Low Thermal Mass Sunspace in Minnesota

This is a modern, elegant sunspace design from Architect William Sikora.

low thermal mass sunspace in Minnesota

As with most low thermal mass sunspaces, it does a good job of providing heat to the house, but also serves other functions -- a true multi-purpose space.

Thanks very much to William for providing the description!

Description from William

This family designed and built energy efficient home was constructed north of Minneapolis in 2010.  It has an open plan with 900 sq ft of finished area on the main floor, a 400 sq ft open loft and attached 450 sq ft heated garage.  Exterior walls are cement board clad rain screen vented through the roof and furred out with rigid insulation on the inside before drywall was applied.  Exterior walls are R39 and the metal clad roof is R56.  The main heat source is a sand bed heat storage system with an electric off peak boiler.  No other heat sources are used.

Click on pictures for fullsize 

low mass sunspace low thermal mass sunspace in Minnesota

The design goal for this home was simplicity - as few moving parts as possible, nothing too high tech and everything must be built, serviceable and repairable by the owner with ordinary tools.

sunsapce heat distribution fan

A two story low mass sun space is attached to the south side with both floors accessible.  The upper floor can be used for sunbathing in Minnesota during a sunny winter day, clothes drying, wood drying or storage for items not affected by heat.  Twin wall, 8mm polycarbonate was used for exterior glazing and interior and exterior railings.

Heated, filtered air from the sunspace is blown into the loft of the home and pushed down with ceiling fans.  Controls are simple – a line voltage cooling thermostat in the sunspace and a line voltage heating thermostat on the inside of the house.  When both thermostats are closed, the 260 cfm blower starts.  Cool air enters the sunspace from the house through a one way damper .

Summer overheating is reduced by opening the upper and lower access doors.

Temperatures recorded on December 1, 2012 in Degrees F 

Time

House

SunSpace

Ambient

8:00 am

68.4

15

10

9:00 am

68.4

42

10

10:00 am

68

54

12

11:00 am

68.2

79

15

12:00 pm

68.9

88.3 (Blower on)

19

1:00 pm

69.4

89.6

21

2:00 pm

69.4

87.8

22

3:00 pm

68.9

75    (Blower off)

21

4:00 pm

67.8

70.5

21

5:00 pm

67.1

59.4

19

6:00 pm

66.7

50.7

18

 

 

 

 

It is obvious that the sunspace is not perfectly mass-less as shown by interior temperatures after sunset at 4:30 PM.  It can also be noted that the sun does not completely strike the sunspace until about 10:00 am due to trees on the south.  The home’s heating system was not in use during these readings.  Interior stagnation temperatures in the sunspace will reach 120 deg. with the blower off.  Interior drywall and concrete floor provides enough of a thermal mass to prevent overheating in the house.  As the sun gets higher and clears the trees to the south, the blower will run into the evening or as long as the home requires heat.

Heating Cost 2011-2012

Month

KW Hours Used for Heat Only

KW Hour Cost

Cost

BTU

Sept

No heat required

$.04

$0

0

Oct

400

$.04

$16

1,365,000

Nov

1200

$.04

$48

4,094,000

Dec

1750

$.04

$70

5,971,000

Jan

2350

$.04

$94

8,018,000

Feb

2000

$.04

$80

6,824,000

Mar

1250

$.04

$50

4,265,000

Apr

No heat required

$.04

$0

0

Totals

8950 KWH

 

$358

30,537,000

 It can be noted that 2011-2012 was a warm winter with 6,000 degree days rather than the average 8,000 days but it was also much cloudier.

sunspace

Bill Sikora, Architect

Comments -- Questions?

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Gary  January 15, 2013