passive solar homes

passive solar homes

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Convert Your Home To A Solar Home

If you are considering converting your home to a solar home, there are many affordable technologies available to help you do this. Heating, cooling and natural lighting can be achieved through passive solar design. Solar water heating can be used to provide hot water for showers, cleaning, laundry and pools and solar electricity can be used for your household appliances. When planning a solar home, it is iportant to consider which solar energy options are the most efficient as well as the most cost effective for your situation.

A passive solar home does not require any special equipment and uses the home design to provide heating, cooling and natural light. You can use natural energy to reduce your dependency on and use of grid supplied electricity. Passive solar homes rely on the materials used in their construction for heating in winter or the block out the heat in summer and assist with cooling. There a a number of passive solar techniques that can be applied to a solar home:

• Direct gain: south facing windows (in the northern hemisphere) are used to allow sunlight to pass directly into the living spaces to be absorbed by furniture, flooring, etc. This assists with heating in winter.

• Indirect gain: ducts and fans are used to distribute heat collected by an attached Trombe wall throughout the home.

• Thermal mass: using materials such as brick or stone that naturally store heat during the day.

• Passive cooling: this usually involves installing overhangs on south facing windows to prevent direct sunlight from entering the home in summer thereby reducing the need for cooling. Passive cooling can also be achieved through convection, i.e. allowing hot air to ascape at a high level and in so doing drawing cooler air into the home.

The design of a solar home also often incorporates the use of solar electricity. Photovoltaic cells are used to generate electricity from the sun's energy. Solar panels generate a low voltage DC current which is converted to a usable AC current by using an inverter. The solar electricity can be used together with an existing electricity supply or can be used as the sole source of electricity if a battery bank is installed. It is suggested that a generator is also provided for backup if solar electricity is used as the only electricity supply.

A common feature of solar homes is the use of solar water heating systems. There are two types of solar water heating available:

• Open loop system: used in areas that are not prone to freezing in winter. These systems used water filled tubes that are heated by the sun.

• Closed loop system: water is indirectly heated by an anti-freeze type liquid through the use of a heat exchanger.

There are a number of uses for solar water heating such as pool heating, underfloor heating, and heating of water for showers or laundry.

Energy efficiency remains the cornerstone of a successful solar home, regardless of which solar energy method is used. Being energy efficient will reduce the need for heating, cooling or electricity usage. Using improved materials for insulation and glazing as well as using more energy efficient appliances and lighting will allow you to save a lot on your utility bills. As some of the methods might not be possible when converting an existing home or building, the success of the conversion to a solar home depends on you being as energy efficient as possible.

About the Author

The author is and electrical engineer and keen DIY enthusiast with a special interest in renewable energy sources.

View his favourite guides and resources and more related articles at FreePower4Ever.com

An earth-built passive solar house: cob (south), strawbale (north)