adequate quantities of the second best ratio, window
area-to-wall area.<br>
<br>
(That's how I'd attempt to solve it, back at the drawing
boards.)<br>
<br>
Frank </small></small> <br>
</font></font>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Frank Tettemer
Living Sol ~ Building and Design
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.livingsol.com">www.livingsol.com</a>
613 756 3884
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