Green building and sustainable architecture are new techniques for addressing the environmental and energy crises. Trombe walls are regarded as a sustainable architectural technology for heating and ventilation. This article reviews the application of Trombe walls in buildings. The reviews discuss the characteristics of Trombe walls, including Trombe-wall configurations, and Trombe-wall technology. The advantages and disadvantages of this sustainable architectural technology have been highlighted, and future research questions have been identified.

Trombe walls: A review of opportunities and challenges in research and development

Effects of Wall's thermophysical properties on time lag and decrement factor

http://amet-me.mnsu.edu/UserFilesShared/SolarWall/Solar%20Passive%20(Trombe)%20Wall%20Documents/Technical%20Publications/Numerical%20computation%20of%20time%20lags%20and%20decrement%20factors%20for%20different%20building%20materials.pdf

Numerical computation of time lags and decrement factors for different building materials

This article summarises a study undertaken to reveal potential challenges and opportunities for using building performance simulation (BPS) tools. The article reviews current trends in building simulation and outlines major criteria for BPS tool selection and evaluation based on analysing users' needs for tools capabilities and requirement specifications. The research is carried out by means of a literature review and two online surveys. The findings are based on an inter-group comparison between architects and engineers. The aim is to rank BPS tool selection criteria and compare 10 state-of-the-art BPS tools in the USA market. Five criteria are composed to stack up against theories and practices of BPS. Based on the experience gained during the survey, suggested criteria are critically reviewed and tested. The final results indicate a wide gap between architects' and engineers' priorities and tool ranking. This gap is discussed and suggestions for improvement of current tools are presented.

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Selection Criteria for Building Performance Simulation Tools : Contrasting Architects and Engineers Needs

Effects of wall's insulation thickness and position on time lag and decrement factor

This companion to Passive Cooling and Solar Building Architecture (volumes 8 and 9) describes developments in passive solar technology that will save time, energy, and resources in planning for the buildings of the future. It is filled with tips and useful research for architects and designers and includes three substantial chapters on general modeling."Passive solar heating works. Properly designed and constructed, it is cost-effective, practical, comfortable, and aesthetic." Balcomb's introductory remarks set the tone for the rest of the contributions, which describe the considerable record of achievements in passive solar heating. Balcomb summarizes and evaluates the era between 1976 and 1983 when most of the major developments took place and highlights the design features that have contributed to effective buildings.Three chapters cover modeling passive systems (applicable to both heating and cooling), and six chapters focus on the application of passive solar heating, with emphasis on components, analytical results for specific systems, test modules, subsystem integration into buildings, performance monitoring and results, and design tools.J. Douglas Balcomb is a Principal Engineer with the Solar Energy Research Institute.

J. Douglas Balcomb

Papers

Passive solar buildings