posted 10 years ago
I'm sorry to say that in my experience of solar buildings, as well as everything I've read about solar design, only the south wall (or up to about 15 degrees E or W of south) is effective for solar gain. West walls in particular are considered annoying because they admit long hours of afternoon light in the summer just when you're wishing that your house would cool down. And in winter when the sun rises and sets considerably south of east and west, you really only get any gain from the south wall. Especially in Canada because it is pretty far north, so the sun is pretty low to the south all winter.
What do you mean by the south wall is an overhead door? What's that? Assuming the house has right angles, your south wall is 15 degrees E of S, which should be good for solar gain, so you'd do best to use it. Any chance of attaching a greenhouse to the south wall? That's my favorite method..
Works at a residential alternative high school in the Himalayas SECMOL.org . "Back home" is Cape Cod, E Coast USA.