[Scpg] Passive Solar and "Polar" Cooling

[scpg-admin at arashi.com]

>We are also looking for ways to make it breezier in our home, as we do not
>want to use our air conditioning at all this year.
>
>PeggyM

Peggy et al,

The easiest and cheapest way to moderate the temperature inside a building 
is to FIRST moderate the temperature around the building...can't say enough 
about shade (shade your west facing walls with trees/trellises and shade 
your western windows on the OUTSIDE -before the heat passes into your house)

Two other ideas come to mind, well three now...

A persian design, thousands of years old, is to catch the summer winds 
comming off the mountains using a large scoop at roof level and a pipe into 
the house. Architect Nader Khalili is using this design in his houses in 
Hesperia, Ca. -see www.calearth.org

Another tried and true method is to install a solar chimney (a large black 
vent pipe) on the roof and draw naturally cooled air from underground 
tunnels into your house. As the chimney heats up it vents hot air up and 
out, that air is replaced by the air from tunnels (undergroud pipes) on the 
polar side of your house. -see Introduction to Permaculture by Bill 
Mollison, p.86, chapter 4 "structures" has a lot of other "no-tech" ideas 
for the home.

The other idea how to beat the summer heat is to do what I did and move to 
Los Osos. ;)

Contact me if you want more details... don't forget that we are teaching a 
Permaculture Design Certification Course this summer...contact cal poly 
extended ed for registration info.

Larry Santoyo SLO CA
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