Passive Solar Design Is Nothing New

PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN IS NOTHING NEW—

Orientation is particularly important for cooling, even with high performance glass.

Loren W. ‘Tod’ Neubauer’s work helped develop the field of integrated passive solar design. He guided and inspired many of the California passive innovators of the 1970s. He received awards from the American Solar Energy Society, the ASAE, Forest Products Society, and the White House. His legacy includes his research and the many students he encouraged, trained and inspired. His early days in Minnesota certainly shaped his outlook on life, his innate common sense and practical approach to problems and his concern for others, especially for farm families and farm animals. He is little known today because he was a modest, quiet and soft-spoken Minnesotan at heart. As an interviewer from the Sacramento Bee said, he was “... modest to the point of embarrassment” for being recognized for his work. In an interview in 1981 he commented, “I always felt pretty sure that everybody would eventually come around... we’ll see all our building facing south with solar features.” He was a great one and is still missed by those who knew him.

Neubauer, L. W., G. Starr and B. Melzer. 1980. Temperature control by passive solar house design in California. Transactions of the ASAE. 23 (2): 0449-0457.

Neubauer, L. W. 1979. Effect of window areas on energy use. Transactions ASAE. 22(6):1406-1408.

Living Systems. 1977. Davis Energy Conservation Report: Living with the Sun. City of Davis, Davis, CA. Living Systems staff including L.W. Neubauer.

Office of the State Architect. 1976. New State Office Building Site Number 1. Sacramento, CA.

Living Systems consultants for this passive solar building, staff including L. W. Neubauer. (This building included integrated design for heating, cooling, daylighting and ventilation. Modeling showed an 88% reduction in energy use. The GSA could not believe it and rejected the plan—built a building that had sick building problems instead)

Hammond, J., M. Hunt, R.D. Cramer and L. W. Neubauer. 1974. A Strategy for Energy Conservation: Proposed Energy Conservation and Solar Utilization Ordinance for the City of Davis. Living Systems, Winters, CA. (this energy code was adopted – using microclimate resources and providing solar orientation and solar control incentives).

Neubauer, L. W. 1972. Orientation and insulation: model versus prototype. Transactions ASAE. 15(4):707-709. Originally titled Southermation and insulation: model versus prototypes. Presented Annual Meeting ASAE Pullman, Wash., June 1971. Paper No. 71-407.

Neubauer, L. W. 1972. Optimum alleviation of solar stress on model buildings. Transactions ASAE. 15(1):129-132.

Neubauer, L. W. 1969. Toward Cooler Buildings. Agricultural Engineering. Feb, p, 80, 81. Condensation.

Neubauer, L. W. and R. D. Cramer, 1968. Effect of shape of building on interior air temperature. Transactions ASAE (11)4:537-539

Neubauer, L. W. and R. D. Cramer. 1966. Solar radiation control for small exposed houses. Transactions ASAE 9(2):194, 195, 197.

Neubauer, L. W. and R. D. Cramer. 1966. Thermal effectiveness of shape I. Solar Energy. 10(3):141-149.

Neubauer, L. W. and R. D. Cramer. 1965. Diurnal radiant exchange with the sky dome. Solar Energy 9(2):95-103.

Neubauer, L. W. and R. D. 1965. Shading devices to limit solar heat gain but increase cold sky radiation. Transactions ASAE. 8(4):470-472, 475. (livestock shelters)

Neubauer, L. W., R. D. Cramer and M. Laraway. 1964. Temperature control of solar radiation on roof surfaces. Transactions ASAE. 7(4):432-434, 438.

Brooks, F. A., C. F. Kelly and L. W. Neubauer. 1960. Principles and parameters of solar energy collection and use. Presented 1960 Winter Meeting ASAE Dec. 1960. Memphis, Tenn., Paper No. 60-818. 7 pages +cover.

Neubauer, L. W. 1960. Roof overhang for farm buildings. California Agriculture. December:12

Cramer, R. D. and L. W. Neubauer. 1959. Summer heat control for small homes. Transactions ASAE 2(1):102, 103, 105.

Neubauer, L. W. 1959. Cooling principles for buildings. 7 pages mimeo, UC Davis.

Cramer, R. D. and L. W. Neubauer. 1958. Solar radiant gains through directional glass exposure. Heating, Piping, Air Conditioning. 30(11):155-62.

Neubauer, L. W. 1958. Control of solar radiation. California Agriculture. July:9,14.

Neubauer, L. W., R. B. Deering and V. G. Kay. 1958. Temperature control for houses. Journal of Home Economics. 50(3):175-184.

Neubauer, L. W. 1956. House comfort in hot weather. Farm Structures Conference Jan. 27. 3 pages mimeo, UC Davis.

Everson, G. J., L. W. Neubauer and R. B. Deering. 1956. Environmental influence on orientation and house design to improve living comfort. Journal of Home Economics. 48(3):161-167.

Neubauer, L. W. 1955. House cooling in a warm dry climate. Progress Report No, 2 Calif. Project 1536. USDA Project W-8. 3 pages mimeo.

Neubauer, L. W. 1951. Solar heating and the solar home. 3 pages mimeo, UC Davis.

IN THE MID LATITUDES OF THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE SOUTH FACING WINDOWS

ARE BEST IN BOTH

SUMMER—AND WINTER