[Greenbuilding] Temporary Sunspace ?

[Lynelle Hamilton]

Thank you, Laren!

The worry about the permanent install is the desire to avoid overheating 
in the summer.  I could construct a solid roof, but don't want to lose 
more light.  That said, a permanent install has the distinct advantages 
you noted.


On 08/10/2012 4:48 PM, LarenCorie wrote:
> From: Lynelle Hamilton <lynelle at kos.net>
>
>> Has anyone had experience with a removable "sunspace"? 
>
> Hi Lynelle;
>
>  I wrote an article about them (called "Instant Sunspaces"
> IIRC) using the example of a Michigan Great Lakes climate,
> very similar to your own, in ESSN in early 2005. The article
> is available (free) at the link in my signature, below.
>
>> I have a 7 x 14 foot sliding door on the south wall of
>> the house.  The overhangs are such that I get no direct
>> sun in summer, but do get a considerable amount in winter.
>>  I use the door in the winter, as it's the shortest path to the
>> woodpile and I am lazy. I am on Lake Ontario, near
>> Kingston. My location means that I don't get a huge
>> number of sun days in the winter, and the single slider
>> (itself triple-glazed glass) means that there is no airlock
>> when I load wood, let the dog out, etc.
>>
>> I am thinking of constructing a sunspace that would only
>> be installed in October/removed in April.  I am thinking
>> that this would allow the collection of warm air, even in
>> winter, helping to warm the house and offer a buffer for
>> the cold. 
>
>> Overall size is about 14 x 10 feet.
>
> It should also greatly increase you effective collector area.
> While your sliding door might have 75sqft of triple glazing,
> The sunspace might have 130+sqft in single glazing, which
> would transmit a lot more light. What you need to be careful
> about is that your instant sunspace is sealed well, and that
> you also keep the sunlight and warmth from being absorbed
> by mass in the sunspace, and also down into the ground,
> which would prevent it from ever getting into the house.
> Carpeting, rolled out over the slab, and even over brick
> veneer, can go a long way to accomplish this.
>
> Here are  a couple of pictures of a crude temporary polyethylene
> sunspace that I built to only be in place for a few months, one
> Winter, while I was remodeling a house.
>
> < http://web.axilar.net/LarenCorie/TempSunspace2.htm >
>
> < http://web.axilar.net/LarenCorie/ssi1.jpg >
> Notice the carpeting, to shade the uninsulated slab.
> The uninsulated flexduct brings warm sunspace air
> down, into the house through an old small milk
> chute so that it could heat the locked house.
>> The south is my view of the water, so for the heat and
>> the view, I don't want to have a structure out there in the summer. 
>
>   If you wish to maintain your Winter view, you will need to
> avoid polyethylene, and multiwall or corrugated polycarbonate
> glazings. There is a very clear, light weight material, available
> from Warp Bros.
>
>> I'm wanting something that would have, at most a 18" kneewall on the 
>> perimeter, with the rest removable. 
>
> I recommend having the whole South wall as glazing, and removable.
>
> However, you might be better off, simply building this new wall
> with more sliding glass doors, that you could look through to the
> lake. Then depending on the conditions, open or close inside or
> outside doors, to optimize performance.  That avoids having to
> mess with twice annual sunspace building or tearing down, and
> storage projects. And it might also provide you with expanded
> Summer nighttime living space, for dining, sleeping, parties, etc.
>
>> From: "Kathy Cochran" <kathys_old_house at goldrush.com>
>
>> if you did this you would be able to grow winter
>> veggies in pots that would get warmth thru the glass! 
>
>
> Hi Kathy;
>
>  Yes.  But it will depend on multiple factors. The pots might
> be moved indoors at night, or have insulating covers. In Fall
> and Spring, nighttime temperatures might not be too cold for
> plants. And, of course, it will also depend on the kind of plants.
> Since the house will be receiving heat from the sunspace, and
> also sheltering the sunspace on its North side, it can also give
> some heat back to the sunspace at night, for plants. However,
> heating a sunspace drastically reduces the net heat gained that
> it can supply to the house.
> -Laren Corie-
> Natural Solar Building Design and
> Solar Heating/Natural Cooling/Energy
> Efficiency Consultation Since 1975
> www.ThermalAttic.com  (many new
> photos and pages, coming soon)
>
> Read my Solar house design articles in:
> -Energy Self-Sufficiency Newsletter-
> www.essnmag.com
>
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>
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>
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>
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