Solar house

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Solar house

A solar house can use either active solar products and methods or passive solar products and methods… or both. Active solar products include solar panels and other products that convert the sun’s rays into energy. Passive solar technologies do not use any electrical or mechanical equipment. Here are different examples of each type of solar house:

Active Solar House

An active solar house uses the sun to run it. Many active solar houses are completely off the grid – they do not rely on the power company for their electricity. In other words, they can get all of the electricity that they need to run their TVs, lights, heating system, laundry, etc. from the sun. Of course, many of these homes have generators, just in case. Others stay grid-tied and utilize net metering (meaning surplus energy they create can be used in times of deficit, like during the shorter winter days).

Generally, an active solar house will have solar panels set up on a south-facing, unshaded roof, because this is the area that will receive the most sun. These solar panels glean energy from the sun and then either store it in batteries or into the grid. Solar water heaters, solar pool heaters, and other such devices are also popular.

Passive Solar House

A passive solar house, on the other hand, is generally built from the onset to make the most use of the sun (of course, certain passive solar techniques can be added to already-built homes). For instance, an Adobe home can be thought of as a solar house. Why? Because the mud bricks used to build it absorb heat during the day, and then slowly release the heat during the cold night.

There are other ways that a passive solar house may get heat. For instance south-facing windows allow the sun to shine in and warm the walls, floors, and furniture during the winter months. To cool the house without using energy, overhangs would cover any south-facing windows, few windows would face the west, trees would be planted near the home, etc.

All in all, though, if you are trying to decide whether to set up a passive solar house or an active solar house, consider a combination of the two. A solar house that utilizes both active and passive technologies will require very little outside energy, if any. And if you cannot afford active solar technologies, realize that passive solar ideas are essentially free – there is no reason not to utilize them!

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A solar house can use either active solar products and methods or passive solar products and methods… or both. Active solar products include solar panels and other products that convert the sun’s rays into energy. Passive solar technologies do not use any electrical or mechanical equipment. Here are different examples of each type of solar house:

Active Solar House

An active solar house uses the sun to run it. Many active solar houses are completely off the grid – they do not rely on the power company for their electricity. In other words, they can get all of the electricity that they need to run their TVs, lights, heating system, laundry, etc. from the sun. Of course, many of these homes have generators, just in case. Others stay grid-tied and utilize net metering (meaning surplus energy they create can be used in times of deficit, like during the shorter winter days).

Generally, an active solar house will have solar panels set up on a south-facing, unshaded roof, because this is the area that will receive the most sun. These solar panels glean energy from the sun and then either store it in batteries or into the grid. Solar water heaters, solar pool heaters, and other such devices are also popular.

Passive Solar House

A passive solar house, on the other hand, is generally built from the onset to make the most use of the sun (of course, certain passive solar techniques can be added to already-built homes). For instance, an Adobe home can be thought of as a solar house. Why? Because the mud bricks used to build it absorb heat during the day, and then slowly release the heat during the cold night.

There are other ways that a passive solar house may get heat. For instance south-facing windows allow the sun to shine in and warm the walls, floors, and furniture during the winter months. To cool the house without using energy, overhangs would cover any south-facing windows, few windows would face the west, trees would be planted near the home, etc.

All in all, though, if you are trying to decide whether to set up a passive solar house or an active solar house, consider a combination of the two. A solar house that utilizes both active and passive technologies will require very little outside energy, if any. And if you cannot afford active solar technologies, realize that passive solar ideas are essentially free – there is no reason not to utilize them!

Links & Resources

Site Map