Passive Solar Power

Sustainable House Design Techniques

Take Advantage of Passive Solar Power to provide a maximum of comfort at a minimum of cost. A Passive Solar House can be all but immune to rising energy costs... and it's all so simple!

Passive Solar House Design

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Solar energy falls continuously to the earth and there are a number of ways to use that energy which cost little to implement and reduce not only your costs but your contribution to harmful emissions.

Many of our tips can be utilized on an existing home and if you're building a home or selecting a lot, you're in a great position to make some decisions now that will save you big bucks as long as you live in the home.

Combine simple passive techniques with some energy conservation tips and techniques and you can reduce your energy bill by more than half... permanently.

The cost of making use of passive solar energy when building your home is about the same as if you don't use it, but in the long term a passive solar house will enjoy a more stable indoor temperature saving you thousands of energy dollars without any further effort on your part.

For more specific and in depth information on a passive solar house depending on your location visit our pages on:

Here are some of our favorite methods of using passive solar power.

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1. Plan window and door openings to be most abundant on the side of the house where they are the most beneficial. In hot climates minimize the openings on the sunniest side of the house and in cold climates maximize them to allow the sun plenty of access.
2. Place awnings and leafy deciduous plantings around windows and doorways. Using trees, pots and trellises you can create a seasonal barrier to discourage the heat of the sun from intruding into the household during the hottest times of the year.
3. Insulation, insulation, insulation. You'll get more bang for your buck by reinforcing your insulation in ceilings, walls, floors, around doors, windows and electrical outlets than by most of the other methods combined.
4. The use of thermal materials such as stone, tile and brick regulates the temperature of your living space by absorbing heat from direct sunlight during the day and slowly releasing it throughout the night.
5. Mudrooms and separate entry areas prevent the intrusion of hot or cold air into your home's interior when the door is opened.
6. Shutters or insulated window coverings can play a significant role whether you are attempting to keep heat in or out of your home.
7. Solar Tube Skylights are the perfect passive solution to indoor daylighting. Pure, natural light for studios, closets, bathrooms, stairways... and no energy cost to you.
8. The best ceiling height depends on the climate you live in. High ceilings are best in hot climates because they draw the heat up and out of the immediate living area. In cold climates, where you want to keep the warm air where you do your living, low ceilings are a benefit.

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Passive solar power is based around using, collecting and storing the passive solar energy during the day and releasing it at night.

The building materials and methods you choose will have a huge effect on the insulation factor your house is able to achieve.

Methods such as straw bale construction, rammed earth techniques, underground dwellings or other super energy efficient home building alternatives provide all the warmth and shelter you need with a barely traceable footprint. The high insulation factor in these types of homes keeps the inside temperature relatively constant even when there are dramatic seasonal temperature fluctuations. For you that means a snug living space with very low (even non-existent) energy costs.

Effective energy efficient home designs will incorporate a number of alternatives depending on the resources available on the site. Add a solar array, wind generator heat pump or water turbine to a passive solar house and you'll have created a comfortable home that will save you money and the earth from an unnecessary treadmark.