Passive Solar Design in Green Building

A Green Home Is Passive Solar

Green builder Jim Sargent says with a wry smile, "All homes are passive solar. Some have good passive solar design; others are designed poorly."

Good passive solar design uses the sun's energy to heat and cool the house. It works with nature rather than against nature.

Energy is transferred by natural mechanisms such as conduction and air convection currents. It utilizes the right materials in the proper places while respecting the unique climate needs of the home's location. It blends thermal dynamics with utilitarian design. Good passive solar design is the foundation of green building.

Passive systems are simple, have few moving parts, and require minimal maintenance and require no mechanical systems. Passive design is practiced throughout the world to build comfortable homes with low energy and maintenance costs. Good passive design is the first step in green building.

In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, passive design is more concerned with cooling the home than heating the home, although there are a few months of the year where passive design is used for heating. Thermal mass, thermal chimneys, wing walls, and operable windows are common elements found in passive design and are used in this area. 

Thermal mass refers to materials such as masonry and water used to store heat energy for extended times and function to prevent rapid temperature fluctuations. 

Thermal chimneys create or reinforce the effect of hot air rising and use air movement for cooling purposes. 

Wing walls are vertical exterior partitions placed perpendicular to adjoining windows to enhance ventilation through windows. A casement window with a vertical pane  opening out creates a mini-wing wall.

Operable windows are windows that open. .

Do you need a green builder/remodeler
 in North Central Texas 
or the Dallas-Fort Worth area? 
Contact Terry Jensen 
972 251-1532 or 817 545-0140