On-Site
Incorporate Passive Solar Design
What Is It?
Passive solar design is a building specification which allows windows, walls, and floors to collect, store, and distribute (in the winter) or reject (in the summer) solar energy in the form of heat. Passive solar buildings range from those heated almost entirely by the sun to those that provide some fraction of the heating load. While passive solar designs are most easily installed during initial construction, existing buildings can be retrofitted to utilize these techniques after the fact.
Benefits
Passive solar design not only reduces the costs of both heating and cooling, but also produces long-term savings for your building or workplace. Unlike active solar heating systems (which also provide savings and cost-reduction), passive solar design doesn’t involve the use of mechanical and electrical devices. Like all types of renewables, it too reduces the demand on the state and regional power grids, improving reliability and minimizing the likelihood of disruptions in power supply.
Financing Options, Incentives, and Rebates
- U.S. Department of Energy: Loan Guarantee Program
- U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Incentive Programs
NEWS
- “Three Office Buildings Using Passive Heating and Cooling Design,” Smart Cities Dive, July 17, 2015
RESOURCES
- Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources: About Solar Energy: Passive Solar, Solar Thermal, and Photovoltaic
- Union of Concerned Scientists: Putting Renewable Energy to Work in Buildings
