Inquiry into the Possibilities of a Reverse Greenhouse Effect Through a Reverse Solar Wall for Indoor Overheating Avoidance

This paper investigates the potential of applying the greenhouse effect in a reverse way to transfer heat gained by passive solar means from the interior of a building to the exterior, rather than into the indoor environment. Such an approach may help reduce indoor temperatures in spaces that, for various reasons, cannot avoid exposure to passive solar gains. The strategy is implemented by installing a Trombe wall—a glazed massive wall that transfers heat by conduction and convection—on the indoor side of a sun-exposed exterior wall. In this configuration, solar heat is directed outward rather than inward, as in conventional Trombe walls. This solution can lower indoor air temperatures under conditions of solar gain on interior wall surfaces, making it possible to achieve higher daylight levels with a reduced risk of overheating. Whether or not ventilation is essential in this strategy depends on the amount of thermal mass available in the wall. The feasibility of this approach has been demonstrated through prototype monitoring and simulations, and evaluated in the context of a practical retrofit case study.