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Passive solar design takes advantage of a building''s site, climate, and materials to minimize energy use. A well-designed passive solar home first reduces heating and cooling loads throughenergy-efficiency strategiesand then meets those reduced loads in whole or part with solar energy. Because of the small heating loads of modern homes it is very important to avoid oversizing south-facing glass and ensure that south-facing glass is properly shaded to prevent overheating and increased cooling loads in the spring and fall.
Before you add solar features to your new home design or existing house, remember that energy efficiency is the most cost-effective strategy for reducing heating and cooling bills. Choose building professionals experienced in energy-efficient house design and construction and work with them to optimize your home''s energy efficiency. If you''re remodeling an existing home, the first step is to have ahome energy auditto prioritize the most cost-effective energy efficiency improvements.
If you''re planning a new passive solar home, a portion of the south side of your house must have an unobstructed "view" of the sun. Consider possible future uses of the land to the south of your site—small trees become tall trees, and a future multi-story building can block your home''s access to the sun. In some areas, zoning or other land use regulations protect landowners'' solar access. If solar access isn''t protected in your region, look for a lot that is deep from north to south and place the house on the north end of the lot.
In simple terms, a passive solar home collects heat as the sun shines through south-facing windows and retains it in materials that store heat, known as thermal mass. The share of the home''s heating load that the passive solar design can meet is called the passive solar fraction, and depends on the area of glazing and the amount of thermal mass. The ideal ratio of thermal mass to glazing varies by climate. Well-designed passive solar homes also provide daylight all year and comfort during the cooling season through the use of nighttime ventilation.
To be successful, a passive solar home design must include some basic elements that work together:
Although conceptually simple, a successful passive solar home requires that a number of details and variables come into balance. An experienced designer can use a computer model to simulate the details of a passive solar home in different configurations until the design fits the site as well as the owner''s budget, aesthetic preferences, and performance requirements.
Some of the elements the designer will consider include:
In a direct gain design, sunlight enters the house through south-facing windows and strikes masonry floors and/or walls, which absorb and store the solar heat. As the room cools during the night, the thermal mass releases heat into the house.
Some builders and homeowners use water-filled containers located inside the living space to absorb and store solar heat. Although water stores twice as much heat as masonry materials per cubic foot of volume, water thermal storage requires carefully designed structural support. An advantage of water thermal storage is that it can be installed in an existing home if the structure can support the weight.
An indirect-gain passive solar home has its thermal storage between the south-facing windows and the living spaces. The most common indirect-gain approach is a Trombe wall.
The most common isolated-gain passive solar home design is asunspacethat can be closed off from the house with doors, windows, and other operable openings. Also known as a sunroom, solar room, or solarium, a sunspace can be included in a new home design or added to an existing home.
Sunspaces should not be confused with greenhouses, which are designed to grow plants. Sunspaces serve three main functions -- they provide auxiliary heat, a sunny space to grow plants, and a pleasant living area. The design considerations for these three functions are very different, and accommodating all three functions requires compromises.
Experienced passive solar home designers plan for summer comfort as well as winter heating.A passive solar house requires careful design and siting, which vary by local climate conditions.
In most climates, anoverhang or other devices, such as awnings, shutters, and trellises will be necessary to block summer solar heat gain.Landscapingcan also help keep your passive solar home comfortable during the cooling season.If you are considering passive solar design for a new home or a major remodel, consult an architect familiar with passive solar techniques.
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The average American home’s use of gas and/or electricity throughout winter is causing significant utility bill spikes. Fortunately, there’s a solution at hand — passive solar heating.
By harnessing the natural heat from the sun, you can regulate your home’s temperature passively.
Essentially, you could say goodbye to electric heaters or water radiators with a few adjustments to your home.
Passive solar heating is when a home regulates its warmth without any mechanical aid. Architects achieve this by incorporating different principles such as orientation and material use.
Passive solar heating has been around for centuries and was a common building practice amongst early civilizations. For example, the Great Gjenne Mosque in Mali uses a passive solar design to control the interior temperature of the mosque — this mosque was initially built in 1828 and rebuilt in 1907.
However, as we invented new technologies, the need for passive heating fell away to electrical and gas heaters — designing a home with passive heating methods fell by the wayside.
The downside to using these active heating methods is their effect on the environment. With the construction industry already producing 40% of the world’s CO2 emissions, it’s essential to curb buildings’ carbon footprints.
Incorporating passive solar heating into the design achieves this — it’ll even allow us to reach a net-zero carbon rating.
We can learn many passive heating principles from architecture in hot and dry climates like deserts. While capturing heat in the desert may seem counterintuitive, warmth is needed to get through the freezing nights.
For example, dome-shaped roofs interact differently with sun rays than a flat roof, creating shade and releasing heat at night.
Current passive solar heating technology is advanced but still based on ancient principles. Here are some principles you can use in your modern home:
Direct Sunlight:In the northern hemisphere, direct sunlight comes from the south. In this case, living rooms and bedrooms take advantage of direct sunlight. Additionally, rooms like bathrooms and kitchens can use passive sunlight to light up the rooms.
Solar Geysers:Another way to use passive heating is to replace your electric geyser with a solar geyser. This type of geyser can replace up to 80% of your home’s hot water needs without consuming electricity. You can also look at installing solar showers and solar radiator systems.
Thermal Lag:When building with materials like rammed earth, you can use thermal lag to warm your home at night. While concrete will work just as well as rammed earth, its production is responsible for 8% of global CO2 emissions.
Passive Windows:According to a study from the University of California, windows can be responsible for at least 50°F of heat loss. The best way to prevent heat loss is to install windows with the best insulation. This type of window is also referred to as a passive window. These windows can decrease heat loss and increase heat gain. However, they’ll do the opposite in the summer, reducing heat gain.
Ecoliv is a leading design firm that creates prefab sustainable homes. According to their designs, the passive solar design will reduce your utility bill by 40%. In addition, their 1.8kW solar heating system can supply the homes with 90% of their water needs.
Another case study by the Passive Haus Trust showed that good solar design keeps a comfortable climate indoors. While it was 6.8oF outside, the indoor temperature remained above 68oF.
It’s difficult to determine how much passive solar heating will reduce your utility bill; it depends on the design and systems used.
About Passive heating
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Passive heating have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Passive heating for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Passive heating featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
