The Best in Passive Solar Materials

Of the five elements of passive solar design, two deal primarily with materials. These are the absorber and thermal mass and are often two characteristics of the same material. The absorber represents the surface of the material (e.g., masonry wall, water wall, floor, etc.). The thermal mass retains or stores the heat from sunlight. It is the interior, the substance behind that outer, absorbent surface.

Glass, of course, cannot be ignored as a passive solar material. But the effectiveness of a window in passive solar heating has as much to do with aperture – or placement relative to the sun – as it does with material. All windows, however, are not created equal. Windows that are double- or triple-glazed with low-e coatings and efficient frames are best for passive solar design.

There are three essential materials behind passive solar design: masonry material, glass, and water. Furthermore, there are also three ways to harness solar energy passively: direct gain, indirect gain, and isolated gain. Which materials you use, and how you use them, will depend largely on which approach you take. (more…)

The Best in Passive Solar Materials