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