Passive Solar Energy

Passive energy design refers to the use of the sun's energy for the heating and cooling of living spaces. In this approach, the building itself or some element of it takes advantage of natural energy characteristics in materials and air created by exposure to the sun. Passive systems are simple, have few moving parts, and require minimal maintenance and require no mechanical systems.

Passive Solar House Designs

All passive techniques use building elements such as walls, windows, floors and roofs, in addition to exterior building elements and landscaping, to control heat generated by solar radiation. Solar heating designs collect and store thermal energy from direct sunlight. Passive cooling minimizes the effects of solar radiation through shading or generating air flows with convection ventilation.

Site Orientation Of A Passive Solar House

For passive heating and cooling, the plan of the house, careful site selection and planning, construction materials, building features and other aspects of the home are designed to collect, store and distribute the sun's heat in winter; and to block the sun's rays in summer. Passive solar houses can be built in any architectural style and in any part of the country.

For More Information On Passive Solar Energy See The Following: The Passive Solar Energy Home

If your planning on building a home see the following for information on the home site orientation at:

Passive Solar Home Orientation