Adaptive wall insulating system

Abstract

A building wall or a system for insulating a building wall, comprising: an insulating layer of translucent insulation disposed upon an exterior wall of a building so as to be exposed to solar radiation; an absorbing layer disposed toward the interior of said building from said insulating layer in a position to receive at least of portion of said solar radiation, said absorbing layer being capable of absorbing a portion of said solar radiation and converting said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy; an adaptive shading mechanism disposed exterior of said transparent insulation, said adaptive shading mechanism comprising: a support structure secured to said building and adapted to support plant matter at a distance therefrom; plant matter disposed upon said support structure in a position to at least partially shade said exterior of said building from said solar radiation, said plant matter being selected so that said plant matter changes during a certain portion of the calendar year so as to increase the amount of solar radiation reaching said exterior of said building, said portion of the calendar year being a portion in which relatively greater solar heating of said building is desired. A method for insulating a building wall comprises the employment of such a system.

1 . A building wall, comprising:
 an insulating layer of translucent insulation disposed upon an exterior wall of a building so as to be exposed to solar radiation;   an absorbing layer disposed toward the interior of said building from said insulating layer in a position to receive at least of portion of said solar radiation, said absorbing layer being capable of absorbing a portion of said solar radiation and converting said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy;   an adaptive shading mechanism disposed exterior of said transparent insulation, said adaptive shading mechanism comprising:
 a support structure secured to said building and adapted to support plant matter at a distance therefrom; 
 plant matter disposed upon said support structure in a position to at least partially shade said exterior of said building from said solar radiation, said plant matter being selected so that said plant matter changes during a certain portion of the calendar year so as to increase the amount of solar radiation reaching said exterior of said building, said portion of the calendar year being a portion in which relatively greater solar heating of said building is desired. 
   
   
   
       2 . A building wall according to  claim 1 , wherein said plant matter comprises deciduous vines. 
   
   
       3 . A building wall according to  claim 1 , wherein said absorbing layer comprises a hard material having a dark surface facing said exterior of said building. 
   
   
       4 . A building wall according to  claim 1 , wherein said support structure comprises a frame attached to said building by a plurality of anchor members. 
   
   
       5 . A building wall according to  claim 1 , wherein said support structure is suspended at a distance between about 5 inches (13 cm) and about 24 inches (31 cm) from said exterior of said building. 
   
   
       6 . A system for insulating a building wall, comprising:
 an insulating layer of translucent insulation disposed upon an exterior wall of a building so as to be exposed to solar radiation;   an absorbing layer disposed toward the interior of said building from said insulating layer in a position to receive at least of portion of said solar radiation, said absorbing layer being capable of absorbing a portion of said solar radiation and converting said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy;   an adaptive shading mechanism disposed exterior of said transparent insulation, said adaptive shading mechanism comprising:
 a support structure secured to said building and adapted to support plant matter at a distance therefrom; 
 plant matter disposed upon said support structure in a position to at least partially shade said exterior of said building from said solar radiation, said plant matter being selected so that said plant matter changes during a certain portion of the calendar year so as to increase the amount of solar radiation reaching said exterior of said building, said portion of the calendar year being a portion in which relatively greater solar heating of said building is desired. 
   
   
   
       7 . A system for insulating a building wall according to  claim 6 , wherein said plant matter comprises deciduous vines. 
   
   
       8 . A system for insulating a building wall according to  claim 6 , wherein said absorbing layer comprises a hard material having a dark surface facing said exterior of said building. 
   
   
       9 . A system for insulating a building wall according to  claim 6 , wherein said support structure comprises a frame attached to said building by a plurality of anchor members. 
   
   
       10 . A system for insulating a building wall according to  claim 6 , wherein said support structure is suspended at a distance between about 5 inches (13 cm) and about 24 inches (31 cm) from said exterior of said building. 
   
   
       11 . A method for controlling the flow of heat into a building, comprising:
 providing an insulating layer of transparent insulation;   disposing said transparent insulation upon an exterior wall of a building so as to be exposed to solar radiation;   providing an absorbing layer disposed toward the interior of said building from said insulating layer, said absorbing layer being capable of absorbing a portion of said solar radiation and converting said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy;   providing an adaptive shading mechanism disposed exterior of said transparent insulation, said adaptive shading mechanism comprising:
 a support structure secured to said building and adapted to support plant matter at a distance therefrom; 
 plant matter disposed upon said support structure in a position to at least partially shade said exterior of said building from said solar radiation, said plant matter being selected so that said plant matter changes during a certain portion of the calendar year so as to increase the amount of solar radiation reaching said exterior of said building, said portion of the calendar year being a portion in which relatively greater solar heating of said building is desired; 
 disposing said adaptive shading mechanism upon the exterior of said building. 
   
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing an absorbing layer capable of absorbing a portion of said solar radiation and converting said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy;   disposing said absorbing layer toward the interior of said building from said insulating layer in a position to receive said portion of said solar radiation and convert said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy.