Passive Solar Energy

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Passive Solar Energy

• By David Jung

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Objective

• What is Passive Solar Energy and how does it
  work?
• 5 Basic Solar Design Principles
• Advantages
• Disadvantages

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What is Passive Solar Energy

• Passive Solar Energy is the use of solar energy
  to heat a home with little or no mechanical
  assistance.
• Homes constructed with solar design elements,
  capture sunlight and utilizes the natural
  movement of heat and air to maintain comfortable
  temperatures.

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5 Basic Solar Design Principles

• Orientation
• Longer axis of home parallel to east/west
  direction
• Longer dimension of house faces south
• Overhangs and Shading
• Properly sized overhangs provide shading when
  cooling is needed and allows sunlight in when
  heating is needed
• Other methods of shading insulated drapes or
  shutters, exterior shades, awnings, and
  landscaping
• Insulation
• To ensure that a comfortable temperature is
  maintained within the house
• Windows
• Optimum position for maximum solar benefits is
  true south
• Position majority of windows on the south-facing
  wall to collect warm solar energy and to let in
  fresh air
• Limit north/east/west windows to keep house well
  insulated
• Thermal Mass
• A solid or liquid material that absorbs and
  stores warmth or coolness until it is needed
  later on
• To prevent large changes in indoor temperatures
  as outdoor temp. rises and falls, balance the
  amount of square footage of south-facing glass to
  the amount of effective thermal masses

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Advantages

• Environmentally-Friendly
• Attractive living environment large
  windows/views, open floor plans, and sunny
  interiors
• Lower energy bills, year-round
• High owner satisfaction, increases re-sale value
  of the house

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Disadvantages

• Without help of experienced passive solar
  designer, building a home that utilizes passive
  solar energy can be very difficult
• A small mistake can be costly
• Unwanted heat during the summer increases energy
  use in the building due to added load on the A/C

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References

• http//www.eere.energy.gov/de/passive_solar_design
  .html
• http//www.nmsea.org/Passive_Solar/Passive_Solar_D
  esign.htm
• http//www.consumerenergycenter.org/homeandwork/ho
  mes/construction/solardesign.html