From: Christopher Gronbeck <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1993 20:09:44 -0500

Reply to: Alternative Energy Discussion List
     <[email-masked]>
Newsgroups: sci.energy
Subject: Energy analysis program for non-conventional bldgs?

Is there a thermal energy analysis program that works for buildings that
are mostly underground and that receive sunlight into the underground part
using ground-level windows?  The buildings are designed basically like:

              /\
             /  \
            /    \          -> south (N. hemisphere)
           /      \
          +--------+-
          |       #         <- # denotes windows
          |       #
          |       |  __
          |       | / #
       ---+-------+-  /---- <- ground level
          |       #  /
          |       #  |      <- sunspace
          |       |  |
          +-------+--+

The programs I have seen pretty much ignore the basement and so would not
work on something like this which is so ground-coupled.  The overhang and
the underground sunspace are designed to only allow direct light in during
the winter.  The sunspace is ventilated during the summer.  Any
suggestions are appreciated.

- Christopher

--
Christopher Gronbeck
Technical Stuff
Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (CREST)
[email-masked]     +1-202-336-8943     fax +1-202-408-8536