From
location for Thermal mass
Where to locate thermal mass
To determine the best location for thermal mass, identify whether your house requires passive heating, passive cooling, or both.
For passive
heating, locate thermal mass in areas that receive direct sunlight or radiant heat from
heaters.
For passive
cooling, protect thermal mass from summer sun with shading and insulation.
- Ensure cool night breezes and air currents can pass over / thru the thermal mass to draw out stored energy.
- Include appropriate shading to protect the mass from summer sun.
For both passive heating and cooling,
- locate thermal mass inside the building on the ground floor for ideal summer and winter efficiency.
- Locate thermal mass in north-facing rooms with good
solar access, exposure to cooling night breezes in summer, and additional sources of heating or cooling.
- Locate additional thermal mass near the centre of the building,
Feature brick walls, slabs,
water features and large earth or water-filled pots or even water tanks can all serve as Thermal Mass.
Where not to locate thermal mass
Avoid thermal mass in rooms and buildings
- with poor insulation from external temperature extremes and rooms
- with minimal exposure to winter sun
- or cooling summer breezes.
Thermal mass may decrease comfort when used in rooms where heating or cooling is required intermittently, because it slows the response times.
Careful design is required if locating thermal mass on the upper levels of multistory housing in all but cold climates, especially if these are bedroom areas.
- Natural convection creates higher temperatures in upstairs rooms and upper level thermal mass absorbs this energy.
- On hot nights, upper level thermal mass can be slow to cool, causing discomfort while sleeping. Sometimes a lighter timber frame construction may work.
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