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page-item-5413"><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/fracking-sucks/> Fracking is Absurd </a><li class="page_item page-item-8042"><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/privacy-policy/> Privacy Policy </a><li class="page_item page-item-21 page_item_has_children"><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/about/> About </a> <ul class=children><li class="page_item page-item-534"><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/about/the-writer/> About the Writer </a><li class="page_item page-item-999"><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/about/disclaimer/> Disclaimer </a></ul><li class="page_item page-item-22 page_item_has_children current_page_item"><a aria-current=page href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/> Passive Solar Overview </a> <ul class=children><li class="page_item page-item-47 page_item_has_children"><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/building-characteristics/> Building Characteristics </a> <ul class=children><li class="page_item page-item-49"><a 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class="page_item page-item-12"><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/gallery/> Gallery </a><li class="page_item page-item-20"><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/contact/> Contact Information </a><li class="page_item page-item-18"><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/submissions/> Submissions </a></ul></div></div><div class=clearfix></div></div></div><div class="single-default entrycontainer"id=content><div class="entry post-22 page type-page status-publish hentry"id=post-22><h1 class=entry-title>Passive Solar Overview</h1><p><strong> A passive solar building is designed and built based on utilizing the constants within the surrounding environment, centered around the movement of the sun. </strong><p>Passive solar buildings will be warm in the cold winters and cool in the summer if planned and built according to a few <a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/building-characteristics/> passive solar building rules </a> .  Passive solar design works <em> with the sun’s heat energy </em> to both to warm the building and is designed and situated to block the sun in the warmer summer months to keep the building cool.<p><img alt="Passive solar quonset hut"class="alignright size-medium wp-image-752"sizes="(max-width: 274px) 100vw, 274px"srcset="https://greenpassivesolar.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/quon475-274x300.jpg 274w, https://greenpassivesolar.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/quon475.jpg 435w"title="Passive solar quonset hut"height=300 loading=lazy src=https://greenpassivesolar.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/quon475-274x300.jpg width=274> The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.  If a structure has windows on the southern facing side of the building, it can potentially receive the sun’s warmth (heat energy) all day.<p>In order for passive solar design to function, most of the building’s <a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/building-characteristics/orientation-south-facing-windows/> windows must be located on the southern facing side </a> of the building.<p>In the <a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/scientific-principles/movement-of-the-sun/> summer, the sun travels higher path </a> in the sky than it does in the winter. Thus, if the proper <a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/building-characteristics/overhang-solar-control/> roof or window overhang </a> is constructed, the house can receive the full winter sun, while the house is shaded by the overhang during the summer.<p>See pictures of the sun’s rotation on the <a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2010/06/winter-summer-sun-solstice-pictures/> winter and summer solstices </a> .<p>  <br> When a passive solar building is designed and build well, the building simply, <em> passively </em> sits there and will be warm in the winter when it is cold outside, and will be cool in the summer when it is hot outside. <br>   <br> <strong> Passive solar design generally works with the following principles: </strong><div class="wp-caption alignright"style="width: 412px"id=attachment_167><img alt="Diagram of Passive Solar Design at Work"class="size-full wp-image-167"sizes="(max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px"srcset="https://greenpassivesolar.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/energysavers.jpg 503w, https://greenpassivesolar.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/energysavers-300x192.jpg 300w"title="passive solar design"aria-describedby=caption-attachment-167 height=258 loading=lazy src=https://greenpassivesolar.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/energysavers.jpg width=402><p class=wp-caption-text id=caption-attachment-167>Diagram Courtesy of the Department of Energy</div><p>1.  The <a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/scientific-principles/movement-of-the-sun/> sun travels different routes in different seasons </a> .  The winter sun travels a lower route in the sky than the summer sun.<p>2.  If glass windows are located <a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/building-characteristics/orientation-south-facing-windows/> facing the south </a> , in the winter, they allow the sun’s energy to be absorbed and stored within the building.<p>3.  If the <a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/building-characteristics/thermal-mass/> thermal mass </a> is located (usually in the floor and walls) where it can absorb the sun’s energy, it will absorb, then slowly release or distribute the stored heat energy through the evening and night.<p>4.  If the proper <a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/building-characteristics/overhang-solar-control/> control, or overhang </a> is constructed over the windows, the summer sun can be blocked from entering the building.  The lack of direct sun allows the structure to stay a cooler temperature.<p>5.  If the building is properly <a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/building-characteristics/insulation/> insulated </a> , it will retain its warmth in the winter, as well as its coolness in the summer.<p>Passive solar design utilizes energy from the sun, using its predictable movements through the seasons to heat and cool a building without any additional mechanical devices (hence the name – passive solar). It can be thought of as the aikido of architecture.<p> <p> <div class=clearfix></div></div><div id=comments><h3 id=comments-title>4 Responses to <em> Passive Solar Overview </em></h3><ol class=commentlist></ol><div class=comment-respond id=respond><h3 class=comment-reply-title id=reply-title>Leave a Reply <small> <a href=/passive-solar/#respond id=cancel-comment-reply-link rel=nofollow style=display:none;> Cancel reply </a> </small></h3><form action=https://greenpassivesolar.com/wp-comments-post.php class=comment-form id=commentform method=post><p class=comment-notes><span id=email-notes> Your email address will not be published. </span> Required fields are marked <span class=required> * </span><p class=comment-form-comment><label for=comment>Comment</label> <textarea cols=45 id=comment maxlength=65525 name=comment required rows=8></textarea><p class=comment-form-author><label for=author>Name <span class=required> * </span></label> <input id=author maxlength=245 name=author required 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Home"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/01/net-zero-pv-log-home/> Log Home </a> with Active and Passive Solar<li><a title="Passive Solar Retrofit"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2010/07/farmhouse-to-passive-solar-modern/> Farmhouse to Modern Passive Solar </a> Transition<li><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2010/04/off-grid-passive-solar-earthship/> Off-Grid Modified Earthship </a><li><a title="KTAO Taos Radio Station"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/04/ktao-solar-powered-radio-station-taos/> Solar Powered Radio Station </a><li>Home with <a title="Trombe Wall in a house"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2010/07/passive-solar-partial-trombe-wall-house/> Trombe Wall </a><li><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2010/04/zion-national-park-visitor-center/> Zion NP </a> Visitor's Center<li><a title="Solar Decathlon Middlebury"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/11/active-passive-solar-home-inspired-by-emerson/> Middlebury's 2011 Solar Decathlon </a> House</ul>  </div></div></div><div class="widget widget_text"id=text-2><div class=widgetinner><h3 class=widgettitle>Solar Decathlon 2013 Homes</h3><div class=textwidget><a href=http://solardecathlon.gov> <img alt="solardecathlonlogo 155"class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3089"height=35 src=https://greenpassivesolar.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/solardecathlonlogo-155.jpg width=155> </a><p style="text-align: center;">Orange County Great Park, Irvine, CA <br> <strong> All homes created more solar-based energy than they needed or used. </strong> <br> Ordered by final overall standing <br><ul><li><a title="Team Austria Fashions LISI"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/team-austria-lisi/> Vienna University of Technology </a> , Team Austria<li><a title="University of Nevada Builds DesertSol"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/university-of-nevada-builds-desertsol/> University of Nevada, Las Vegas </a><li><a title="Czech Technical University Constructs the AIR House"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/czech-technical-university-air-house/> Czech Technical University </a><li><a title="Stevens Builds an Ecohabitat"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/stevens-ecohabitat/> Stevens Institute of Technology </a><li><a title="Stanford University Designs the Start.Home"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/stanford-university-designs-start-home/> Stanford University </a><li><a title="Team Ontario Constructs ECHO"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/team-ontario-constructs-echo/> Queen's University, Carleton University, Algonquin College </a> , Team Ontario<li><a title="Team Capitol DC Builds Harvest Home"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/team-capitol-dc-harvest-home/> The Catholic University of America, George Washington University, American University </a> , Team Capitol DC<li><a title="Middlebury College Designs InSite"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/middlebury-college-designs-insite/> Middlebury College </a><li><a title="University of Calgary Creates Borealis"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/university-of-calgary-borealis/> University of Calgary </a> , Team Alberta<li><a title="USC Creates the fluxHome"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/usc-creates-the-fluxhome/> University of Southern California </a><li><a title="Santa Clara University Creates a Radiant House"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/santa-clara-university-radiant-house/> Santa Clara University </a><li><a title="Norwich University Constructs the Delta T-90 House"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/norwich-university-constructs-delta-t-90-house/> Norwich University </a><li><a title="UrbanEden Built by UNC"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/urbaneden-built-by-unc/> University of North Carolina, Charlotte </a><li><a title="SCI-Arc & Caltech Forge DALE"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/sci-arc-caltech-forge-dale/> Southern California Institute of Architecture and Cal Institute of Technology </a><li><a title="Kentucky and Indiana Team Build the Phoenix House"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/kentucky-indiana-team-build-phoenix-house/> University of Louisville, Ball State University, and University of Kentucky </a><li><a title="Missouri Designs the Chameleon House"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/missouri-designs-the-chameleon-house/> Missouri University of Science and Technology </a><li><a title="ASUNM Creates SHADE"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/asunm-creates-shade/> Arizona State University and the University of New Mexico </a><li><a title="Team Texas Builds ADAPT"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/team-texas-builds-adapt/> The University of Texas, El Paso and El Paso Community College </a><li><a title="West Virginia University Builds PEAK"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2013/10/west-virginia-university-builds-peak/> West Virginia University </a></ul>   <strong> The Solar Decathlon teams rocked! </strong><br><p></p> 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tag-link-position-43"style="font-size: 12.3076923077pt;"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/tag/vermont/> Vermont </a><a aria-label="Virginia (2 items)"class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-90 tag-link-position-44"style="font-size: 9.93846153846pt;"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/tag/virginia/> Virginia </a><a aria-label="Zion National Park (1 item)"class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-12 tag-link-position-45"style="font-size: 8pt;"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/tag/zion-national-park/> Zion National Park </a></div></div></div><div class="widget widget_text"id=text-14><div class=widgetinner><h3 class=widgettitle>Solar Decathlon 2011 Competition Homes</h3><div class=textwidget><strong> See the <a title="The Best of the Solar Decathlon"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2012/12/best-of-the-2011-solar-decathlon/> "Best of" </a> the 2011 Solar Decathlon competition homes. </strong><br><br> Arranged by final overall standing. <br><ul><li><a title="The Mini Ecosystem Zen House – WaterShed"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/09/mini-ecosystem-watershed-zen-house/> University of Maryland </a><li><a title="New Technology Combined with the Traditional American Look, the Solar INHome"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/09/new-technology-traditional-solar-inhome/> Purdue University </a> , Indiana<li><a title="The Ultimate Net-Zero Beach House: The Kiwi Bach"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/10/ultimate-net-zero-beach-house-kiwi-bach/> University of Wellington </a> , New Zealand<li><a title="An Active & Passive Solar Home Inspired by Emerson"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/11/active-passive-solar-home-inspired-by-emerson/> Middlebury College </a> , Vermont<li><a title="The Solar Decathlon Home from Ohio State"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2012/11/sd-home-from-ohio-state/> Ohio State </a><li><a title="Modernist Living in the Net-Zero CHIP House"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/12/modernist-living-net-zero-chip-house/> So Cal Institute of Architecture and CalTech </a><li><a title="An Efficient Modular Passive House for Disaster Areas"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/11/modular-passive-house-disaster-areas/> University of Illinois </a><li><a title="House with Cylindrical Solar Panels and Ingenious Compact Design"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/09/cylindircal-solar-panels-compact-design/> University of Tennessee </a><li><a title="The Passive and Adaptable Solar 4D Home"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2012/05/passive-adaptable-solar-4d-home/> Massachusetts College of Art & Design / University of Mass </a><li><a title="Blending Native Traditions with Solar Technologies"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/09/blending-native-traditions-with-solar-technologies/> University of Calgary </a> , Canada<li><a title="A Poetic Net-Zero Solar Home for Hurricane Season"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2012/03/poetic-net-zero-hurricane-home/> Florida International University </a><li><a title="A Modernized Solar Homestead"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/09/modernized-solar-homestead/> Appalachian State University </a> , North Carolina<li><a title="A Civic-Minded and Efficient Solar House"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2012/11/a-civic-minded-and-efficient-solar-house/> Parsons NS Stevens </a> , NYC & NJ<li><a title="A Modular Solar Envelope House"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2012/02/modular-solar-envelope-house/> Old Dominion / Hampton University </a> , Virginia<li><a title="A Modular Home Made from Recycled Shipping Containers"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/09/modular-home-recycled-shipping-containers/> Tongji University </a> , China<li><a title="A Snap Together – Plug and Play Solar House"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2012/07/a-snap-together-plug-and-play-solar-house/> Ghent University </a> , Belgium<li><a title="Utilizing Urban Roof Space for Efficient Living"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2012/12/urban-roof-space-for-efficient-living/> City College of New York </a><li><a title="A Modernist, Sleek, Concrete Active & Passive Solar Home"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/09/a-modernist-sleek-concrete-active-passive-solar-home/> Rutgers / New Jersey Institute of Technology </a><li><a title="A Modern Solar House for Sunny Florida"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2012/10/modern-solar-house-florida/> Univ. of S. Florida / Florida State U / U of Central Florida / U of Florida </a></ul></div></div></div><div class=clearfix></div></div></div><div class=clearfix></div><div class=row id=bottom_ads><div class=span4></div><div class=span4></div><div class="span4 lastad"></div></div><div id=footer_nav><ul class="nav_bottom menu"><li class=footer_top><a title="Green Passive Solar Magazine"href=#top> Top <strong> ↑ </strong> </a></ul></div><div class=clearfix></div><div id=footer><div class=row><div class=span3 id=foo_widget1><div class="widget widget_nav_menu"id=nav_menu-2><div class=widgetinner><div class=menu-footersolarmenu-container><ul class=menu id=menu-footersolarmenu><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page current-menu-item page_item page-item-22 current_page_item menu-item-has-children menu-item-6200"id=menu-item-6200><a aria-current=page href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/> Passive Solar Overview </a> <ul class=sub-menu><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-6198"id=menu-item-6198><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/building-characteristics/orientation-south-facing-windows/> Orientation / South Facing Windows </a><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-6196"id=menu-item-6196><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/building-characteristics/thermal-mass/> Thermal Mass </a><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-6195"id=menu-item-6195><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/building-characteristics/insulation/> Insulation </a><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-6194"id=menu-item-6194><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/building-characteristics/overhang-solar-control/> Overhang / Solar Control </a></ul><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-6193"id=menu-item-6193><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/scientific-principles/movement-of-the-sun/> Movement of the Sun </a><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-6199"id=menu-item-6199><a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/gallery/> Gallery </a></ul></div></div></div></div><div class=span4 id=foo_widget2><div class="widget widget_text"id=text-16><div class=widgetinner><h3 class=widgettitle>Homes that Rock the Sun</h3><div class=textwidget><ul><li>- <a title="Passive Solar Retrofit"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2010/07/farmhouse-to-passive-solar-modern/> Farmhouse to Modern Passive Solar </a> Transition<li>- <a title="Passive Solar Strawbale"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/05/passive-solar-straw-bale-house/> Strawbale Home </a> in one of the coldest places on Earth<li>- <a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2010/05/passive-solar-quonset-hut-retrofit/> Quonset Hut </a> Retrofit<li>- <a title="Modern Passive Solar House"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2012/03/optimally-efficient-off-grid-passive-active-solar-home/> Off-Grid Passive-Active Solar </a> House<li>- <a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2010/04/off-grid-passive-solar-earthship/> Off-Grid Modified Earthship </a><li>- <a title="Log Home"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/01/net-zero-pv-log-home/> Log Home </a> with Active and Passive Solar<li>- <a title="KTAO Taos Radio Station"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/04/ktao-solar-powered-radio-station-taos/> Solar Powered Radio Station </a><li>- Home with <a title="Trombe Wall in a house"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2010/07/passive-solar-partial-trombe-wall-house/> Trombe Wall </a><li>- <a href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2010/04/zion-national-park-visitor-center/> Zion NP </a> Visitor's Center<li>- <a title="Solar Decathlon Middlebury"href=https://greenpassivesolar.com/2011/11/active-passive-solar-home-inspired-by-emerson/> Middlebury's 2011 Solar Decathlon </a> House</ul>  </div></div></div></div><div class=span5 id=foo_widget3><div class="widget widget_search"id=search-3><div class=widgetinner><form action=https://greenpassivesolar.com/ class=gab_search_style1><fieldset><input value="Search in site..."class=text id=s name=s onblur=if(this.value=='')this.value=this.defaultValue; onfocus=if(this.value==this.defaultValue)this.value='';><input alt=Search class=submit_style1 src=https://greenpassivesolar.com/wp-content/themes/patterns/framework/images/bgr_search_box-submit.png type=image></fieldset></form></div></div></div></div></div><div class=clearfix></div><div id=footer_data><div class=row><div class=span6 id=footer-left-side>Thanks for dropping by. 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