LIVING ENVIRONMENTS NW Ltd

About the pictures

Pictures show the location of the sun at different times of the year and and different times of the day.  Houses that are designed with solar orientation, good insulation, and good venting in mind have much less heat gain and loss

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Thermal mass works well when temperatures vary from cold to hot in a single day. It averages out the extremes making nights warmer and days cooler.

 Geothermal means taking heat from the ground.  Portland Oregon has an average ground temperature of 56 degrees year-round.  This heat can be used to heat or cool a home. In the picture we have installed an underground air intake.  Cool air replaces warm air that is vented high in the room. 

The Five elements of Heating and cooling.

1. Inactive solar--allows heat in during the late fall/winter but keeps it out during the warmer parts of the year. 

2.  Insulation--is a block. With good insulation, heat is retained during the winter, coolness retained during the summer. 

3.  Thermal mass stabilizes the temperature.  It holds in heat or cold like a battery and releases it little by little.

4. Geothermal--uses the heat of the earth to heat and cool. 

5.  Venting--is designed to get rid of heat buildup in ceilings, walls, etc.  We also use it to vent heat buildup from opening doors, etc. 

Heating and cooling from a designer's perspective 

             To make our designs efficient, we work with all four of the elements listed above. 

            Active solar uses the orientation of the house as well as roof overhangs,  arbors and the landscape to keep summer heat out of the house while letting winter heat in.   When we talk about solar,  we are referring to heat gain through windows.  Heat and cold can also come through the walls and ceilings.   Insulation and venting minimize this.

     To our list we have also added Thermal mass and Geothermal. Both store heat energy and can be used to make our home more comfortable and efficient, although their use is not as well understood.   

      We believe that the building industry has substituted profit for good design.  If energy conservation is important,  then it pays to think through a design and build in heating and cooling.  Housing will cost much less and it's occupants will be more comfortable.

Click on any picture for an enlarged view

passive solar