A new technology (enertia.com) for building homes that heat and cool without fuel or electricity. Enertia Homes use free energy from a shift in time. All natural materials and natural energy. See more homes at our website - enertia.com
ARON
Comments
The wood is NOT used for it’s insulative properties. It is used for its absorbtion/storage/thermal intertia/radiant heat properties. This absolutely has to do with the thermal properties of the building materials. The name “Enertia” is a play on “inertia” - “energy - “environmental” - and is defined by the inventor of the word as “Energy from a shift in time” because this is the property that allows one to use energy stored during the day to work for you at night.
Only wood with internal cells like cedar have any insulative properties worth noting. There is much empherical data on thermal masses and wood does not rate very high in this catagory. However maybe a 24 inch thick wall would store more energy.
OKAY - This has very little to do with the thermal properties of the building materials and has more to do with geothermal flow air flow. The name enertia is a play on the energy storage capability of the earth itself.
Not true - Check the NIST study referred to on the Sources page of the Enertia Website. Wood has better heat retention properties for home heating because it stores heat at the temperatures comfortable to humans and releases it SLOWLY.
No - Not at all. It is small wood that burns. Big wood (cross sections over 5″x5″) have an excellent fire rating.
I’d like to get one with a big pole barn both covered with solar panels.
I very much disagree regarding the thermal storage ability of wood. It far outperforms concrete and adobe per inch of thickness, and at temperatures that are comfortable to people (especially Southern Yellow Pine - not all woods are equal). But this is why there are lots of building materials and lots of designs. Everyone can have his/her choice.
Emily - Everything I’ve read says that logs have poor “K” value; the ability to store and then release thermal energy. Once I considered a log kit home but decided against it for that reason.
Both adobe and concrete are MUCH better for thermal storage. Also, it isn’t LIGHT that is an issue in houses with solar spaces, but the feeling of being separate from the outdoors. The homeowner says in your video, he likes the sunny solar space. I like the sun right in my living room.
Zevno - Wood holds more heat and longer and at the correct temperature for human comfort, than concrete.
Also, it is renewable.
By having the double North Wall, there can be windows (in pairs) in a wall that is normally considered “taboo” for windows. This brings in more daylignt. Also, the wall between the Sunspace and interior has lots of glass, and the careful positioning of skylights and windows brings in even more light. So that is not a problem.
Regards,
Emily at Enertia
Nice video. It would have been nice if the video showed how the home is cooled during the summer.
