Solar Homes

     Solar homes can mean anything from homes that have a solar panel on them to homes that use passive solar energy to light them up.

     Passive solar homes range from those heated almost entirely by the sun to those with south-facing windows that provide some fraction of the heating load. The difference between a passive solar home and a conventional home is design. The key is to design a passive solar home to take advantage of your local climate. You can apply passive solar design techniques most easily when designing a new home. However, existing buildings can be adapted or "retro-fitted" to passively collect and store solar heat. Decades ago, attempts at creating sealed solar-heated homes failed, because of stagnant air and mold. But new passive houses use an ingenious central ventilation system. The warm air going out passes side by side with clean, cold air coming in, exchanging heat with 90 percent efficiency.

     Inside, a passive home does have a slightly different feel from a conventional home, just as an electric car drives differently from its gas-using cousin. There is a kind of spaceship-like uniformity of air and temperature, which gives a certain futuristic feel. The air from outside all goes through HEPA filters before entering the rooms. The cement floor of the basement isn’t cold. The walls and the air are basically the same temperature.

     Because a successful passive house requires the interplay of the building, the sun and the climate, architects need to be careful about site selection. Passive-house heating might not work in a shady valley in Switzerland, or on an urban street with no south-facing wall. Researchers are looking into whether the concept will work in warmer climates where a heat exchanger could be used in reverse, to keep cool air in and warm air out.

     Those who want passive-house mansions may be disappointed. Compact shapes are simpler to seal, while sprawling homes are difficult to insulate and heat. This is because heating and lighting rooms that are not always used makes air circulation difficult and costly. Solar homes still have a lot of catching up to do in the U.S. compared to solar homes in Europe and Japan. However, the demand is driving change in the U.S...

     Solar homes are saving lots of money and bringing in all kinds of interesting additional benefits. For example, some solar homes can rotate to follow the orientation of the sun during the day. This rotation is highly energy efficient, provides a constant change of scenery, and brings warming natural light into the living space. The structure is made of a central pillar and arches, giving the home excellent hurricane and earthquake resistance. It is also Energy Star rated and is truly the house of choice for anyone who follows the sun all year round.