[Cob] solar radiant sand bed under cob cottage

[ocean]

There is no problem with heat transferring into an earthen floor from a 
radiant heat source (such as fireplace or woodstove) which would be 
heated additionally by hydronic solar collectors.

In fact, a "normal" cob floor does get warm to touch after absorbing 
heat from the room.  Plus most cob cottages designed by Ianto have a 
passive solar collection of heat through large south facing windows.

This is one of the major "selling points" of cob:  its inherent large 
thermal mass in walls and floor which absorbs ambient heat and then 
re-emits it radiantly into the space.

"Thermal Gortex" seems an unnecessary complication!

Ocean


On Jan 23, 2005, at 6:56 AM, tabitha and karl o'melay wrote:

> my current plan is as follows:
> i'd like to incorporate solar hydronic heat into my earthen floor. the 
> method that has intrigued me the most is to incorporate a large sand 
> bed under my earthen floor and run pex trough it heated by solar 
> collectors.
> a good passive solar design will take care of the first part of the 
> evening/first-night depending on amount of solar. the delayed themal 
> mass sand bed will extend my solar output duration. (daycreek.com) has 
> an example of this in his cordwood home.