How do you choose the optimal thermal mass for your green building project?

3 Why are thermal mass and thermal transmittance important?

Thermal mass and thermal transmittance are important because they affect the energy efficiency and comfort of a building. By using materials with high thermal mass and low thermal transmittance, you can reduce the need for artificial heating and cooling, lower your energy bills, and improve your indoor air quality and health. You can also create a more pleasant and stable indoor environment that adapts to the changing seasons and weather conditions.

4 How to calculate thermal mass and thermal transmittance?

In order to calculate the thermal mass and thermal transmittance of a building element, you must know the specific heat capacity, density, thickness, thermal conductivity, and surface resistance of the material. The thermal mass is determined by multiplying the specific heat capacity, density, and thickness of the material. Thermal transmittance is calculated by dividing the thermal conductivity by the thickness of the material and adding the surface resistance on both sides.

5 How to choose the optimal thermal mass for your green building project?

When selecting the optimal thermal mass for your green building project, there are several factors to consider, such as the climate and location of your site, the orientation and design of your building, the insulation and ventilation of your building, and the occupancy and usage patterns of your building. Generally, you should use materials with high thermal mass in areas that receive direct sunlight and materials with low thermal transmittance in areas that are exposed to cold or hot air, while balancing the thermal mass with insulation and ventilation to avoid overheating or undercooling your building. To estimate the optimal thermal mass for your green building project, you can use tools such as thermal mass calculators or simulation software.

6 How to enhance the performance of your thermal mass?

To maximize the performance of your thermal mass, you should consider utilizing passive solar design principles to optimize the solar gain in winter and reduce it in summer. This could involve orienting your building to face either south or north, depending on your hemisphere, as well as using shading devices such as awnings, overhangs, or vegetation. Additionally, you should use thermal mass in combination with other passive cooling techniques such as natural ventilation, evaporative cooling, or night flushing. This could involve opening windows, doors, or vents to create cross-ventilation or stack effect, or using fans or pumps to circulate water or air over your thermal mass. In addition to this, you should use thermal mass with other passive heating techniques such as trombe walls, solar chimneys, or earth tubes to capture and distribute heat in your building. This could involve utilizing glazed or transparent surfaces to allow solar radiation to penetrate your thermal mass, or using ducts or pipes to transfer heat from your thermal mass to other parts of your building. Finally, you should select appropriate colors and finishes for your thermal mass that will enhance its absorption or reflection of heat. This means using dark colors for surfaces that face the sun and light colors for surfaces that face away from the sun.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?