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Passive solar uses windows and insulation to keep homes warm using the sun’s rays. South-facing windows and heat-collecting walls or floors are key, and awnings can prevent overheating.
Passive solar is an approach to keeping a home warm by taking advantage of the sun’s rays. It differs from other solar technologies because it is basically a low-tech approach. Passive solar simply takes the heat from the sun directly and keeps it inside the house for heating, mainly by using windows and good insulation. A passive solar system can keep a home warm enough to dramatically reduce heating costs and, in some areas, can completely replace other heating methods.
The key aspect of most passive solar projects is attention to windows. Usually, designers install a huge number of south-facing windows to capture as much heat as possible during daylight. Even windows are usually made with special glass that absorbs as much heat as possible and keeps it in the house for as long as possible.
Another aspect of passive solar projects is to retain heat during the night hours, and this is usually done by installing a concrete wall or floor, or sometimes both. Brick and materials like adobe will also work. Heat-collecting walls or floors are typically installed in the same areas as windows. These materials absorb heat and release it very slowly. This means that once night falls, the concrete will continue to radiate heat steadily for a good portion of the evening, making the house warmer in the process.
In some cases, designers may also use a special type of wall called a trombe with a glass pane in front. The idea behind a trombe is to capture the heat within the space between the wall and the glass. These generally work more efficiently than just using concrete. Designers also sometimes paint their concrete walls black so they’re more absorbent, or they may even put water containers, which can also capture heat, inside walls made of other materials.
Sometimes homes using passive solar design are built more open so that more heat can get through the windows to other parts of the structure. They also occasionally make the window area one big room and connect it to every other room in the house if possible. To keep homes from getting too hot in the summer, designers can install awnings that can block the sun when desired, and design the home for easier ventilation.
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