| Here are 7 basic fundamentals that will cost you | | | | will absorb the heat throughout the day and release it |
| nothing or very little and save you cash for many | | | | slowly at night, reducing the need to run expensive |
| years to come! | | | | heaters. Carpet acts as an insulator and will not retain |
| 1. Orientation, layout and positioning of your house on | | | | the heat. |
| the land | | | | Although it's far easier to achieve passive solar |
| Orientate your living areas to the south side of the | | | | energy for homes during the planning stage, you can |
| house, which receives most of the sun throughout | | | | incorporate many of these elements into an |
| the day (north if you live in the southern | | | | established house without spending a great deal of |
| hemisphere). | | | | money or time. |
| 2. Insulation and draught proofing | | | | It might be as easy as filling in a few gaps, installing |
| Make sure your walls, roof and floors are insulated | | | | an additional window or moving your living area from |
| and fill any gaps where draughts might come through. | | | | the chilly north side of the house to the sunny south |
| 3. Ventilation | | | | side... |
| Position doors and windows opposite each other to | | | | To learn more about solar energy, go to |
| allow for a cooling breeze to flow through the house | | | | lar-energy.com/ |
| when the air cool down in the evening of a hot | | | | You'll discover ... |
| summers day. | | | | What it is |
| 4. Windows | | | | How it works |
| Windows on the south side of the house should be | | | | Interesting Facts |
| bigger to allow more sun to penetrate the house | | | | Advantages and Disadvantages |
| during the day and windows on the north side smaller | | | | The History |
| to prevent heat lost at night. | | | | The Cost |
| 5. Landscaping | | | | Solar energy for students |
| Position trees and plants to direct a cooling breeze | | | | Solar energy products |
| into your house, whiles shading it during summer. | | | | More products |
| Plant trees that shed their leave in winter. | | | | Solar fountains |
| 6. Shading | | | | Solar garden lights |
| Make sure external shading structures are wide | | | | Solar pool gear |
| enough to block out the sun in summer, whiles still | | | | Find the perfect Book |
| allowing the low winter sun to enter. | | | | Please email any questions to info@facts-about- |
| 7. Thermal mass | | | | solar-energy. |
| Polished concrete, tile or slate floors and brick walls | | | | |