Opening the curtains on our windows to let in the light from the sun is one form of passive solar energy use. Utilizing the heat generated by the sun to warm the inside of our homes is another way in which passive solar energy is put to everyday use around the world.
Following are just a few of the other ways passive home solar energy can be achieved, no matter where you may live.
The orientation of a home can affect the use of passive solar energy. Houses in the northern hemisphere which have their living areas on the southernmost side of the house are able to receive the most sunlight throughout the day. The opposite is true for houses in the southern hemisphere. These should have their living areas on the north side of the house in order to take advantage of home solar energy through tapping into the sun's rays for most of the day.
Proper insulation measures should be taken in order to seal the home and protect against air infiltration. This allows you to have the most control possible over the internal temperature in the house, cutting down on heating and cooling costs and making the most of the natural heat that is gained through sunlight entering the home through windows. Proper insulation also keeps the home temperature down in the summer when the hot rays of the sun are beating down on the roof and exterior walls.
Big windows placed on the south side of the house, for homes in the northern hemisphere, and on the north side of the house, for homes in the southern hemisphere, will allow you to take advantage of sunlight for the majority of the daylight hours. This not only allows you to take advantage of home solar energy for lighting your home but heating it, as well. Those windows placed on the opposite side of the house should be smaller in order to cut down on heat loss during the nighttime hours.
Plant trees and shrubs in such a manner that they will help direct cool breezes toward your home in the summer months. Also be sure to select shade trees that are full of leaves in the summer which will help block the hot rays of the sun from the roof of your home. These same trees will lose their leaves in the winter and give more direct sunlight to help heat your home during the cold winter months, allowing you to take advantage of home solar energy regardless of the season.
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