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Multipurpose-2: Umbrella House
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Nov 16 2011 02:40 AM | eds in Ed's Articles
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Figure 1 Geodome, the first umbrella home (in idealized form), maintains a 66° to 74° temperature year-round without heating equipment in western Montana’s cold climate. In summer, solar heat radiates in, falls on internal surfaces, and is absorbed into the surrounding soil. The umbrella traps heat in the dry soil until winter, when it migrates back into the house. Adding convection-driven earth tubes would modify the internal temperature by conveying outside air in.
Figure 2 Twenty feet under the surface, the soil temperature reflects the average ambient air temperature during the year. In effect, the umbrella raises this constant temperature zone to the surface and allows the house to warm it further.
Figure 3a In summer, air enters the house through an earth tube and is warmed by the sun; moving through the second tube, it warms the cooler soil.
Figure 3b In winter, cool air enters, is heated by the warm earth, and passes to the house.
Figure 4 Second generation umbrella home in Missoula, Montana was constructed by Tom Beaudette, the engineer of Geodome.
Figure 1 Geodome, the first umbrella home (in idealized form), maintains a 66° to 74° temperature year-round without heating equipment in western Montana’s cold climate. In summer, solar heat radiates in, falls on internal surfaces, and is absorbed into the surrounding soil. The umbrella traps heat in the dry soil until winter, when it migrates back into the house. Adding convection-driven earth tubes would modify the internal temperature by conveying outside air in.Figure 2 Twenty feet under the surface, the soil temperature reflects the average ambient air temperature during the year. In effect, the umbrella raises this constant temperature zone to the surface and allows the house to warm it further.
Figure 3a In summer, air enters the house through an earth tube and is warmed by the sun; moving through the second tube, it warms the cooler soil.
Figure 3b In winter, cool air enters, is heated by the warm earth, and passes to the house.
Figure 4 Second generation umbrella home in Missoula, Montana was constructed by Tom Beaudette, the engineer of Geodome.
