Passive Solar Info

Sustainable House Design Tips for Going Green at Home.

Passive Solar Info for developing an eco house design that can save you serious money on your energy bill. Check out our tips for using the passive solar energy that falls freely on your property.

passive solar info

Incorporating passive solar attributes when building or making alterations to your home can result in significant savings while reducing your negative impact on the environment.

Additionally, the use of these concepts will yield a home that has a more stable temperature and less dramatic seasonal fluctuations resulting in a comfortable living space that requires fewer additional (and costly) heating and cooling interventions.

Combine our passive solar info with basic energy saving tips and spend your money on something more fun than energy.

You'll be amazed at the number of small things you can do that add up to a big difference.

Reminder

If you want cool then lots of shade, stone and effective breezeways should be planned into the design.

If you want your home to stay warm then strategically placed windows, heat storing materials and windbreaks will achieve that.

Passive solar use is simply the manipulation of the sun's heat and light rays to your best advantage.

We spend a lot of money in an attempt to keep the interior of our homes at a comfortable temperature when simple passive solar techniques can do a good portion of the job for free.

Using the sun's power wisely can reduce your electricity and heating bills by half. That's no small potatoes in an environment of skyrocketing energy costs. Our passive solar info can help you get started whether you're building or renovating.

Passive Solar Info for Home Use

When Purchasing a Lot ~
Choose a sunny lot that has good exposure to the sun and lots of deciduous trees and plantings.
Insulation, Insulation, Insulation ~
The liberal use of insulation in floors, walls, ceilings and around doors, windows, electrical outlets and vents is the best way to keep energy costs down and the best start to utilizing passive solar energy. Without adequate (or better) insulation many of your heating and cooling efforts will be futile.
Let the Sun Shine in ~
In cold climates with warm summers, situate most of the windows toward the south and west. Keep the windows to a minimum on the north, and East sides. (in the southern hemisphere windows should be on the north and west sides of the house. Remember that although windows allow the sun to enter and heat the interior of your home during the day, they do the complete opposite during the night. Insulated drapes, shutters and awnings allow you to control the entrance and exit of heat. Ideally, south windows should occupy no more area than the equivalent of 12% of your home's square footage.
Covered Verandas ~
In hot climates you'll want to keep heat out rather than in your home's interior. Most of your windows and doorways should be facing north. Covered verandas prevent the intrusion of heat on the sunny sides of the dwelling. Situate patios on the north side of the house and hang insulating window coverings or shutters over south, east and west windows. Opposite in the southern hemisphere.
Close in Your Entry Area ~
A great deal of temperature exchange occurs when opening and closing doors. A separate mudroom or entry keeps your living space more comfortable by trapping and warming outside air before it's allowed into the house.
Stick to Veritcal Glass ~
Sloped windows and skylights should only be used after careful planning. Although sloped windows and skylights allow a lot of light in and work wonders in the right areas, you have little control over when, how much and where the light is directed. Too much light in the wrong areas can make it difficult to work or to view television and computer screens and damages furnishings and floor coverings. Also, although light and heat is allowed in during the day skylights provide a route for heat to escape at night. Clerestory windows add ample light without the issues of skylights.
Ventilation ~
The use of ventilation creates a more energy efficient home while preventing moisture buildup and mold growth inside the walls.
Low Ceilings in Cool Climates, High in Hot ~
Passive solar info regarding ceilings is to stick to lower ceilings in cool climates. Because heat rises, rooms with high ceilings can be difficult to keep warm. Most of your hard won heat rests way up there where the occupants of the house can't benefit from it. Fans require maintenance and electricity, are sometimes noisy and don't work very well way up there.

Alternately, in hot climates high ceilings allow the hottest air to rise and keep the cooler air in the living space.
Window Overhangs ~
Awnings and window overhangs keep the high summer sun from entering through the windows but when the sun is low in the winter sky it's rays are allowed to warm the home.
Leafy Deciduous Plantings ~
Plant trees and leafy vegetation whose greenery falls off in winter near doorways and windows (we choose a scented vine or tree). The heavy growth in summer prevents the sun from gaining entry through openings and the naked branches in winter allow the sun to warm the home. Ensure that trees and plantings do not shade any solar panels. Even a small area of shade on a solar panel can dramatically reduce it's output. The older the panel the truer this is.
Make a Fabulous Garden Solar Shower ~
Place a dark tank of water in a sunny garden area high enough that you can stand under it (the roof of a garden shed or garage works well) and attach a shower nozzle to it. Provide privacy with plantings or fashion a privacy curtain. This reduces your hot water costs and provides a place where the family can rinse off after a day in the sun.
Follow our Energy Conservation Tips and Techniques

Reducing your overall energy consumption using our passive solar info can substantially influence the cost of getting set up with alternative power sources such as solar.