Have You Considered Passive Solar Design?

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by: TimMcDonald | Total views: 70 | Word Count: 696

Passive solar design is one of the simplest ways to improve your home's value and save electricity at the same time.

Passive solar design is a technique of using the sun to naturally heat and light up your home or office. This is achieved by using various building features and materials to improve heating and cooling efficiency. The best part about passive solar design is that it is relatively simple to implement, little maintenance is needed, and your home's market value can increase considerably.

Your home's passive solar potential is determined by where and how it is situated and by the types of windows and materials used. Although most buildings can be optimized to receive the ideal amount of sunshine, it is easier if they are on flat land or a sun-facing slope. If your home is surrounded by many trees, make sure they are deciduous so that they shade your home in summer, but their bare branches let sunlight through in winter. Also, try avoid nearby buildings that create too much shade.

If you plan to build a new home, make sure it is designed so that the majority of it faces the sun. Also, the size, type and shape of your windows will affect how much sunlight and natural heat your home gets.

So how exactly does your home warm up from the sun? In 3 different ways:

1) Direct - this the heat generated from the sun shining directly on an object.

2) Indirect - when an object with the sun shining on it, radiates heat.

3) Isolated - the hot air that circulates through your home.

The get the most out the the above 3 heat sources, you should try install large windows on the sun-facing side of your home, as this will allow the most sunlight in.

But there is no point designing your home to let in a lot of natural sunlight and warmth if that energy cannot be stored for later use. Ideally you would want to use materials that absorb sunlight and radiate that heat for a long time. In winter, to get the most out of the natural heat in your home, you could close off cold, unused rooms from the rest of the house, and sit in the sunnier, warmer rooms during the day.

In summer, to regulate the amount of sunshine in your home, you can use the right size roof overhangs. They should extend out enough to block out the midday sun, but allow through weaker sun during the morning and evening. Once again, make sure you have the ideal trees and shrubs to control sunlight entering your home.

To make your current home more energy efficient, an easy way would to get the latest windows that can retain up to 50% more heat. Than can cost up to 15% more than traditional windows, but they will save you a lot of energy and money in the long-run.

These modern windows are known as double-glazed or Low-Emissivity (Low-E) windows. They are great at letting through sunlight and keeping radiant heat from escaping. Some them are made from 2 panes of glass, with a gap of krpyton or argon gas in between to store the sun's heat. Just make sure your windows and doors are tightly-sealed, and it will prevent any warmth from escaping your home.

The type of windows frames you use can also make a huge difference. Metal frames should be avoided since they draw heat out of your home in winter, but heat up your home in summer. It is better to use wooden, vinyl or fiberglass frames to insulate your home better. When you do buy modern windows make sure they are labeled by the National Fenestration Rating Council or by Energy Star. That way you will be able to buy the right windows for your needs and budget.

So you can see, passive solar design is the effective use of nature and physics to maximize the use of the sun's natural lighting and heat. Always remember, the point of solar passive design is to reduce your electricity usage and bills. So it is recommended to always weigh up the costs against the potential power savings when installing any passive solar solution at home.

About the Author

While passive solar design is one method of reducing your energy expenses, another is to build your own home solar power and wind turbine system. Learn how you can do this for under $200 by getting a free Earth4Energy review copy and start saving up to 80% on your energy bills. You have nothing to lose, so get it now.?

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