What is a Trombe Wall?


A Trombe wall is a sun-facing wall developed by the French engineer Félix Trombe designed to collect and store solar energy and release it back in the form of heat..

It is built from a material that can act as a thermal mass to store the heat from the sun (such as stone, metal, concrete, adobe or water tanks). This is combined with an air space, insulated glazing and vents to form a structure which acts as a large solar thermal collector.

During the day, sunlight shines in through the insulated glazing and warms the surface of the thermal mass. Heat is stored within it.

At night, heat escapes from this thermal mass. Because of the insulating glazing, the average temperature of the thermal mass can be significantly above the average outdoor temperature.

If the glazing insulates well enough, and outdoor temperatures are not too low, the average temperature of the thermal mass will be significantly higher than room temperature, and heat will flow into the house interior.

Once only of interest to a small minority, green is the new black as far as self-building is concerned.

With the effects of global warming becoming increasingly apparent, more and more people are seeking greener ways to provide the energy needed to run a home.

Whether it's solar panels, heat pumps, high specification glazing or eco-friendly wool insulation in the loft space, there is little doubt that it is self-builders who are setting the standards for a greener future for the building industry and the way we live our lives.

Underfloor heating for example, has been available for years but, by and large, the self build market has been the industry's bread and butter - with large scale property developers still opting for standard, less efficient radiators.

But it's not all about saving the planet. Incorporating green ideas into a home can lead to reduced running costs and save you money in the medium to long term too. And when you come to sell your home in the future, you can guarantee that the greener it is the more attractive it will be to prospective buyers.

There is a greater sense of purpose from the government to promote green alternatives too with a stick and carrot approach in place.

Building regulations now demand far better energy efficiency while government grants are available for loft insulation right through to solar panels, heat pumps, wind turbines and other microgeneration technologies.

Self-builders are leading the way as far as greener homes are concerned and greenselfbuild.co.uk will be with you every step of the way towards a greener future for you, your family and the wider community.