Description

Developers subdividing land and owners commissioning new homes have one chance to get the basic solar design principles right. Siting and designing new dwellings can be done cost-effectively and will substantially increase performance over a dwelling’s lifetime.

Incorporating passive solar design principles in new dwellings can increase these performance statistics, often with very small and sometimes zero cost implications.

Scope

The article includes:

• Passive solar houses around since the 1920s
• NOW Home set new standards
• Passive solar design principles
• Site location and orientation
• Building location and orientation
• Compact floor plan
• Thermal mass
• Insulation
• Glazing
• Passive ventilation and shading
• Hotter days increase need for passive solar design
• Choose a designer who understands