Passive Solar Design Essay

The working system of a passive solar home design takes the advantage a building's climate, site and the materials used with the aim of minimizing the energy used. It is usually important to work with a well-designed passive solar considering its aid in reducing the cooling and heating load through the use of energy efficient strategies which also assists in reducing the loads either in whole or parts of the solar energy. Its working system is based on a simple framework. It collects heat radiation from the sun through the south-facing windows and keeps the heat within the thermal mass. It is also worth noting that the passive solar design can meet the home heating load referred to as the solar fraction which also depends on the thermal mass and the specified glazing area (Schmid, n.p).

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The following must also be considered for efficacy to be realized in the working system of passive solar home design. Properly oriented windows to collect the solar energy, the presence of the thermal mass which can take the form of concrete, stone and bricks and the distribution mechanisms. There should also be the inclusion of the controlled strategies with properly sized roof overhangs which can offer shade to the vertical south windows particularly during the summer month (Schmid, n.p). The work also calls for a refining of the design through some variables and details which must be brought to balance. A computer model can be used in simulating the details of the passive home in various configurations for the balance to be attained. In consideration of the imaged, it is important to realize that an effective passive solar design calls for careful design and sitting whose variations are affected by the local climatic conditions. Many designers also share in the argument that a good passive solar home may not be difficult and expensive to build as most people may think, it only requires the use of basics and common sense when interacting with the environment.

The following are some of the benefits that an individual with a passive solar home is likely to enjoy. Passive solar homes are comfortable based on the warm and cool experience during winter and summer respectively. Most winters are usually associated with very cold temperature, a situation which is very different in the passive solar homes. The summers are equally better considering the cool temperature which neutralizes the hot weather. The homes are also economical. Once they are built, they receive excellent returns and positive cash flow considering the preference many people have for them. Unlike, other houses, many people like the tourists would consider taking time to spend vacations on them due to associated comforts. Nonetheless, the passive solar homes are durable based on the materials used in building (A Guide to Building and Planning Solar Homes, 4). Most of the materials for construction are long-lasting with the little requirement on the maintenance. The other advantage is on their attractiveness. They are full of lights which are properly connected to the outdoors, a feature which cannot be found in other ordinary houses. The final benefits are on the fact that they are environmentally friendly. They make considerable use of the non-renewable natural sources of energy hence saving on trees that would otherwise be cut for construction.

Conclusion

In summary, passive solar homes are efficient based on their designs and the associated advantages. The design applies the simple framework concept and uses the environmental resources considerably. Some of the noted advantages are on the attractive nature of the environment, durability, comfort and environmental friendliness.

Works Cited

A Guide to Building and Planning Solar Homes. Energy Division, North Carolina Department. Retrieved from https://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SolarHomes/NCDOCshnc2.pdf

Schmid, Jim. Passive Solar Design. Retrieved from https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/energy-efficient-home-design/passive-solar-home-design#319482-tab-0