Residential application of the Rutgers system for solar heating of greenhouses. [Flooded subfloor heat storage]

An important feature of the Rutgers system for solar heating of greenhouses is a flooded subfloor which serves as a massive storage and enables the entire floor surface to act as the primary heat exchanger. Preliminary studies indicate that adapting this concept to a residential space heating system would enable the solar system to operate at low temperatures, about 25 to 30/sup 0/C facilitating the use of simple and low-cost solar collection systems. A 125-year old residence is being retrofit with a 2-story addition with a flooded subfloor and a lean-to style greenhouse also with a flooded subfloor storage. A wooded stove with a water heating coil supplements the solar system and the pre-existing residential heating system is the final backup. Since the system became partially operational in early February, all space heating needs have been met by passive gain from the greenhouse and the wood stove.