Are Solar Panels Considered Passive Solar Design

The key to designing a passive solar building is.

Are solar panels considered passive solar design.

In passive solar building design windows walls and floors are made to collect store reflect and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer. Before investing in passive solar design make sure you ll have access to sunlight for the foreseeable future. Your geography is also an important factor. Passive solar energy is a highly effective solution in helping to heat your home during the winter months.

Passive solar isn t just all about building design though. Passive solar heating is reliant on the position of the sun on a property throughout the various seasons and this position will vary depending on your location. When sunlight strikes a building the building materials can reflect transmit or absorb the solar radiation. 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.

In addition the heat produced by the sun causes air movement that can be predictable in designed spaces. Thermal solar panels which are used to pre heat water for use in the home thereby lowering energy bills can also be a form of passive solar depending on the set up. Two key designs of passive solar heating systems are essentially the south facing glass of your home and the thermal mass components that you install to absorb and reflect heat. Remember passive solar simply means that the sun s heat or light isn t processed into something else.

Buildings that use passive solar heating are generally not as effective as those designed to use active solar technologies. Passive solar design takes advantage of a building s site climate and materials to minimize energy use. 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. Passive energy uses the natural environment and the sun s energy to heat your home without the use of solar panels or electrical systems.

Solar design in contemporary architecture is rooted in the profession s sustainable turn. This is called passive solar design because unlike active solar heating systems it does not involve the use of mechanical and electrical devices. But of course this does depend on the climate where you live and the design of your home.