Managed Heat Flow

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Passive Annual Heat Storage is an idea that came about in the late 1970's. At that time, there was a lot of research being done by several universities as well as individuals on how to make house structures more energy efficient.  The University of Minnesota had a department called the "The Department of Underground Living". They proved that a structure could be made more energy efficient by changing the placement of the insulation. John Hait studied this information and found that by extending the insulation horizontally 20 feet from the structure wall, a 6 month time lag (or flywheel effect) could be used to maintain a more constant inside temperature. Mr. Hait called this effect Passive Annual Heat Storage (PAHS) and places thermal dynamics as a design / construction priority. It is a method of collecting heat in the summertime, storing it in the earth naturally, then returning that heat to the home in the winter and using the same process to cool the home in the summer. It includes extensive use of natural heat flow methods and the arrangement of building materials to direct heat from where ever we get it to where ever we want it, all without using machinery to make it work. He developed the Insulated Watershed Umbrella technique and in 1981 built a home in Montana that proved the overall concept.

To learn more, go to:
Rocky Mountain Research Center