The demand for energy-efficient buildings is gradually becoming a good choice for governments trying to reduce carbon emissions, residents to reduce energy bills, and enjoy more comfortable homes. In many countries, mandatory energy efficiency standards are legalized through building codes. Software is often used to predict the energy required to heat and cool a proposed building, based on factors such as insulation, building materials, and local climate.
This is a very good way to encourage building designers to be more deliberate in reducing heating and cooling loads through specialized techniques such as passive solar building design. The success of designers in this goal is uncertain because there is usually no requirement for verification.
Usage assessments need to be done with reference to many more parameters, such as indoor comfort conditions such as air temperature and relative humidity, levels of natural lighting, and even carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations.
PhD research focused on indoor comfort conditions Earthship Eco Homes and Earthship Ironbank. In the extreme climate of Taos in the United States and the high-altitude desert areas of New Mexico, the temperature is about -20°C (-4°F) to 38°C (100°F).
I've heard that these "homes don't need heating or cooling, which seems impossible given Taos's very extreme and harsh climate. I wanted to find out how these structures managed to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, and ONSET HOBO® data loggers started became an important part of my research.
Monitor indoor and outdoor temperature, relative humidity, lighting levels, and solar radiation with ONSET's variety of stand-alone and web-based data loggers.
The ONSET HOBO RX3000 wireless monitoring system, via the free HOBOLink® website, can be monitored remotely in Australia, allowing data collection to span longer durations. For details, please contact Beidaihe for confirmation, and you can access the data in real time.
This inspired me to establish what is called "Earthship Ironbank" in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia. This time however, I used a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) ONSET HOBO MX110 Bluetooth Temperature and Humidity Data Logger with LCD Screen. Likewise, the free HOBOmobile® app can be used to see a map of the nearest temperature structure - ideally helping them become aware of energy savings and a comfortable home planet.
A very unusual design feature of "Earth" is the underground "earth tube," which provides natural air conditioning. This 250mm caliber PVC pipe, buried in a trench 18m long and 1m to 2m deep, brings outside air into the home. At this depth, the soil temperature is very stable, so it provides a heat transfer function for the air passing through the ducts, warming the air in winter and cooling it in summer. Passive air drive through tubes, no fans, through operable skylights on high-rise roofs where hot air is released.
Andrew Carey at RMIT has developed a special monitoring device to measure air temperature, air humidity, air velocity and direction in an aboveground tube. Using an ONSET HOBO U12-013 data logger and two external inputs as the heart of the monitoring system, Carre's rigs are the secret tubes the earth unleashes - such as how fast the air should travel through them for good heat exchange Effect.
Recently, ONSET HOBO MX1102 Bluetooth CO2/Temperature/Relative Humidity Logger is used to measure the rate of earth air infiltration through the tube. Terry Williamson, adjunct associate professor at the University of Adelaide, experimented with bottled carbon dioxide released into homes, and its decay rate was quantified by data collected by the MX1102 logger. Williamson says it's a more reliable way to measure air infiltration because the standard "blower door" test (large industrial fans in which the house is pressurized) doesn't represent the typical pressure found in homes. While air leaks are well identified (with a thermal imaging camera), natural high pressure can exacerbate and distort the results, while CO2 decay systems do not cause this problem.
Another interesting finding from the ONSET HOBOMX1102 logger was the CO2 level triggered by the breath of the occupants. I'd like to see if I can use this logger to demonstrate the carbon sequestration effects of "magical indoor gardens, indoor baths, showers, washing machines where food can be grown indoors.
An important research tool, plus they support very good software and Internet services (HOBOware, HOBOlink, HOBOmobile application). In a world of comfort, the comfort conditions of all buildings will be monitored and data fed back to users and designers, so that more sustainable homes and buildings continue to develop based on scientific understanding.
Dr. Martin Lecturer, School of Art, Architecture and Design, University of South Australia Earthship Eco Homes and Earthship Ironbank Research Report
