Earth Tubes: How to build a low cost system to passively heat and cool your home

[Midniteoyl]

A heat exchanger would be a good idea.. Adds complexity and cost though.

 

[Member]

They did this at the Aldo Leopold Center in Madison, Wisconsin:

http://www.aldoleopold.org/Visit/assets/earth%20tubes.pdf

 

[Gordo 56]

Thanks for the link, I have not seen this before.

They did this at the Aldo Leopold Center in Madison, Wisconsin:

http://www.aldoleopold.org/Visit/assets/earth%20tubes.pdf

 

[CurlyDave]

The system in the pictures is nice. But it is not consistent with the low cost criteria in the title of this thread.

To me, putting part of the system under the building is a mistake. Put it under a lawn, a field, or even the parking lot, but under the building guarantees that there will be disruptions for repairs.

 

[sparc]

This sounds like an interesting project, I think it would be better with smooth wall pipe, so water would not set in the ridges of the flex pipe. If your hill is steep enough, this may not be a problem.

You could get a peice of the flex pipe, and set up a model, and experiment on how much of a slope is needed for complete drainage.

Dave

I agree, the corrugated pipe will make it difficult to remove all the water by gravity drain. Forced air would be the best choice or use smooth wall pipe.

 

[radioman]

I second the thought of using smoothwall pipes. Also I wonder what will happen with precipition that soaks in ground? will it reach your passive pipes? Will you improve drainage with stone? Will you have some sort of cap to keep above ground water that leaches down from touching your tubes? whats the frost line in your area and will the soil still be 50 degrees near the frostline?
Passive heating shounds like a good idea- but wonder on the effectiveness?