Passive Solar Characteristics

Passive solar design uses simple building features that work with the environment to reduce or even eliminate the need for mechanical cooling and heating, as well as daytime artificial lighting.

Why use passive solar design?

• Comfort: Solar homes are warm in the winter and cool in the summer
• Cost-savings: Homeowners will reduce or even eliminate heating and cooling bills.
• Aesthetics: Solar homes are full of light and are well connected to the outdoors.
• Conservation: Solar homes reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heating, cooling, mechanical ventilation and lighting.

Passive solar strategies

• Orientation: The longest wall of the house should face within 15 degrees of true south to receive the most winter solar heat gain and reduce summer cooling costs.
• Windows: Windows are the primary source of heat loss and gain. Thus, a window’s size, orientation, and glazing are important factors that influence heat and daylight levels. Large, south-facing windows heat a home in the winter and bring more daylight inside. Extra insulation will prevent heat loss.
• Skylights: North-facing, insulated, translucent skylights will boost daylight levels inside the home.
• Overhangs: Southern overhangs minimize heat gain.
• Insulation: Good insulation is essential for warming and cooling your home when necessary by minimizing heat loss through walls, roof and floor.
• Thermal mass: Concrete, bricks and other masonry types are used to absorb, store, and release thermal energy. This moderates internal temperatures by balancing day and night temperature changes.
• Ventilation: Cross ventilation paths provide efficient natural cooling.