Passive Solar Roof Design

Passive solar design takes advantage of a building s site climate and materials to minimize energy use.

Passive solar roof design.

Passive solar design refers to the use of the sun s energy for the heating and cooling of living spaces by exposure to the sun. A well designed passive solar home first reduces heating and cooling loads through energy efficiency strategies and then meets those reduced loads in whole or part with solar energy. Natural convection and ventilation. These homes require much less fossil fuel energy to heat.

Light colored homes reflect the sun s light reducing the amount of heat retained in the walls and therefore lowering summer cooling loads. When sunlight strikes a building the building materials can reflect transmit or absorb the solar radiation. Passive solar homes can be any color just like normal homes but they lose a major advantage if they aren t painted to suit the climate. In addition the heat produced by the sun causes air movement that can be predictable in designed spaces.

Passive solar design begins with the simple idea that you can build a house that uses natural heating cooling ventilation and daylighting.