NARVACAN, MIRASOL Y.

ARC – 2110
PASSIVE SOLAR PLANNING

Living spaces can be more comfortable to live with by applying passive solar designs as it makes
your homes have cooling and heating effects. By exposing the building to the sunlight, the sunlight
reflects, transmit, or absorb the solar radiation through the materials used. Furthermore, it can also
produce air movement to the building spaces.

WHAT TO PRIORITIZE FIRST BEFORE APPLYING THE PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN?

 Energy Efficiency

The most cost-effective technique for minimizing heating and cooling expenses is energy
efficiency. Choose building professionals with knowledge in energy-efficient house design and
construction and collaborate with them to maximize the energy efficiency of your home. If you're
remodeling an existing home, the first step is to get a home energy audit to determine which energy
efficiency improvements are the most cost-effective.

 Site Selection

A piece of the south side of your house must have a clear "view" of the sun if you're building
a new passive solar home. Consider future uses of the land to the south of your site—small trees can
grow to be towering trees, and a future multi-story building could block your home's access to the
sun. Zoning or other land use rules in some regions safeguard landowners' solar access. If solar access
cannot be secured in your area, find a lot that is deep from north to south and build on the north end
of the lot.

PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN BASICS

 Aperture/Collector
The huge glass space allows natural light to enter the structure. From 9 a.m., the
aperture(s) should face south and not be obscured by neighboring buildings or trees. to 3 p.m.
During the warm season, every day. To reduce overheating, windows should be shaded in the
spring, fall, and cooling season. Keep your window glass clean.
 Absorber
 The storage element's rough, black surface. The surface, which could be a stone wall,
floor, or water container, is directly in the path of the sun. Heat is absorbed when sunlight strikes
the surface.
 Thermal mass

Materials that absorb or store the heat generated by sunshine. The thermal mass is the
substance beneath and behind the absorber, which is an exposed surface.

 Distribution
The process through which solar heat travels from collection and storage locations to
various regions of the house. A strictly passive design will only use natural heat transfer modes
such as conduction, convection, and radiation. Fans, ducting, and blowers may be utilized in
some applications to transfer heat around the house.
 Control
During the summer, roof overhangs can be used to shade the aperture area. Electronic
sensing systems, such as a differential thermostat that tells a fan to turn on; movable vents and
dampers that enable or restrict heat flow; low-emissivity blinds and awnings are other elements
that control under and/or overheating.

PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING

The purpose of passive solar heating systems is to capture the sun's heat within the building's
elements and release that heat when the sun is not present, all while maintaining a reasonable room
temperature. Passive solar heating relies on south-facing windows and thermal mass to absorb, store, and
distribute heat. There are numerous techniques to putting those things in place.

DIRECT GAIN
 A solar collector, heat absorber, and distribution system serve as the actual living space. Solar
energy flows into the house through south-facing glass, where it strikes concrete floors and walls, which
absorb and store the solar heat, which is then radiated back into the room at night. To absorb as much heat
as possible, these thermal mass materials are often black in color. By absorbing energy, thermal mass also
reduces the intensity of the heat during the day. The direct gain method collects 60-75% of the solar
energy that hits the windows. To prevent captured solar heat from dispersing, thermal mass must be
insulated from the outside temperature in a direct gain system. Heat loss is especially likely when the
thermal mass comes into direct contact with the ground or with outside air that is cooler than the mass's
target temperature.

INDIRECT GAIN

The sun and the living space are separated by thermal mass. The thermal mass absorbs sunlight
and transfers it to the living space via conduction. The indirect gain method will capture 30-45% of the
solar energy that strikes the glass adjacent to the thermal mass. Heat can convect into the living space
through operable vents at the top and bottom of a thermal storage wall. When the vents are closed at
night, radiant heat from the wall heats the living space.

The most common isolated-gain passive solar home design is a sunspace that can be closed off
from the house with doors, windows, and other operable openings. Also known as a sunroom, solar room,
or solarium, a sunspace can be included in a new home design or added to an existing home.

Sunspaces should not be confused with greenhouses, which are designed to grow plants.
Sunspaces serve three main functions -- they provide auxiliary heat, a sunny space to grow plants, and a
pleasant living area. The design
considerations for these three functions
are very different and accommodating all
three functions requires compromises.

ISOLATED GAIN

A sunspace that can be closed off

from the house with doors, windows, and
other moveable openings is the most
typical isolated-gain passive solar home
design. A sunspace, also known as a
sunroom, solar room, or solarium, can be
built into a new home or added to an existing one. Sunspaces are not to be confused with greenhouses,
which are used to cultivate plants. Sunspaces provide three purposes: they give auxiliary heat, a sunny
spot to grow plants, and a comfortable living environment. These three roles have very distinct design
considerations and satisfying all three functions necessitates tradeoffs.

PASSIVE SOLAR COOLING

Passive solar cooling systems function by preventing undesired heat gain during the day, creating
non-mechanical ventilation, exchanging heated inside air for cooler outdoor air when practicable, and
storing overnight coolness to decrease warm daytime temperatures. Passive solar cooling systems, at their
most basic, comprise overhangs or screens on south-facing windows, shade trees, thermal mass, and cross
ventilation.

SHADING

In the summer, all windows should be shaded by an overhang or other devices such as awnings,
shutters, and trellises to limit undesired heat intake. If an awning protrudes to half the height of a south-
facing window, the sun's rays are blocked during the summer but still enter the house during the winter.
Since the sun is low on the horizon at sunrise and sunset, overhangs on east and west-facing windows are
ineffective. If cooling is a big problem, try to reduce the amount of east and west facing windows. Such
windows can be shaded by vegetation. In general, landscaping can be used to prevent undesirable heat
gain throughout the summer.

THERMAL MASS

In a passive cooling design, thermal mass is used to absorb heat and decrease internal temperature
increases on hot days. Thermal mass can be cooled throughout the night by using ventilation, allowing it
to absorb heat again the next day. It is feasible to employ the same thermal mass to cool in the summer
and heat in the winter. Thermal mass, which is typically made of concrete, brick, stone, and tile, absorbs
heat from the sun during the heating season and heat from warm air in the house during the cooling
season. Other thermal mass materials, such as water and phase change products, are more efficient at
storing heat, but masonry has the advantage of serving as a structural along with finish material. In well-
insulated homes in temperate areas, the thermal mass inherent in furnishings and drywall may be
adequate, avoiding the need for extra thermal storage materials.

VENTILATION
 Natural ventilation keeps the indoor temperature close to the external temperature, so it's only an
effective cooling approach when the inside temperature is equal to or greater than the outdoor
temperature. The climate dictates the optimal natural ventilation technique.

Open windows on the side of the building facing the breeze and the opposite one to create cross
ventilation in places where there are daytime breezes and a desire for ventilation during the day. Place
windows in the walls facing the prevailing breeze and opposing walls while designing. Wing walls can
also be used to promote ventilation by installing windows perpendicular to the prevailing breezes.
Between two windows, a solid vertical panel is installed perpendicular to the wall. Because of pressure
differences caused by the wing wall, it increases natural wind speed.

CONVECTIVE COOLING

The earliest and most basic type of convective cooling is intended to bring in cool night air from
outside and push out hot interior air. If there are prevailing nighttime breezes, a high vent or aperture on
the leeward (windward) side will allow heated air near the ceiling to escape. Low vents on the opposite
side (the windward side) will allow cold night air to replace the heated air.

Convective cooling can be used in places where there are no prevailing breezes by constructing
thermal chimneys. Thermal chimneys are built on the principle that warm air rises; they create a warm or
hot zone of air (typically via solar gain) and have a high outer exhaust exit. The heated air escapes the
building through the high vent, while cooler air enters through the low vent.

There are numerous methods for producing the thermal chimney effect. One is a connected south-
facing sunroom with a roof vent. Air is drawn from the living space via connected lower vents and
exhausted via the sunroom above vents.

BUILDING MATERIALS TO USE

 Windows
Use the greatest economical R-value (or lowest U-value) windows to save energy.
(Currently, R-8 is the maximum.) In all save the warmest climes, south glass should have the
highest solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) feasible. For the entire window (including the frame),
typical ranges are 0.15 to 0.60 SHGC.
 Insulation
More insulation prevents heat from escaping through the walls, roof, and floor in the
winter and entering via the same surfaces in the summer. Exceed minimum construction code R-
 values and install up to the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) level of insulation to reduce the
heating load.12 The more insulation or the lower the heating load, the less south glass will be
required for heating.
 Thermal Mass

Dense materials store surplus heat inside the home to reduce temperature swings and
overheating, which is critical when the percentage of south windows surpasses 7% of the floor
surface. Concrete basement walls, adobe construction, insulated concrete forms, four-inch-thick
inner brick or stone veneers, eight-inch-thick exposed brick, block, or stone walls, or a traditional
four-inch-thick concrete slab on grade are all prevalent.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

While buildings still require mechanical systems per construction codes to periodically add or
remove heat and distribute fresh air,13 passive solar homes will have significantly reduced electrical
consumption and will be more comfortable in the case of a total power outage. It is possible to use a
smaller, simpler HVAC system. On cloudy days, many homeowners prefer to utilize wood stoves, but
standards often do not allow them to substitute mechanical heating systems.

REFINING THE DESIGN

Although conceptually simple, a successful passive solar housing necessitates the balancing of a
lot of elements and variables. An skilled designer can utilize a computer model to simulate the specifics
of a passive solar home in many configurations until the design meets the site's needs as well as the
owner's budget, aesthetic preferences, and performance requirements.

Some of the elements the designer will consider include:

 Insulation and air sealing

 Window location, glazing type, and window shading
 Thermal mass location and type.
 Auxiliary heating and cooling systems.

PASSIVE SOLAR HOME DESIGN FOR SUMMER COMFORT

A passive solar house necessitates careful design and placement, which vary depending on local
climate conditions. In most areas, an overhang or other devices like as awnings, shutters, and trellises will
be required to block summer solar heat gain. Landscaping can also assist keep your passive solar home
comfortable throughout the cooling season. Consult an architect knowledgeable with passive solar
techniques if you are considering passive solar design for a new home or a substantial refurbishment.

Passive solar design is an important part of building design since consumers and businesses want
to save money on energy bills while also being environmentally responsible.