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Xringer · 12-26-11, 10:16 AM

We have discussed the 'solar greenhouse' feeding an ASHP before around here..

I think it's a good idea. IRRC, My specs for the greenhouse was to make it long as possible, (E to W)
all glass on the South side, dark (and insulated) on the North side.
With some dark thermal mass on the inside north wall, with an insulated floor.
Insure that any light coming in would not be reflected back outdoors..

The mini-split ODU would be wall-mounted on one end, with the air input vents at the far end of the greenhouse.
The ODU would interface with the end wall so that outdoor air would not leak
around the sides of the unit, but be drawn from the far end of the greenhouse.

GreenHouse Mode would be very useful on sunny winter days (like today),
but in summer, some roof (heat-dump) vents would be needed,
plus some air-input vents adjacent to the ODU.
(To defeat the GreenHouse effect while trying to cool the house)!

Right now, the sun had made the outdoor air temperature shoot up to 40F.
So, my ASHPs are running less power, because of solar heat gain..
(Less power=less air flow over the ODU coils).

I would imagine, my proposed 32'x8'(?) greenhouse would be pretty
dang warm inside, even with a little 40F air being pulled into one end..

If it had double pane glass too??

Haha!

12-26-11, 10:16 AM	#12
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	We have discussed the 'solar greenhouse' feeding an ASHP before around here.. I think it's a good idea. IRRC, My specs for the greenhouse was to make it long as possible, (E to W) all glass on the South side, dark (and insulated) on the North side. With some dark thermal mass on the inside north wall, with an insulated floor. Insure that any light coming in would not be reflected back outdoors.. The mini-split ODU would be wall-mounted on one end, with the air input vents at the far end of the greenhouse. The ODU would interface with the end wall so that outdoor air would not leak around the sides of the unit, but be drawn from the far end of the greenhouse. GreenHouse Mode would be very useful on sunny winter days (like today), but in summer, some roof (heat-dump) vents would be needed, plus some air-input vents adjacent to the ODU. (To defeat the GreenHouse effect while trying to cool the house)! Right now, the sun had made the outdoor air temperature shoot up to 40F. So, my ASHPs are running less power, because of solar heat gain.. (Less power=less air flow over the ODU coils). I would imagine, my proposed 32'x8'(?) greenhouse would be pretty dang warm inside, even with a little 40F air being pulled into one end.. If it had double pane glass too?? Haha! __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..