How do you install earth tubes for passive heating and cooling?
I'm hoping you can help me and my excavator come up with a way to have passive and heating added to my new modular home. The modular is still on the assembly line, so the foundation has not yet been laid. This seems like the perfect time to install earth tubes or some such system that will allow my home to be more passive. My new modular will be in Pierce, Colorado. I've seen information on earth tubes but don't really know enough about them to tell my excavator how to dig the trenches, put in the right size and length of tubes, and where and what kind of fans or filters it needs. Years ago, I was going to build a house in which my architect added gravel pits, on the north and south side of the house, with narrow tubes inserted in each pit that were supposed to pressurize the home and keep it at a constant ground temperature similar to a basement. I have no idea if this would actually work. I really have no idea what I'm doing but would really like to find an inexpensive simple way to add passive heating and cooling to my home. Since On this same website, I see that there have been a few projects in Colorado, so I'm hoping you can direct me to someone who can help us do this. I appreciate any information you can provide.
Passive heating and cooling is a great way to save energy in a home, but if you mean what I think you mean by ‘earth tubes’, I would not be adding that to the design. So we are on the same page – ‘Earth tubes’ often refers to the *ventilation* system of an Earthship. Is that what you are referring to? If so, all we would say to that is, just don’t. See this page on why Earthships don’t work in cold climates and scroll down to the part about ventilation. Any modern house that would in anyway be considered ‘eco friendly’ or even just energy efficient, needs heat recovery ventilation.
If, on the other hand, you are talking about a ground loop to preheat or pre-cool incoming air to ventilation systems, that’s a different matter altogether. For the moment though and for tips on how to build passive solar, I would start here – How to build a passive solar home DIY video series. That covers everything from southern orientation, shading, insulation, how to make a house airtight etc.
Thank you.
I have new science that no one else understands in passive retro fit buildings. I also have new science in a temperature cold or hot air stored tank into the ground that is really simple too. Yet I am loosing this building and it tears me apart. If I had a partner we could finish this and teach it to the world. My advantages are that I use the earths energy that man can not measure. But I prove it. It also cuts down on materials and maintenace by about 70% in the build. I also have a never seen before only 3% pollution inside my building. Most buildings are reading closer to 30% pollution and this is so very important in kicking plastice out of our enviroment. See my FB page and check out my stuff. Thoma Akwa and come and help me finish this building and lets share this to help our world become a better place. Thanks for letting me post this here. As many of us know our worldly conscerns can be corrected when we work together. Peace
Hi Thoma. I looked at your facebook page and I saw what looked like a slab design that had no insulation underneath, which is of course a foolish idea in Canada. And like Emmanuel above, I find myself thinking of the Earthship and its entirely flawed concepts based on pseudo science, so I'm hoping you're not trying to beat that dead horse back to life.
At a glance is seems a bit like you are pitching some geothermal energy harnessing techique, so if you really have something new to offer then please explain it clearly. There is alot of snake oil out there and it often starts with grand claims and no details, so please give us some details.
Mike what do you think of my energy consumption bills on my FB page?
Well earth tubes or tubes in the ground call those what you want. But to get back on the same page what you are looking at is simple. By putting hot in it , it stores the heat. When you want it, take it out. When the rock gets hot air on it from what ever source you decide it retains it. Some of it in my design is released passivly through the top. If that is not fast enough then add air. Its simple but there are lot other things happening in this tank. But that is the main focus.
I didn't look. I just saw the uninsulated concrete floor and left. Waiting to hear what your new science is.