Live with Light: Passive Solar Design in Eco-Houses

Chosen theme: Passive Solar Design in Eco-Houses. Welcome to a sun-powered journey where thoughtful orientation, thermal mass, and beautiful daylighting turn homes into comfortable, low-energy sanctuaries. Join our community, share your questions, and subscribe for weekly, field-tested insights.

Sun, Site, and Orientation: The First Design Decision

Walk your site at sunrise, noon, and late afternoon to learn how shadows drift. Use a sun path diagram or an app to map seasonal angles, ensuring your living spaces truly drink winter light.

Sun, Site, and Orientation: The First Design Decision

In the northern hemisphere, orient major glazing toward true south for maximum winter gains and manageable summer heat. Balance views, privacy, and street alignment with daylight priorities, and tell us what trade-offs you’d make.

Thermal Mass Mastery: Storing Sunshine for Night

Polished concrete slabs, interior brick, rammed earth, and adobe store daytime warmth and release it slowly after sunset. Choose mass where sun actually lands, finishing surfaces to balance durability, reflectance, and tactile comfort.

Thermal Mass Mastery: Storing Sunshine for Night

Thermal mass works best when sunlight directly strikes it. Design sun patches on floors and walls, avoiding thick rugs or dark carpets that trap heat superficially. Tag us with your floor plan ideas for feedback.

Smart Glazing and Shading: Windows That Work Hard

Right-sized south-facing windows can meet a large portion of winter heating needs. Aim for sufficient area relative to floor mass, and avoid oversized glass that causes overheating or nighttime losses. What ratio suits your climate?

Place operable windows on opposing sides and vary sill heights to pull breezes through. High clerestory vents let hot air escape, while lower inlets invite cooler air. Share your prevailing wind data to refine openings.

Open safe, screened vents after sunset to purge heat from thermal mass and fabrics. By morning, interiors start cooler, reducing next-day peaks. Post your nighttime temperature drops and we’ll crowdsource optimization tips.

Aim for a tight envelope to prevent uncontrolled leaks, then manage ventilation intentionally. Use trickle vents or heat-recovery systems where needed, ensuring fresh air without wasting the hard-earned warmth of winter sunshine.

Daylighting Delight: Bright Rooms Without Glare

High windows bounce light deep into rooms, while light shelves reflect brightness up to ceilings for gentle diffusion. Sketch a section view and notice how rays arc across your space. Share a photo of your mockup.

Daylighting Delight: Bright Rooms Without Glare

Soft matte paints and pale surfaces spread daylight without harsh hotspots. Choose finishes that respect natural light’s character, making rooms feel larger and calmer. Tell us which textures transformed your reading corner the most.

Climate-Specific Strategies: Cold, Mixed, Hot-Arid, and Hot-Humid

Maximize south gains with well-insulated frames, reduce east and west glazing, and boost airtightness. Provide ample thermal mass and vestibules. Share your snow reflections and how they brighten interiors during short winter days.

Stories from the Sun: Lessons, Joy, and Small Surprises

After reorienting their renovation, a family found the kitchen sunny by breakfast, ice off boots, and radiators idling. Their kids race sunbeams on the floor. Tell us about your first truly sun-warmed morning moment.

Stories from the Sun: Lessons, Joy, and Small Surprises

A volunteer maple cast unexpected summer cool but let winter rays sail through bare branches. Its lesson: living shade beats gadgets sometimes. Share which plantings partnered best with your windows and thermal mass.