PV Gap

Francisco Said:

Why is there not more passive solar homes ?

We Answered:

I think that the Greek government wouldn't have to fully subsidise the costs of converting houses to be more energy-efficent, but as long as they show people graphically what really could/is happening due to global warming (such as possible local flooding, and not something very distant like ice-caps melting).

Many people see people concerned with the environment as 'anti-industry', 'leftist' or 'paranoid', which isn't really the case. If people were educated more about the issue, this might not happen.

See the list of sources for more information:

Melissa Said:

What is a passive solar home?

We Answered:

The architectural elements of the home make use of available sunlight without the use of special solar collection devices. Usually this entails extreme weather tightening and a special Southern greenhouse like room that collects solar heat in the winter and can be opened up as a porch in the summer. Other elements include shading devices angled to let in the low winter sunlight but block the high summer sunlight and trees that provide shading in the summer but are bare in the winter.

Francisco Said:

What are several advantages of passive solar heating in homes?

We Answered:

The obvious advantage is you don't have to spend a lot of money on equipment and there is nothing really that needs to be maintained or fail.
It's a very elegant way of building - you're combining the form and function more closely together than a normal home would.
It is not all that easy to do, however, because you have to have the right thermal mass (brick or concrete slabs make good thermal mass) and you need to understand the sun angle and regular daylight conditions very well or you will wind up either baking or freezing.
I am a big fan of using passive design as much as you can without making the house look too goofy and supplement with a small heat pump or geothermal heating/cooling.

Susan Said:

Where can i find experts in Minnesota who will help me design a passive solar home?

We Answered:

Look at the U of M architecture department. Or if you have more travel time, look at UWM-SARUP or UI-Urbana-Champaign (they are a bit better in this field). They have several cutting edge green designers that work in or own firms and, in their free-time, teach their concepts to future architects in academia. Most of these would be "adjunct faculty."

Most northern U.S. universities have extensive or large "green" departments. There has been a major influx in efficiency in design in the last ten years, so just head over to the school, throw a stone, and you'll likely hit a green professor/architect.

Harvey Said:

Passive Solar Home in South East Texas?

We Answered:

Make sure that you do not over glaze. Your house could be miserable most of the year.

You might think about active solar water heater as an alternative. Water has one of the highest heat capacities of any substance. Even a moderate sized insulated tank would provide you with most of your hot water needs year round. You could also optionally route copper water coils through either a slab floor or through your existing air ducts (turned on in the winter).

I think inexpensive solar panel system would easily pay for themselves in water heating alone.

Pauline Said:

how to make a passive solar home?

We Answered:

I'd suggest checking out this blog...

http://earth4energy-manual.com/blog/

Theirs Step-By-Step instruction on how to build solar or wind power at home.

Good luck and hope it helps!!!

- Katie : )

Nathaniel Said:

are special considerations required for using a passive solar design and a strawbale design together?

We Answered:

I don't know specifics but I've seen multiple straw bale homes built using passive solar design. Overheating could be lessened by exterior paint colors, shade trees, window placement, ventilation system, flooring choice, etc.