I would like additional opinions on a design technology that I have been looking at for a while. It is called Adirondack Alternate Energy: www.aaepassivesolar.com/index.htm

I have no idea if other companies use these design concepts as well. I am interested in the opinions of the engineers and architects on the forum on whether it would work and what some of the strengths and drawbacks of this approach would be.

The unique aspect to their approach appears to be this: "An integral air handling system powered by a small fan gathers air at the peak of the house and pulls it down an airshaft to be delivered through a gridwork of pipes, buried in a heavy (70-100 ton) mass storage system under the lowest floor, and back to the house interior perimeter."

It also uses passive solar heating, etc, but it seems to have an advantage over other systems by circulating the heated air from the sunny southern rooms to the whole house and stabilizing the whole house temperature by passing air through a thick foundation floor.

What are your thoughts? Does anyone have experience with this design technology?

The business was started by a man named Bruce Brownell in the late 70's as an separate part of their lumberyard in Edinberg NY. He started using post and beam houses with 4" of iso board on the outside. The only feature that has really changed since the early structures has been the use of stone as a storage medium instead of sand, which didn't work as intended. The company has quite a few homes built in this area, I'm sure they would be able to give you some direct customer feedback.

smartwall,

Thank you for your response and for sharing your knowledge of the history of the company. I was thinking of building an icf home with a clerestory roof and incorporating the airshaft and gridwork of pipes into the design.

I welcome more responses.

Bruce designs homes... not sure if he still is there... the company is still on the web. I have toured two of his homes... His latest design is to pour 12" of concrete for the thermal mass with air ducting through it. And yes the homes have the shaft with fan, some customers put the fan on timers or manually turn it on and off as it is not needed year round depending on temperatures and use of home etc.

The do have very even temperatures through out the home. And... lots of homes have been built. Contact the company and I'm sure they can do the design work for you at a reasonable cost.

Two sites for Brownell companies... and family members... relatives... I think

http://www.brownelllumber.com/

http://www.aaepassivesolar.com/

In those air circ systems in concrete or earth tubes, how do you keep the air fresh? and keep out mold out of the chases/tubes? Does it just go thru an air/heat exchanger?

Posted By slenzen on 12 Jun 2010 04:19 PM
In those air circ systems in concrete or earth tubes, how do you keep the air fresh? and keep out mold out of the chases/tubes? Does it just go thru an air/heat exchanger?

That is a good question about the mold. One would think that warm moist air would deposit its moisture when cooled in the pipe while passing through the foundation.

OK... here's the deal... the temperature of the slab is the same temperature as the home. These homes... many (edit) I believe have been built for over 30 years I think.  

This is not theory... The homes and tech used exists. Call them. They love to help.

The humidity is the same in the pipes as in the home because the temp is the same... you are ovethinking things I think and confusing what you have read in other threads regarding cooling a home with air piped through earth that is at 50 degrees.

(edit) please contact their sites info, my knowledge is from a tour with Bruce, (he used to conduct info tours Saturdays).. and from two builders that build his designs.

Knowledge best to be had direct from the source.

Scotty's Castle(Death Valley)  is kept cool with underground tunnels ,

http://www.nps.gov/deva/historycult...castle.htm

The design of the house is for heating. Here in upstate NY the cooling load is minimal. The moisture was a problem when he used sand for a storage medium, mainly because it was impossible to dry the sand when it was installed in the vault. It's an ideal system for icf's

Interesting to here about the moisture.... I also seem to remember one of his builder's telling me that he also didn't need such a large mass, and that the concrete mass used now is a better conducter which it is.

Smartwall... ahh... remember... Smartwall Technologies... Johnstown... Seems right?  learning... relearning.. have to read up on your posts to get with the program..
aj

Thank you all for your posts. I would be looking to build in Kansas/Missouri where I would need both cooling and warming benefits depending on the season.

You have many choices for assistance... professional design and build.

Contact Brownells for design.. not sure who here does.. you could email any here including myself

aj

Are you still interested in this discussion about Adirondack Alternate Energy structures? I built one in 1983, that was the largest one they had worked with up to that time. It is still a fabulous 6,000 sq ' home in NYS. No mold issues what so ever. The storage is sand, 40 tons, within an insulated box. Ifs anyone has any questions, please et me know. I unfortunately do not own the home any longer, it was a heart break to have two sell, and move into a "regular" environment. It was actually initially traumatic, the Living Environment was completely amazing!

I worked with Bruce in the 1980's in NYS. Built their largest home up til then, no problem what so ever with moisture in the sand! It was a closed system, no access to sand once the slab was poured...many happy years of inhabiting a Iving environment! Please reach out for more info if you care to. (Phone #s and email addresses are not allowed in forum posts)

Thanks for your support f AAE and Bruce. I worked with him on my home in the 1980's. what a life changing experience, not only designing my home with him, but being fully involved with building, and of course then the gift of inhabiting this Living Environment! @@@@@@@@@@@@@ (Phone #s and email addresses are not allowed in forum posts)