"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."
The planning and design of buildings to optimize energy efficiency and natural light.
Solar orientation: The direction and angle of the building with respect to the sun and how it affects energy consumption and indoor comfort.
Daylighting: The use of natural light to illuminate a building's interior spaces, and how to take advantage of different orientations and building elements to maximize it.
Shading: The use of vegetation, screens, and other techniques to block direct sunlight and reduce solar heat gain, particularly in hot climates.
Wind orientation: The direction and strength of airflow around a building, and how it can be harnessed for natural ventilation and passive cooling.
Thermal mass: The use of materials with high heat capacity to store and release heat, contributing to greater thermal comfort and energy efficiency.
Insulation: The use of materials to prevent heat loss or gain, particularly in colder climates, and how it affects building orientation.
Site analysis: The assessment of a specific location to identify opportunities and challenges related to building orientation and environmental design.
Climate responsiveness: The consideration of the local climate and weather patterns to inform decisions on building orientation and design strategies.
Passive heating and cooling: The use of natural ventilation, thermal mass, and other techniques to reduce reliance on mechanical heating and cooling systems.
Green roofs and walls: The use of plants and vegetation on roofs and walls to reduce heat gain, insulate against temperature extremes, and enhance biodiversity.
Orientation for solar panels: The ideal alignment and angle of solar panels with respect to the sun, and how it affects energy production.
Building envelope design: The selection of appropriate materials and construction techniques to minimize energy loss through walls, windows, and other building components.
Water management: The use of rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, and other techniques to conserve and manage water resources, particularly in arid regions.
Acoustics: The consideration of building orientation and design to minimize noise pollution and optimize acoustic performance.
Building codes and regulations: The legal and regulatory framework that governs building orientation and environmental design practices, and how to comply with relevant standards and guidelines.
North-facing orientation: Buildings facing towards the north direction typically receive the least amount of direct sunlight, often leading to cooler indoor temperatures. This orientation is best used in warmer climates.
South-facing orientation: South-facing buildings receive maximum exposure to direct sunlight, leading often to higher indoor temperatures during summers. This orientation is useful in colder climates.
East-facing orientation: Buildings facing towards east receive early morning sunlight and are often warm in the morning but cooler in the afternoon. This orientation can provide a pleasant indoor environment for cooling.
West-facing orientation: West-facing buildings receive maximum exposure to sunlight and can be warmer in the afternoon. This orientation is more likely to overheat, especially in regions with hotter climates.
Northeast-facing orientation: This orientation may provide a comfortable indoor environment for both heating and cooling, typically not receiving excessive sunlight exposure.
Northwest-facing orientation: This configuration can be beneficial for natural ventilation, keeping the interiors cool. The afternoon sun exposure in this orientation is lower than the west-facing orientation.
Southeast-facing orientation: This orientation can provide passive solar heating and cooling benefits, especially in colder winter climates, while also keeping interiors cooler during summers.
Southwest-facing orientation: This orientation accentuates sunlight exposure and might cause overheating, leading to higher energy costs. This configuration is recommended for locations with cooler winters and hotter summers.
Bioclimatic orientation: This form of building orientation is based on long-term weather patterns, and facilitates sustainable design practices.
Adaptive building orientation: This type of orientation provides a customized approach to accommodate individual needs and climatic variability in different circumstances.
Mixed orientation: A building with a mix of orientations combines features from several different orientations to achieve a range of environmental benefits.
Sloped orientation: A sloped orientation incorporates the shape and contour of the ground, providing natural heating and cooling mechanisms.
Urban orientation: This configuration uses the surrounding buildings and improves the indoor environment by incorporating the shape and layout of the city or building block.
Rooftop orientation: This design resolves issues arising from smaller plots and enhances natural ventilation and solar access through rooftop gardens and solar panels.
Orientation with shading devices: This contemporary building orientation uses shading devices like louvers, awnings and screens to manage the amount of direct sunlight entering buildings.
"This is called passive solar design because, unlike active solar heating systems, it does not involve the use of mechanical and electrical devices."
"The key to designing a passive solar building is to best take advantage of the local climate performing an accurate site analysis."
"Elements to be considered include window placement and size, and glazing type, thermal insulation, thermal mass, and shading."
"Passive solar design techniques can be applied most easily to new buildings, but existing buildings can be adapted or 'retrofitted'."
"Windows, walls, and floors are made to collect, store, reflect, and distribute solar energy."
"It collects solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and rejects solar heat in the summer."
"It does not involve the use of mechanical and electrical devices."
"The key to designing a passive solar building is to best take advantage of the local climate performing an accurate site analysis."
"Factors to be considered include window placement and size, and glazing type, thermal insulation, thermal mass, and shading."
"Passive solar design techniques can be applied most easily to new buildings."
"Existing buildings can be adapted or 'retrofitted'."
"Windows, walls, and floors are made to collect, store, reflect, and distribute solar energy."
"It stores solar energy in the form of heat in the winter."
"It rejects solar heat in the summer."
"Window placement and size, and glazing type."
"Thermal insulation is an element to be considered."
"Thermal mass is an element to be considered."
"Shading is an element to be considered."
"Passive solar design principles can be applied most easily to new buildings but existing buildings can be adapted or 'retrofitted'."