passive solar, definition of

Passive solar design refers to the use of the sun's energy for the heating and cooling of living spaces. With this approach, the building itself or some element of it takes advantage of natural energy characteristics in materials and air created by exposure to the sun.

Passive systems are simple, have few moving parts, and require minimal maintenance and require no mechanical systems. Often the thermal characteristics of materials are extensively used, often termed as Thermal Mass design.

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Passive Solar Energy is the energy captured by a building from the Sun and used to either heat or cool a building.

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Related Tags: passive solar, thermal mass