Understanding the Fundamentals
Passive solar heating uses the heat that comes directly from the sun to heat homes and other buildings. Unlike active solar heating, passive solar heating does not involve turning the solar energy into electricity. The most basic example of a design that takes advantage of passive solar heating is well-positioned windows. Large windows in the southern wall of a building allow a relatively high amount of heat from the sun into the space on sunny days. Using double layer insulated windows and curtains that can be closed at night maximizes the passive solar heating potential of this set-up, by minimizing the amount of heat lost through the window area.
Absorbing and Storing Passive Solar Heat
In order to take advantage of passive solar heating, building designs should include many ways to absorb and hold the heat of the sun. This is particularly important in climates where the temperature is warm during the day and cold at night. One way to maximize the absorption of solar heat is with dark colors. For example, a roof painted black will get the hottest and transmit the most passive solar heat into the building. Also, some materials, such as water, store solar heat and release it much more slowly than air. A simple method of storing passive solar heat involves placing a large array of barrels or jars of water, in dark containers, inside a building where the sun will hit them during the day (for example, covering a sunny wall with these containers). The water heats up slowly, over the course of the day, then releases the heat slowly through the cooler hours.
Another Use for Passive Solar Heat
Passive solar technology is also relatively popular for creating hot water. Storing water in wide, flat, dark colored containers or pipes on the roof of a building will heat it up to a pleasant bathing or cleaning temperature in many climates, especially if the water is used most during the day.
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