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The link to SolarDome explains the dome uses single glass, so the dome has virtually no isolation. In other words, it freezes inside unless they have external e
by MeteorMarc 10y ago
The link to SolarDome explains the dome uses single glass, so the dome has virtually no isolation. In other words, it freezes inside unless they have external energy sources for heating.
- JshWright 10y agoThere is a fully functional house inside the dome. The dome itself has no insulation, but the massive 'dead' air space between the dome and the house provides a huge amount of insulation. The dome by itself isn't that interesting. It's the dome/house system that provides the benefits. It means they can spend a lot less on heating fuel.
- upofadown 10y agoOpen air will convect like crazy. ... and the area of the glass is much larger than the outside area of the building. So chances are things will cool down quite quickly once the sun goes down.
- JshWright 10y agoIt will convect a lot less than a 15 knot wind... It will certainly cool down, but there is no way the dome is anything but a net-win in terms of thermal efficiency (is it enough to offset the cost of the dome? I don't know... but it will absolutely reduce the amount of heat lost by the house)
- schiffern 10y ago>In other words, it freezes inside unless they have external energy sources for heating. Such as... the sun. Greenhouses are actually quite effective at night (or through a long arctic winter), since they're designed to keep in infrared radiation. This one also acts as a windbreak. So any sources of heat (eg a clean burning rocket stove, or even just your metabolic heat) will be more effective inside the greenhouse. With that much glass, for most of the year they should need no heating, and in the dark winter they should need a lot less.
- upofadown 10y agoGlass will happily absorb infrared and reradiate it outside. In the dark it's just a single pane window ... a really big single pane window. Such things are known for being really good at transferring heat. The rule of thumb is a single R value per pane.
- schiffern 10y ago>Glass will happily absorb infrared and reradiate it outside. And some fraction will also radiate inward, so overall the total radiant heat flux is lower. This is the aptly named "greenhouse effect."
- credit_guy 10y agoOr not. The so called greenhouse effect is not what keeps a real greenhouse warm. Here's the relevant wikipedia quote: "a greenhouse is not primarily warmed by the "greenhouse effect". A greenhouse works primarily by allowing sunlight to warm surfaces inside the structure, but then preventing absorbed heat from leaving the structure through convection." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect
- schiffern 10y agoHah, I stand corrected. Not-so-aptly-named I suppose!
- kitd 10y agoCould the glass be treated (or have a layer applied to it) inside to reflect any IR back inwards? A bit like you can put on the outside for large glass areas exposed to the sun.
- joshvm 10y agoBear in mind that snow is a pretty good insulator. After all, igloos are viable housing for some people and many animals hibernate in burrows under the snow. This means that in the winter the snow should stay on the roof. Assuming the weight isn't an issue and the house is sufficiently insulating that it doesn't melt it, then you would actually prefer this. Above the arctic circle this isn't much of a problem for illumination because it's dark all day anyway (typically you get a brief twilight period). https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/snow/science/characteristics.html https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/snow/science/characteristics.ht... Solardome can produce double glazed systems as well, but presumably single glazing is a lot cheaper. http://www.solardome.co.uk/domestic/dome-uses/domestic-self-build/ http://www.solardome.co.uk/domestic/dome-uses/domestic-self-...