Passive Solar Roof Design

Passive solar design takes advantage of a building s site climate and materials to minimize energy use.

Passive solar roof design. In passive solar building design windows walls and floors are made to collect store reflect and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer. Passive solar design refers to the use of the sun s energy for the heating and cooling of living spaces by exposure to the sun. Light colored homes reflect the sun s light reducing the amount of heat retained in the walls and therefore lowering summer cooling loads. This is called passive solar design because unlike active solar heating systems it does not involve the use of mechanical and electrical devices.

Passive solar design begins with the simple idea that you can build a house that uses natural heating cooling ventilation and daylighting. In addition the heat produced by the sun causes air movement that can be predictable in designed spaces. A well designed passive solar home first reduces heating and cooling loads through energy efficiency strategies and then meets those reduced loads in whole or part with solar energy. Passive solar homes can be any color just like normal homes but they lose a major advantage if they aren t painted to suit the climate.

Passive solar design takes advantage of this by designing a home s roof pitch and overhang to allow solar heat gain during the winter months and block it during the summer.