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re: uk version (re-post)
25 oct 2003
chris.b wrote:
> i think we all recognise that heating by "alternative" means requires
>some degree of effort and flexibility on the part of the occupants. a
>wood stove and greenhouse collector are very "hands on" compared with
>throwing a switch to the central heating and forgetting it.
wood is ongoing work, but a solar heating system can be automatic, with
thermostats and so on. it would still require some maintenance... over
the years, one "passive solar house" lesson learned is that people get
tired of moving manual movable insulation and stop moving it.
>the price we pay for (almost) free heat (once the building materials are paid
>for) is having to make adjustments. to both the equipment and ourselves.
initial debugging seems ok...
>it certainly keeps us aware of the weather and the climate.
maybe it shouldn't.
> since the early 70's i have had a pipe-dream of building a round
>(cylindrical) home that rotates on a hollow central axle (for services
>in and out) it would be able to turn away from the sun when not
>required and take full advantage when it was.
i've thought about that with a rectangular building and no central axle or
wheels. something like a low-draft barge. but it seems easier to add more
glazing and turn on a fan when a sunspace is warm. otoh, if one intends to
live on a houseboat to start with, why not moor it with a fixed pivot line
to the south and one or two automatic winches for nw and ne lines?
nick
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