1997 ASHRAE Technology Awards: Passive Solar-Heated Courthouse

Describes the Santa fe Municipal Court Building, the first passive solar- heated courthouse in the US and winner of a 1997 ASHRAE Technology Award. The building encloses 11,240 ft² (104 m²), with a large lobby, an 80-seat courtroom and ancillary rooms. The project was planed to be energy efficient and to demonstrate the use of integrated natural energy systems. Direct-gain solar energy is admitted through windows in the perimeter sidewalls and south-facing sawtooth clerestoreys. Solar gain is captured in the concrete slab masonry, Trombe walls and interior masonry crosswalls. Supplementary heating is by a natural gas fired boiler. Notes individual control of solar heating and ventilation.

Citation: ASHRAE Journal, vol. 39, no. 12, December 1997



Product Code(s): D-9196