Before we get into shadows, it is probably important to define passive solar. When most people think of solar power for homes, they think of panel systems on roofs or in the yard. This mental image has nothing to do with passive solar. Passive solar refers to a home or structure that is configured and designed to naturally harness the power of the sun in the form of heat. Technically, there should be no panels, but some will use them as an add-on.
When planning a passive solar structure, one of the most important things to consider is shadows. This is a simple way of referring to how the home will sit on the land I assume you have already purchased. The configuration of the structure to the property should be such that the longest side of the home with the most windows receives the most sun. This maximizes solar radiation penetration into the home, to wit, maximizes the amount of heat that can be captured. There is a simple test to determine this.
To develop a guestimate of how the home should sit on the property, go out and stand on it in the middle of the day. What direction does your shadow extend in? The opposite direction represents a general guide to the direction of the sun. The longest wall on your structure should run perpendicular to this direction.
Importantly, this is only a guideline to configuring your property on the lot. Do not rush off and get architectural plans done based on this guestimate. The angle of the sun to your property will change during the year as the Earth tilts in different directions. While you now know the general layout you should use for the property, make sure to follow it up with a professional analysis of the position of the sun throughout the year.
When it comes to harnessing the inherent power of the sun, much of the discussion focuses on angles. Maximizing sun penetration into your home is the particular key when it comes to passive heating through solar.
Solar For Your House: Learn The Lizard Lesson
Nature is a funny thing. If we pay close attention to it, we can often find the answer to many questions. Solar is no different. In this case, we are going to look at lizards for guidance.
Undoubtedly, you have seen lizards sunning themselves on rocks if you have ever gone hiking or even just sat outside. If you gave it any thought, you realized the lizard was using solar power to warm itself. It positioned itself to maximize the exposure to the sun by determining where it was going to get the maximum warmth. As odd as it may sound, using the sun to heat your house involves the same approach.
The goal of natural solar heating for a house is to maximize the exposure to the sun throughout the year. The more surface area that is exposed, the more energy you can convert. Get it wrong, and your results will be very disappointing.
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, the south side of your house will always receive the most sunlight. As a practical matter, this means the longest side of your house should face south. This side should also contain the most windows to convert the energy. While facing south is important, there is an additional step.
The Earth tilts through different degrees throughout the year, one of the factors that gives us seasons. You need to realize this and position your house for the appropriate time of the year. You are probably not going to need heating during the summer. As a result, you should not orient your home to the path of sun during this period of time. Instead, you should determine the path of the sun during the winter, to wit, the angle at which it strikes your property. You will be surprised how much of a difference there is, but will be glad you take it into account since this is when you need to the most heating.
Much like a reptile changes places on a rock throughout the day, you need to gauge the best position for your house to take advantage of the power of the sun.
Richard Solare has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family Travel, Home and Home Improvement. Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com - a directory of .. Richard Solare's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.