Rabbit hutch tiny house

Overview

Rabbits cannot tolerate temperatures greater than 30 degC, this is why they live underground.
In this project we experiment with the six Passive House principles to keep internal temperatures as constant as possible.
The six Passive House principles are:
- air tightness - air leaks result in excessive temperature gains or losses
- insulation - stops thermal leakage through roofs, walls and floors
- thermal mass - slows heat gain or heat loss
- double glazed windows - is the equivalent of insulation for windows
- north facing windows for heat gain
- eliminating thermal bridges

In this project we will experiment with a foam box that we can modify using the six Passive House principles.
To monitor the effects of the six Principles we will use a temperature sensor

We will also include two controls:
- one temperature sensor in an unmodified foam box
- one temperature sensor measuring atmospheric temperature changes

Because we can't control experimental conditions we will just need to monitor the performance of our experiment over several weeks.

Using PVA glue, paint the inside and outside surfaces of the foam box with two coats of PVA glue
Foam often has small micropores that allows air to pass through
We call this an open foam structure
Once dry, the PVA coating should help create a box that is more air tight.
This should improve thermal performance in comparison to the two controls.

The foam box already has walls of foam which functions as insulation.
Foam acts as an insulator because air is trapped within the foam, and also because foam itself is a poor conducted on heat.
The thicker the walls the better the insulation properties.
Another way to improve insulation is to add some more insulation to the outside of the box.
Some experimental suggestions include:
- Adding foam or other insulation materials to the outside of the box.
- Placing the original foam box inside a bigger foam box.
- Replacing the original foam box with a foam box with thicker walls.
- Wrapping the foam box in insulation material

Check to see how temperatures rise and fall with the addition of insulation outside the foam box.

Thermal mass slows the effects of heat gain or heat loss
Dense materials have thermal mass such as concrete, metal, bricks and water.
During the day high thermal mass absorbes excess heat. This prevents inside temperatures from rising too fast.
During the nigh, high thermal mass material release their stored heat.

Some experimental suggestions include:
- Adding a plastic water bottle filled with water inside the foam box.
- Adding a brick inside the foam box.

Thermal mass can also be added outside the foam box.
One option is to dig a hole and place the foam box inside the hole.
This option is similar to a rabbit burrow and may help explain why rabbits prefer living underground.

Check to see how temperatures rise and fall with the addition of thermal mass inside the foam box.