How to heat a passive solar house? Besides the sun! Lol

Exeric · 10-18-13, 02:05 PM

Hi, I think MN made a lot of good points, and I think he's right about trying to use windows for passive solar heating and creating a real problem in summer. But if you like windows, (I do), then consider building a porch on the south side of the house. I did and boy do I ever love it. It kind of brings the outdoors in and the indoors out. Besides that, its a real architectural feature if you like the traditional type of house even a little. My biggest bugaboo about almost all the Passivhaus homes that that I've seen is that they can end up being a real public eyesore in a neighborhood of more traditional homes. However, if you build a porch instead of using wide roof overhangs you will probably have to give up on the idea of using windows for passive heating. For a decent size porch they usually just extend too far out, even in winter, for the sun to give good heating effect.

Edit: I should add that where porches taketh away they also giveth. That extra roof area on a sizeable porch can be used for all kinds of things like PV or solar panels. On my house that is located in a moderate climate my 'L' shaped porch adds enough roof area that I expect to be able to use passive solar from air coming thru the soffits at the eaves to heat the home in winter. Project is not yet done so don't quote me just yet. I wouldn't expect that idea to work in Indiana though.

10-18-13, 02:05 PM	#11
Exeric Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: California Posts: 274 Thanks: 19 Thanked 37 Times in 28 Posts	Hi, I think MN made a lot of good points, and I think he's right about trying to use windows for passive solar heating and creating a real problem in summer. But if you like windows, (I do), then consider building a porch on the south side of the house. I did and boy do I ever love it. It kind of brings the outdoors in and the indoors out. Besides that, its a real architectural feature if you like the traditional type of house even a little. My biggest bugaboo about almost all the Passivhaus homes that that I've seen is that they can end up being a real public eyesore in a neighborhood of more traditional homes. However, if you build a porch instead of using wide roof overhangs you will probably have to give up on the idea of using windows for passive heating. For a decent size porch they usually just extend too far out, even in winter, for the sun to give good heating effect. Edit: I should add that where porches taketh away they also giveth. That extra roof area on a sizeable porch can be used for all kinds of things like PV or solar panels. On my house that is located in a moderate climate my 'L' shaped porch adds enough roof area that I expect to be able to use passive solar from air coming thru the soffits at the eaves to heat the home in winter. Project is not yet done so don't quote me just yet. I wouldn't expect that idea to work in Indiana though. Last edited by Exeric; 10-18-13 at 02:16 PM..