OM SOLAR - In Northern California

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	In Northern California

In Hokkaido, Japan | In Northern California

The Facts Speak for Themselves on northern California

Davis, California, where Allegra Silberstein lives.

You don't have to be young to try something new — that certainly seems to be the attitude espoused by Allegra Silberstein, an energetic woman in her 70s who is the first person in the United States to build an OM Solar home. Allegra, who lives in Davis, California, says that the OM Solar system is "what I've been looking for all along."

Allegra Silberstein in her garden
(December 2000).

Graph: Climatic data showing year-round temperature readings for Sacramento

Climatic data showing year-round temperature readings for Sacramento, the closest point of weather data availability for Davis. Source: NCDC (National Climate Data Center).

Indicated here is data pertaining to Allegra Silberstein's OM Solar home.

The Allegra Silberstein Residence
Location: Davis, California
Total floor area: 2,067ft² (192m²)
Data collection period:
2 years, beginning in March 2003

Data for a 3-day period in winter, 2003

Inclement weather during the first day caused temperatures to drop steadily. On the second day, the weather cleared, and an outdoor morning temperature of 45Fº (7Cº) gradually rose to a high of 66Fº (19Cº). Over the three days, the temperature of the OM Solar system's underfloor, heat-storing concrete slab increased from 68 to 77Fº (20 to 25Cº), with hot water-supply temperatures also rising, from 95 to 122Fº (35 to 50Cº). Indoor morning temperatures reached 61Fº (16Cº) during the second day, and on the following day they reached 64Fº (18Cº ) as a result of the OM Solar system's heat collection and distribution during the fine weather. Note that this data was not collected in December, the coldest month in the Davis area.

Data for a 3-day period in summer, 2003

There were marked contrasts between daytime and nighttime temperatures, which differed by more than 36Fº (20Cº). Daytime temperatures sometimes exceeded 104Fº (40Cº), while nighttime temperatures dropped to as low as 68Fº (20Cº). Under these conditions, the most effective way to maintain a comfortable interior temperature is to shut out external heat during the day by keeping the windows closed, and then to open the windows at night and/or bring external cool air into the interior through OM Solar system operation. This will enable indoor temperatures to be maintained at between 68 to 81Fº (20 to 27Cº), without resorting to an air conditioner.