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Many times the homeowner's only regret is that the sunspace is not larger. Although aesthetics often drive the decision to add a sunspace or include one in a new home design, sunspaces can also provide supplemental space heating and a healthy environment for plants and people. In fact, a well-designed sunspace can provide up to 60% of a home's winter heating requirements.
Basic Elements
In a basic design, sunlight passes through glass or other glazing and warms the sunspace. The glazing is either vertical (as typical windows are installed) or sloped at an angle. To moderate temperature swings, massive materials (e.g., masonry or water) can be used to store the sun's thermal energy and absorb the heat. At night or during extended periods of cloudy weather, this "thermal mass" releases the heat it holds to warm the interior of the sunspace. Ceiling, wall, foundation, and window insulation in the sunspace minimize heat loss at night and during cold weather. Climate control features include operable windows, vents, and fans to keep the sunspace from overheating and to circulate the warm air to other parts of the house.
Design Considerations for Different Functions
Sunspaces serve three main functions: they are a source of auxiliary heat, they provide space to grow plants, and they are enjoyable living areas. The design considerations for these functions are very different, and although it is possible to build a sunspace that will serve all three functions, some compromises will be necessary.
If the primary function of the room is only to provide heat, you can maximize heat gain by using sloped glazing, few plants, little thermal mass, and insulated, unglazed end walls. If the winters are sunny in your area, carefully sized thermal mass will prevent extreme overheating during the day. In practice, sunspaces are rarely built to serve only as heaters, because there are less expensive ways to provide solar heat.
If the space will mainly be used as a greenhouse, remember that plants need fresh air, water, lots of light, and protection from extreme temperatures. Greenhouses consume energy through the growth processes of plants and the evaporation of water: one pound of evaporating water uses about 1000 Btu that would otherwise be available as heat. Plants require overhead glazing, which complicates construction and maintenance, and glazed end walls, which are net heat losers. The bottom line is that a sunspace designed as an ideal horticultural environment is unlikely to have much energy left over for supplementary space heating.
Most people want to use their sunspaces as year-round living areas, so sunspaces should have minimum glare and only moderate humidity. Carefully sized thermal mass will greatly improve comfort levels by stabilizing temperature extremes. Thermal mass materials should be placed in direct sunlight and should not be covered with rugs, furniture, or plants. Movable window insulation or advanced glazings minimize nighttime heat losses and greatly improve comfort.
Sunspace Design Guidelines
Passive solar structures are conceptually simple, but sunspace designers and builders must pay close attention to detail to ensure maximum performance and reliability of the structures.
Computer software is now available to help establish design and performance criteria for specific passive solar projects like sunspaces. This software makes it relatively easy to avoid making uninformed, potentially costly, and disappointing decisions about a sunspace addition. Some sources for software are identified in the Source List at the end of this publication.
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