How is solar energy used?
(continued)

Passive solar energy

Passive solar heating harnesses natural heat and light from the sun, using basic building elements, such as walls, windows, floors and roofs, to control the amount of the sun’s energy that is absorbed or lost in a building. The term “passive” means no additional mechanical equipment is used to heat the air, other than the building elements, and that minimal use is made of pumps or fans to distribute heat.

High efficiency windows, together with insulation and airtight construction, allow passive solar heat to come through and keep the energy inside in the form of heat. Heavy heat-absorbing materials, such as stone floor tiles or extra layers of gypsum wallboard, are incorporated into buildings to collect heat and slowly release it. Sunspaces can also be included into the building design to capture heat.