thermal storage wall

thermal storage wall

Consists of a 10- to 16-inch thick masonry wall placed on the south side of a building where it will receive the most sunlight. Dark-colored, single- or double-glazed windows cover the exterior of the wall to absorb the solar energy, which is stored and then radiated to the living area after the space cools. For other thermal wall systems, the wall thickness varies depending on the material: 10–14 inches for brick, 12–16 inches for concrete, and 8–12 inches for adobe. See also: Passive solar design

Illustrated Dictionary of Architecture Copyright © 2012, 2002, 1998 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

passive solar energy system

A building subsystem in which solar energy is collected and transferred predominantly by natural means; uses natural convection, conduction, or radiation to distribute thermal energy through a structure, within the limits of the indoor design temperature conditions. Compare with active solar energy system.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.