GREEN BUILDER & REMODELER

Passive solar energy residential design.


    Employ these 7 basic fundamentals about passive solar energy for homes and start saving money and energy today!

  1. Orientation, layout and positioning of your house on the land
    Orientate your living area to the south side of the house, which received most of the sun throughout the day (north if you live in the southern hemisphere).

  2. Insulation and draught proofing
    make sure your walls, roof and floors are insulated and fill any gaps where draughts might come through.

  3. Ventilation
    Position doors and windows opposite each other to allow for a cooling breeze to flow through the house when the air cools down in the evening of a hot summer day.

  4. Windows
    Windows on the south side of a house should be bigger to allow more sun to penetrate the house during the day and windows on the north side smaller to prevent heat loase at night.

  5. Landscaping
    Position trees and plants to direct a cooling breeze into your house, whiles shading it during summer. Plant trees that sheding it during summer. Plant trees that shed their leaves in winter.

  6. Shading
    Make sure external shading structures are wide enough to block out the sun in summer, while still allowing the low winter sun to enter.

  7. Thermal mass
    Polished concrete, tile and slate floors and brick walls will absorb the heat throughout the day and release it slowly at night, reducing the need to run expensive heaters. Carpet acts as an insulator and will not retain the heat.

Although it is easier to achieve during the planning stage, you can incorporate many of these elements without spending a great deal of money or time.