Energy efficient housing structure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is an object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved air envelope system for a housing structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel and improved envelope housing structure which is earth-coupled and makes provision for novel and improved means of air circulation uniformly throughout and around the housing structure.
A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel and improved housing structure in which a novel and improved passive solar heating system has been devised which is capable of directing solar radiation over the greatest possible extent of the housing structure without substantial modification of conventional housing designs or construction techniques.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide for a novel and improved air envelope system for a housing structure which is earth-coupled and is capable of air circulation uniformly throughout all rooms of the housing structure while incorporating therein novel and improved passive solar heating and thermal storage; and further wherein a building structure has substantial portions of the interior space exposed to passive solar heating while permitting effective partitioning and subdivision of the building structure into separate living areas.
In accordance with the present invention, there has been devised an air envelope housing structure which in a preferred embodiment is employed in a split-level home having first and second passive solar heating sections, the first directing solar radiation through the southern exposed portion of the housing and the second being in the form of a clerestory which extends along a raised section of the building and permits solar radiation to be directed into the north section of the building.
A vertical conduit or chase extends upwardly from a lower air space upwardly into communication with the air envelope in its extension along the roof section.
The lower end of the chase can communicate either with the crawl space area or with an outside source of air, and air-circulating means controls the direction and amount of air circulation through the chase