Passive solar heating can greatly reduce home energy costs. Discover how a net-zero home is possible when users combine their solar resources.

The most common passive solar heating system is known as direct-gain. South-facing windows transmit sunlight that is absorbed by dark surfaces of high-mass materials in the house. In a sense, the ...

Plan a comfortable, energy-efficient home that saves you money on heating and cooling with passive solar house plans and design basics.

SOLAR HOT WATER pre-heat systems fall into two basic categories active and passive types with numerous subcategories. A passive solar DHW pre-heater is also known as a breadbox heater or batch heater.

Solar panels can be a big investment upfront, but there are accessible options available. Solar panel owners share honest ...

Calculate the roof overhang to shade south-facing windows in summer but to let in the sun’s heat during winter months. Incorporate interior thermal mass to soak up solar heat gain coming through ...

Rendering courtesy of Morgan Law PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN STRATEGIES 1. Super-insulated angled metal roof can support photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight into electricity. 2. South-facing ...

Passive design is architectural design that eliminates the need for mechanical heating and cooling of a building through the use of smart, time-tested heating and cooling strategies such as ...

We can sometimes use the sun’s energy directly, like when we design homes to take advantage of passive solar heat. But when we want to use it for technology, we need ways to convert the sun’s ...

The advantages of using the sun's energy to heat your home are clear: Solar energy is economical, renewable and environmentally friendly. Passive solar heating -- designing a home to maximize its ...

A complete design guide to building a sustainable, passive solar building.