cool green

more we now have a little patch of green lawn and some rusty planters to go with our deck.  summer is here. 1_skidmorepassiv_stern web

with the amount of high shgc glass on our south facade, it would be easy to overheat without proper shading.

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on the hottest days, we simply close our exterior shades to block unwanted solar radiation before it hits the glass.  the ability to fully control the shades means we can optimize the amount of gain or shade we are getting depending on the daily conditions.

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the shades can be tilted to  allow views out while still blocking the sun.  the cost of the shades was offset by the elimination of cooling equipment and the cost of the energy to operate it.

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the exterior shades combined with the exceptional insulation and thermal mass has kept our house exceptionally cool and comfortable without any air conditioning.

more detail to follow.  check back soon.

www.insituarchitecture.net

going solar

the rare sunny portland winter day has allowed us to regale in the golden rays. DSC_0997

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glorious sun reaches all the way to the back of the kitchen.

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the south facing windows / heaters are working.

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the studio flooded in mid-day sun.

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the breezeway will be a study in light and dark.

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rejoice.

in addition to direct gain, we will have a small PV system on the roof.  more on that later.

insitu architecture