Keep Cooler & Warmer with Thermal Mass

We are all for designing eco-friendly and sustainable homes. Many homeowners are now looking for eco-friendly features in their homes from the materials they are built with to the way they are built. Whether you are building or remodeling, there are things you can do to make your home more eco-friendly.

One aspect of eco-friendly homes that is important to consider is energy efficiency. By increasing your home’s energy efficiency you can help preserve natural resources while also saving money on your energy bills. Good insulation, sealing air leaks and heating and cooling strategies all contribute toward energy efficiency.

Thermal mass is a sustainable way to heat and cool your home when applied properly and used in combination with proper insulation. Materials with thermal mass, things such as brick and concrete, are placed in floors and walls to absorb heat.

The heating and cooling properties of thermal mass are based on the principle that heat moves from warm to cool surfaces. In cool weather, the heat absorbed from the sun by the thermal mass is radiated into the room as temperatures drop at night, while in warm weather, the heat from the room is absorbed by the thermal mass, which creates a cooling effect.

By using passive solar and thermal mass techniques you can decrease the use of your heating and air conditioning system, because your home will be able to maintain a comfortable temperature more easily.

Adding thermal mass to an existing home is possible by installing a concrete floor in an addition, adding a well-insulated and sun-facing stone or brick feature wall inside the home, or by adding a conservatory with high thermal mass.

You can multiply the effect of thermal mass by using it in conjunction with other passive solar techniques such as strategically placed roof overhangs, which help heat and cool sustainable homes from the outside.

Contact TMS Architects for help building or remodeling your eco-friendly home.