Green Building Primer

Passive solar design refers to the use of the sun's energy for the heating and cooling of living spaces by exposure to the sun. When sunlight strikes a building, the building materials can reflect, transmit, or absorb the solar radiation. In addition, the heat produced by the sun causes air movement that can be predictable in designed spaces. These basic responses to solar heat lead to design elements, material choices and placements that can provide heating and cooling effects in a home.

Unlike active solar heating systems, passive systems are simple and do not involve substantial use of mechanical and electrical devices, such as pumps, fans, or electrical controls to move the solar energy.

Further Topics:

Five Elements of a Passive Solar Home Design.
Passive Solar Heating
Passive Solar Cooling
Implementation Issues
Resources