Thread: The sunroom
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Old 02-15-10, 10:44 PM   #36
bennelson
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SE Wisconsin
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A couple of black barrels full of water might do quite a bit of heating.

It would be interesting to have one with a thermometer on it and check it at various times of the day and night.

I have a 30 gallon black food grade barrel with matching O-Ring lid if you want to try it.

I do also like the idea of some solar hot water panels on the roof there.
I have heard of people with similar roof lines arranging hot water or PV panels so that any light that bounces off them gets reflected right into that second-story window. That way you get your solar collection AND some additional direct gain.

In an architectual presentation I watched a few years ago, the speaker pointed out in a photograph of how specifically WHITE gravel was used outside a building so that it would reflect indirect light into the building for an airy feel.

I do have some of those 2'x2' plastic mirrors. I wonder what kind of difference it would make to set a few of those on the roof of the sunroom to reflect additional light into the upstairs windows. I know snow accumulation would be a problem, but even snow works as a reflector as well.

Last I checked, my cousin still had those solar hot water panels to rehab. We should play around with one of those in your sunroom.
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