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How Does Passive Solar Energy Work

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Passive solar energy or passive solar panel systems are designed to provide people with a way to use the sun’s energy to heat and cool their homes. This is done by taking advantage of the exposure to the sun. If you are considering the investment in solar for your home, you should take a few minutes to learn about passive solar heating and cooling. At SmartSolar.org, our team is here is ready to help you with answers to all of your questions. Let us help you figure out if a passive solar heating system is right for your needs.

Using Solar Energy For More

There are many ways to use solar energy. For some people, the move to invest in more energy efficient manners to use the sun is very much worthwhile. When you use passive solar panels as well as other components, you are able to absorb the solar radiation from the sun and distribute heat when you need to do so. This method allows you to keep your home at the perfect temperature while also helping you save money throughout the year. How does solar work like this?

Breaking Down Passive Solar Energy

How do solar panels work in this way?

With the help of a passive solar system, it is possible to collect the sun’s rays to use solar radiation. These systems can do this in various ways, such as by collecting that solar energy as well as reflecting it, storing it, and in some cases, distributing it. This allows the system to control the heating and cooling of the home. This type of system does not require the use of solar panels, though. Shocked?

Rather, passive solar systems will use a variety of factors to help control the ability of your home to use the sun without any type of mechanical system. To capture energy directly from the sun, the passive solar system uses a wide range of tools, including the following:

Aperture

This is a large glass area. It enables sunlight to come into your home.

Absorber

This component of the system sits in the direct path where the sunlight streams into the home. There, it is able to absorb that heat from the sun’s rays.

Thermal mass 

This component is an internal material that is able to retain and store the sun’s radiation and heat.

Distribution

Now that there’s heat stored, it needs to be moved around the home. The distribution system lets the heat move from the area where it is stored to different parts of the house as needed.

Fixed control

Finally, there are overhangs and other components added around the home, including natural shading materials, that help to control solar energy, so the home doesn’t get too hot during the summer months.

Passive solar systems, then, use natural energy characteristics and materials to help with the creation of a simplistic way to heat and cool the home.

How Can That Work, Then?

When it comes to using passive solar energy, these systems do not use solar panels or any type of electrical system to heat or cool the home. Now, this method does not help you to produce solar energy to be used to power your appliances or charge your smartphone, but it does help to control the home’s heating and cooling costs.

In this method, there are two key components to the passive solar heating system. That includes the use of south facing glass on your home. In addition to this, it uses thermal mass components. These are put in place, and they work to absorb and reflect heat so that the heating and cooling can be controlled. It is also critical that the system be oriented properly to ensure that the sun’s energy can be naturally used to heat the home.

Passive solar cooling systems are also powerful tools. They work by blocking the excessive heat coming into your home. They do this through various methods but specifically through the use of proper shading and ventilation of the home. By doing this, it is possible to manage the internal temperature of the home. You may use thermal mass, overhangs, treated shade, and other methods to create this type of cooling benefit.

Is Passive Solar Design Right For You?

The use of passive solar heating could be a great way for you to take advantage of renewable energy sources. In this method, your living space becomes far more energy efficient thanks to things like south facing windows and shade that helps to reduce excess heat. There are various benefits to using passive solar design in your home.

It can still offer energy savings. It also helps you to use clean energy to heat and cool your home.

What Goes Into A Passive Solar System Design?

There are various components to this process. Here’s a look at some of them.

Direct gain 

The most common design of a passive solar system is a direct-gain design. It is the process by which sunlight comes into the home through windows or through the use of passive solar panels. It is then stored in the thermal mass that has been added to the home, often in the interior walls and floors.

Thermal mass

This could be the use of materials for the floors, walls, or fireplaces that use adobe, brick, masonry, tile, concrete, and stone. These materials do not require direct sunlight to be heated by the sun’s energy.

Insulation

This component includes the use of insulated blinds and drapes to trap in passive heat, while opening up the windows can work well as a way to remove excess heat.

Is A Passive Solar Home Right For You?

When it comes to energy efficiency, using the sun’s heat to keep your home controlled makes sense. With these types of tools capable of helping you to distribute solar energy where it needs to go, passive solar heating designs can be the ideal investment.

SmartSolar.org can help you. Contact us today to learn more.

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Editorial Team
Editorial Team
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