renewable energy, definition of
- Renewable Energy
Passive solar heating is one of several design approaches collectively called
passive solar design. When properly combined, these strategies contribute to the heating, cooling, and day lighting of nearly any building. The types of buildings that benefit from the application of
passive solar heating range from houses to large office facilities.
Passive solar heating typically involves:
- Solar energy collection through properly-oriented, south-facing windows.
- Storage of this energy by "thermal mass," which are building materials with high heat capacity such as concrete slabs, brick walls, or tile floors.
- Distribution of the stored solar energy back to the living space, as required, via the mechanisms of natural convection and radiation.
- Window specifications to allow higher solar heat gain coefficient for Solar facing glazing.
Passive solar heating systems do not have a high initial cost or long-term payback periods, both common with many active solar heating systems.
Another benefit to passive solar heating is increased comfort: if properly designed, passive solar buildings are bright and sunny and in tune with climate and nature. As a result, there are fewer fluctuations in temperature, resulting in a higher degree of temperature stability and
thermal comfort.
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