Ideas on How to Use Passive Solar Heating in Your Home

There are a number of different passive solar technologies available, and many of them you might not even have considered previously. This type of heating has actually been used for centuries; simply building a home with windows and walls that capture the most of the sun’s rays is a form of passive heating.  Of course, it isn’t as simple as that or we would all be warm enough year round.

Passive solar heating is achieved by storing and releasing the energy from the sun without any external pumping machinery. Setups that use these methods can be either very simple or very complex, but are generally low cost and low technology know how.

While you may want to design your entire home and take advantage of passive solar heating completely, you need to be advised that this would be a large undertaking and best involve the use of an architect. Your house design would typically include large windows that are south-facing and materials that are designed to trap and slowly release the suns energy.

During the warmer months, this type of design might cause your home to become too overheated, so natural cooling effects would be managed by implementing natural vents or roof overhangs that block the stronger sun rays during those months.

If you are not inclined to redesigning your whole house, you might take advantage of other passive solar technologies that will assist with your quest for green heating alternatives. A solar cooker works as a conventional stove, with the exception of using the sun for its heat source. These types of ovens may be used more frequently outside where they can use the sun more effectively. At this time they are not extremely popular, but the solar furnace and solar forges are becoming more common.

Other useful passive solar heating sources can come from items like solar water heaters. Paying attention to the types of windows you have in your home, as well as their glazing can give your home a passive energy boost also. You will want to ensure that you have sealed windows and doors in areas that might let in draughts.  Window and doors are the biggest cause of energy loss in a home.

Insulation is also a primary concern with regards to passive solar heating home. Ideally you would insulate every wall in your home as well as the space between the ground and the floor and the ceiling and attic.  Everywhere your home is adjoined with an adjoining “outdoor” room you would want to ensure you insulate also (for example between the front of the house and an enclosed porch).

Even without completely redesigning your home, you can take advantage of several different methods of passive solar heating. If you do decide to re-build or build a home brand new, then you will realize the cost is not extensive, and the savings over time will assure you gain financially.