Trombe Walls

A Trombe wall is a passive solar system in which a dense thermal mass wall (typically concrete, adobe, or water-filled containers) is placed directly behind a layer of glazing on the south face of a building. Sunlight passes through the glazing and strikes the dark-colored mass wall, which absorbs the energy and heats up. The air space between the wall and the glazing also heats up, and this warm air can be directed into the building through vents at the top and bottom of the mass wall, creating a natural convective loop. At night, the warm mass wall radiates heat into the building interior.

Trombe walls are particularly effective in climates with cold winters, abundant sunshine, and significant diurnal temperature swings — conditions that describe the New Mexico high desert perfectly. They add solar heat gain capacity without exposing the interior to direct sun, which can be useful in situations where interior daylighting and glare control are concerns. The main disadvantage of a Trombe wall is that the dark mass wall blocks the view through the south glazing; many designers use a hybrid approach with a partial Trombe wall alongside direct-gain glazing.