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Thermal Mass

Building Science-to-Sales Translator

Thermal Mass = Natural Comfort Balancing System

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Technical Description

A natural comfort-balancing system uses thermal mass materials to store excess heat during the day and dissipate it naturally at night when there is no sunlight. This is especially important in natural comfort homes with optimized solar orientation.  Materials with high thermal storage characteristics include concrete, stone, adobe, brick, and contained water. Thermal mass floors and walls work especially well in climates with significant diurnal swings in day and nighttime temperatures.

Alternate Terms

Energy-Saving Natural Comfort Balancing

Natural Comfort Balancing System
Sales Message

Natural comfort balancing system integrates architectural materials that can store the solar heat to avoid excessive heat gain. What this means to you is a home with free heating and cooling, and radiant comfort. Wouldn’t agree it’s smart to optimize the ability to use naturally available heating and cooling?

Disclaimer

This content is a work created with funding provided by the United States Department of Energy under Contract no DE-AC05-076RL01830 for the operation of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The information and guidance provided by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in the content are intended solely for educational purposes only and do not constitute formal training or certification. It is provided with the explicit understanding that neither the United States Government nor the United States Department of Energy, nor the Contractor, nor any or their employees, nor any jurisdiction or organization that has cooperated in the development of these materials, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness or any information, apparatus, product, software, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof, or Battelle Memorial Institute. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Viewers assumes full responsibility for all actions that they may take from information provided in this content including ensuring the safety, code compliance, and proper functionality of any products they choose to install. Installation and use of such products should be performed in accordance with local regulations and manufacturer instructions.