Passive Solar
Passive solar energy is the method of using the sun’s energy with no additional manipulation. Often, this energy is utilized through a structure’s orientation and design.
An example of passive energy would be using large, precisely placed skylights for light and heat. The energy from the sun is used directly, without any mechanisms or technology.
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When a building uses passive energy, the cost of technologies is diminished while the total energy output is increased. Often, smaller technologies are used in place of large scale active energy mechanisms, greatly reducing the cost of production and energy lost.
A number of features can be combined to reduce the need for mechanical cooling and heating, and other uses of active energy. Buildings built on an east-west axis can often get better use out of solar energy. Homes and structures that are built to use natural light and ventilation are powered significantly by passive solar energy.
The use of additional technology to convert the sun’s rays into solar energy often leads to higher costs and less energy output. By using passive solar energy, energy costs can be significantly reduced.
(Text by Jessica Leader)
Photo by Jason Pratt/Flickr
Articles about Passive Solar
Fri, Mar 09 2012 at 12:44 PM EST
The big question in passive solar design is exactly how much thermal mass to install.Fri, Feb 10 2012 at 11:58 AM EST
Follow the cues of our prehistoric ancestors and let the sun keep your house cozy and comfortable.Fri, Nov 11 2011 at 12:02 PM EST
On Hamburg's waterfront, world-class sustainable architecture has emerged not from lofty green goals but from practical questions like this one: How do you build an office so comfortable that employees want to linger together there?Tue, Sep 06 2011 at 12:39 PM EST
Unity College students settle into TerraHaus, the sustainability-focused Maine institution's new residence hall that's built to stringent, super-efficient Passive House standards.Wed, Oct 13 2010 at 9:30 AM EST
Eco-Sense, described as North America's first code-approved, seismically engineered load-bearing insulated cob residence, is one of the first projects to gain stringent Living Building Challenge certification. Wed, Oct 06 2010 at 8:43 AM EST
The O'Neill Passive House, America's first passive house retrofit project, requires as much energy to operate as a standard hair dryer.Wed, Sep 08 2010 at 4:40 PM EST
A passive solar home in Japan boasts various energy-saving features and a sloping, stair-clad roof that doubles as hangout area/lounge for (hopefully well-behaved) neighborhood children. 
Fri, Aug 27 2010 at 11:37 AM EST
Mon, Aug 16 2010 at 7:26 PM EST
Cheap solar panels, micro-inverters, and plug-in technology make DIY solar a reality for the first time.Tue, Jun 08 2010 at 11:26 AM EST
Green builder Don Ferrier's super sustainable, not-too-big rustic retreat, Zero Energy Casita, opens to the public for a limited time in Forth Worth, Texas. - 1. Solar Storm
- 2. Recipes
- 3. Earthquake News
- 4. Tornado
- 5. Chevy Volt
- 6. Wind Power
- 7. Green Cleaning
- 8. Green Technology
- 9. Apple
- 10. Global Warming
