It's a fact: most of us spend a lot of money heating or cooling our homes in contradiction to the weather. While natural, renewable resources such as solar energy and wind energy may be utilized to power your home, these systems are prohibitively expensive to install for many homeowners. If you plan to renovate your home, consider incorporating some passive design techniques that will allow you to take advantage of these natural resources without having to install special technology and equipment.
Passive Design Elements
Unlike active design, which requires systems such as air conditioners and furnaces to maintain a comfortable temperature within a home, passive design advocates taking advantage of natural features of the site as well as characteristics of the climate. Passive design simply requires a little more planning ahead, but the construction methods are quite traditional. Let's explore some ways to make your home passive, in a good way:
Orient Yourself
If you are building a new home, you have some degree of control in terms of how the house is positioned on the site. However, if you are renovating, the parameters are generally set, but you can plan additions and the locations for new windows based on the paths of the sun and wind.
Inevitably, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, and its position affects your home's temperature throughout the day. For example, southern-facing windows and walls absorb plenty of heat for most of the day, which may be an asset or a detriment, depending on where you live. And unless you enjoy waking up to the sun shining in your eyes, orient your bedroom accordingly.
Plant Trees
Although they take years to grow, shade trees prevent the sun from overheating sections of your home. An added benefit is that they create oxygen and help purify the air. For faster results, consider training fast-growing ivy onto a trellis.
Utilize Overhangs
Rather than waiting for trees to grow, consider extending or adding overhangs to your roofline to block hard sun where necessary. This is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce the loads on both your AC and furnace, because it will block the harsh summer sun while still allowing the lower winter sun to penetrate and warm your home. For this reason, it's very important to properly size the overhangs. Unless you are an ace at geometry, consult a professional. You may also inexpensively install awnings, or supplement the effect of overhangs with shades and blinds for your windows.
Insulate
It can't be repeated enough: properly insulate your walls, floors and roof. Check for leaks around windows and doors. A well-insulated home doesn't need to be conditioned nearly as much as a leaky one.
Ventilate
Take note of the direction of prevailing winds in your area. Install operable windows and use them to naturally ventilate your home. While insulation is important, a healthy home should be allowed to breathe, too.
Try a Thermal Mass
It may sound complicated, but the concept of a wall as a thermal mass is relatively simple. A thick masonry or concrete wall that is situated correctly can absorb the warmth of the sun throughout the day, keeping your home cooler, and then slowly releasing the energy to heat your home throughout the night. Basically, the interior spaces behind the thermal mass will consistently maintain a comfortable temperature.
Passive solar design follows common logic. It is a philosophy rather than an architectural style; these concepts may be applied to a modern concrete home just as easily as a stately Victorian. If you are serious about renovating your home in line with the passive design philosophy, consult an architect to be sure you are maximizing your home's energy efficiency. He or she will research local climate patterns and carefully observe the site to help you design for the entire year, not just the summer or winter months.