Vermont Sun Structures: Sunroom Design and Construction

Vermont Sun Structures: Solar Greenhouse Design and Construction

Vermont Sun Structures: Sunroom Design and Construction

Passive Solar Greenhouses

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Design for passive solar gain is done with all of our sun structures. When part of a passive solar design the following attributes become critical:

• Orientation to south plus or minus 30 degrees.

• Vertical south facing glass is your primary solar collector.

• Glass to have a high solar heat gain factor and high R-Value.

• Room to be isolated from the house with French doors, etc.

• Thermal storage in the sunroom will hold heat to help heat the sunroom overnight.

• To move solar heat gain into the attached house, fans or window/door openings will be necessary.

• Shading from deciduous trees is ok on east and west sides. Southern orientations should limit the shade from tree branches in winter.