Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is an organization that provides simple, sturdy homes. Learn how energy efficiency is a key factor in building these homes.
Trombe wall
Using the sun's stored energy to heat your home reduces your conventional energy consumption.
A Trombe (TROM-bee) wall is a passive solar device consisting of a thick sun-facing masonry wall (thermal mass) to absorb the sun's energy, combined with an air space and insulated glass. It was developed in the 1950s by Felix Trombe.
While the sun is shining, optical energy travels through and is trapped beneath the glass and absorbed by the masonry wall. The energy stored in the wall is then released slowly to the interior of the building when the sun is no longer shining. Using the sun's stored energy to heat your home reduces your conventional energy consumption.
During the summertime when heating energy isn't needed, the sun is higher in the sky and usually a Trombe wall has an overhang on it. The sun hits that overhang and bounces back rather than being collected and dispersed by the masonry wall.
In this video: A homeowner with a trombe wall discusses how it works and helps improve the comfort of her home.
More from this category
Building an energy-smart house
Modular homes
Modular homes are built in a factory under controlled conditions, then shipped to the homesite and placed on a permanent foundation.
Air quality and ventilation in new homes
New, energy-efficient homes need new solutions to circulate and ventilate the air inside the home.
New home comfort issues
Decoding building requirements
Learn about some of the changes for new homes built today. An expert highlights some of the things to consider when building a new home.
Historic preservation
A preservation expert shares how to restore an older home economically and energy efficiently.
Turning a barn into an energy-smart home
Talk to your utilities
Before you break ground on a new house, give your utility companies a call. They can help you avoid unnecessary expenses and construction delays.