There are several ways that
the energy from the sun can be used in a home:
To warm the inside
of a home This is passive solar energy and the focus of our Sun Plans. It requires
no panels on the roof. Windows on the south side of the house are all that you
see.
To heat water This is usually through
collectors on the roof.
To create electricity This is usually
through photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof.
Our passive solar homes are complementary to active solar, as illustrated by the PV panels on this roof. Solar water heating and electricity generation are not part of our designs, but our homes are 100% compatible with active solar energy systems.
Benefits of Passive Solar Heating
Sunny interiors The sun brings interiors to life. The
patterns of light change throughout the day and the seasons. Sunny interiors are
psychologically healthy places to live. They also make the home feel larger.
Reduced electrical lighting needs
Energy
savings Just facing the wall of a house with the most windows to the
south will cut annual heating bills by at least 10 to 25%. With an increase
in south windows, some extra mass, some extra insulation, and a properly designed
heating system, it is easy to meet 30 to 70% of a home's annual heating
requirements with sunlight. Truly ambitious passive solar designs can achieve
additional savings, but in general, an auxiliary or back-up heating system is needed
and often required by building codes.
There are several ways that
the energy from the sun can be used in a home: