Passive Solar Design Principles

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BUILDING SCIENCE 3B

Lecture 2: Passive Solar Design

Building design principles and checklist

Lawrence Ogunsanya
lawrencesanya@yahoo.com

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Passive solar concepts are not difficult to apply, but require
consideration from the preliminary stages of design to be
most effective. This checklist is presented as a planning tool,
with references to other, more complete sources.
Good passive solar homes are not difficult to design or
expensive to build. However, they do require the use of
basic, common-sense methods of working with the
environment rather than against it. When you build a solar
home correctly, you can count on it being:
Passive Solar Design principles
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1. Comfortable - solar homes are warm in the winter
and cool in the summer;
2. Economic - homeowners receive a positive cash flow
or excellent return from their investment;
3. Durable - solar homes are usually built from
long-lasting, low-maintenance materials;
4. Attractive - solar homes are full of light and are well
connected to the outdoors; and
5. Environmentally Responsible - solar homes make
efficient use of our energy resources.
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Items discussed in this lecture:

BUILDING ORIENTATION
BUILDING FORM
LAYOUT AND PLACEMENT OF ROOMS
THERMAL MASS
WALLS
FINISHES
WINDOWS/ GLAZING
SHADING: EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL
GREEN ROOF CONCEPT
ROOF INSULATION
VENTILATION AND PASSIVE COOLING

Building Orientation
In general, the long section of buildings should be orientated
to +/- 15 degrees North.
In addition, the extent of the faade facing north should be
maximized and the length of faade facing east and west
minimised.
This enables good access to sunlight for the north faade,
good access to daylight through the north and south faades
and reduces unwanted heat gain from early morning and late
afternoon sunshine on the east and west faades.

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The first consideration is the position of the house in relation to the
sun. A north-facing aspect is ideal. In the southern hemisphere, the sun
travels in a northerly arc from east to west.
The north side of the house should have the most windows and the
biggest windows. Sun will pour through them for much of the day. The
more elongated the house is along the east-west axis (stretched like a
sausage, if you like), the better.
The east and west walls should also have windows, not necessarily so
big, to catch morning and afternoon sun. The south side should have
only enough windows for ventilation purposes. Its the cold side.
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The building form
The building form also determines the air flow around the
building and hence the ventilation rates inside.
The circular form of a building is an aerodynamic form, which
would also help enhance natural ventilation inside the building.
The depth of the building determines the amount of daylight,
which can penetrate inside the building. The deeper the building
is, the more artificial light is required, which is not preferred in an
energy-efficient building.

Depth of the buildings. The depth of the building should be
limited to ensure that internal spaces that cannot be day lit are
limited in area.

A general rule of thumb is that daylight quality will be reasonable
within the space 2h from a window, where h is the height of the
head of the window from floor level (see figure below).

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Building form
Long and narrow footprints are better than square ones for access to
daylight. Buildings can be arranged as a series of wings to minimize
land requirements while still allowing access to daylight.

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Layout of rooms
The rooms on the north side should be the most used (living
areas, in other words).
The least used rooms (bathrooms, laundry, garage, guest
bedroom) should go on the south side.
Bedrooms and the kitchen are best on the east side (because
they need early morning heating, and in the case of the kitchen,
afternoon coolness).
North-facing rooms
The main living spaces such as living, family and dining rooms
should be north facing where possible. North-facing rooms: have
good daylight most of the day
have solar gain for most of the day throughout the year may
require horizontal shading to prevent overheating in summer
have good passive solar gain in winter.
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East-facing rooms
East facing rooms are most suited as kitchen and breakfast
areas as they can benefit from early morning solar gain
throughout the year and will be cooler in the late afternoon
when evening meal preparation takes place. They:
have good morning light
have solar gain in the morning throughout the year to
provide initial warming will be cooler in the late afternoon.
Bedrooms that face east will be cooler in the late afternoon
and evening, making them more comfortable for summer
sleeping.
Early risers generally appreciate east sun in spaces they will
use first thing in the morning such as breakfast bars.
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West-facing rooms
As west-facing rooms get low-angle, late afternoon sun, they
usually require some shading to prevent overheating and excessive
glare, particularly during the summer. They:
have good afternoon daylight
can overheat in the late afternoon for much of the year may
require vertical shading to prevent excessive overheating and
glare in the afternoon
provide good direct solar gain for thermal mass heating of living
spaces in the evening.
A west-facing orientation is suitable as a living area in
households where occupants are away from home during the
day-time but at home in the evenings. It is not generally suitable
as a kitchen as the heat from dinner preparation coincides with
low-angled afternoon and evening sun, potentially causing glare
and overheating.

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South-facing rooms
South-facing rooms are not suitable for habitable spaces as
they:
have lower levels of daylight during parts of the year
have little or no heat gain.
They are most suited for the location of the garage, laundry,
bathroom, toilet, workroom and stairs, where people spend
little time and/or use infrequently.
Outdoor living areas
In general, outdoor living areas should be north-facing so they
receive the sun when they are in use.
if the building is located towards the south of the site, this will
provide a north-facing outdoor area.

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Thermal mass
This is the term for the ability of building materials to store the
suns energy.
Four things determine thermal mass:
Type of material: The thickness and density of materials, chiefly
walls and flooring, will largely determine how well your house
can be warmed by the sun. (A thickness of between 100
millimetres and 250 millimetres is best.
As for density, think weight. Concrete and stone, for example,
soak up large amounts of heat. For walls, bricks and concrete
blocks are ideal.
That stored heat lessens reliance on heating appliances.
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Heat conductivity: A concrete slab in a north-facing room can
absorb and store lots of heat, provided it is uncovered (that is, no
carpet, though ceramic and slate tiles are fine) and has an
insulation layer underneath. (As a point of interest, adding a brick
or stone feature in a place that will get direct sunlight has the same
effect, releasing stored heat as the interior temperature drops.)

Length of exposure to sun: A material with thermal mass needs
between three and six hours exposure to the suns heat to work
properly. Direct sunlight is twice as effective as diffuse light.

Colour: The colour of the material (the darker the better think
how white surfaces reflect light and are cool, while black surfaces
absorb light rapidly and heat up). White roofs are also beginning to
be encouraged as it can lower the temperature in a building in
summer.
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Walls
Walls are a major part of the building envelop, which are
exposed to external environment conditions (solar radiation,
outside air temperature, wind, precipitation).
The composition of a wall and thereby its heat-storing capacity
and heat- conduction property have a major impact on indoor
thermal comfort in naturally ventilated buildings and on cooling
loads in air-conditioned buildings.
The wall material, thickness, and finishes should be selected
according to the climate zone and buildings comfort
requirements.
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Finishes
The external finish of a surface determines the amount of heat
absorbed or rejected by it.
For example, a smooth and light- colored surface reflects more
light and heat in comparison to a dark surface.
Light colors have higher emissivity and hence should be
preferred in moderate climate zones,
The internal surfaces should also be finished in light colors, as
that helps in obtaining higher reflectance of light inside the
space

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Windows
Of all the elements of a building envelop windows and glazed areas
are most vulnerable to heat gains. Windows are required to bring
inside natural dayLight and wind; however, with light it also brings in
heat. Proper location, sizing and detailing of windows and the shading
form are therefore very important aspects in a solar-passive building
design. Hence, the window design has been detailed out as separate
guidelines, which should be referred separately.
North facades provide good access to strong illumination, but vary
throughout the day and require shading. South facades provide high-
quality, consistent daylight
with minimal heat gains, but thermal loss occurs on cooler days. East
and west facades also
require shading, but have to take account of lower sun angles

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large windows require more measures to control glare and heat gains
strip windows should be used as they provide a uniform distribution
of daylight
locating windows near room surfaces will provide good distribution as
these surfaces will help reflect and redistribute the daylight
glazing area should not be wasted where it cannot be seen, such as
below desk height, as it wastes energy, causes discomfort (especially
in winter), and provides little benefit.

Heat loss and gain can be controlled using insulated glazing units
(IGUs, commonly known as double glazing or triple glazing)
Tinted or coated glass such as low-emissivity glass can improve
thermal performance and/or reduce glare.
Timber and PVC frames provide better thermal insulation than
aluminium; where aluminium is used, the frame should incorporate a
thermal break: the air or gas between the panes stops the
conductive thermal energy from passing through the glass
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Heat transfer through windows can be reduced by using argon gas
between the panes of double glazing.
Argon gas is a low-cost, clear, non-toxic, naturally occurring gas with a
lower thermal conductance than air. Use of argon between glazing
panes instead of air can reduce the amount of heat conducted across
the gap and improve the R-value performance by approximately 15%.
Other benefits of insulated glazing units
In addition to improving the thermal performance of windows, IGUs
also provide other benefits such as reducing condensation, reducing
noise transmission, and reducing the need for drapes or curtains
(although these should still be installed for use on cold nights).
Tinted glazing
Metal oxides are added during manufacture to produce tinted glazing
panes. The solar control properties of tinted glazing operate on the
principle that darker colours absorb more heat than lighter colours, so
a dark tinted glazing will typically reach a higher temperature than a
light coloured tinted glazing.

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Reflective glazing
Reflective glazing, has coatings typically added to the surface of
glazing panes that have a higher reflectivity than standard glass.
The reflectivity can be tuned to selectively:
reflect short-wave solar radiation, or
reflect long-wave heat radiation.
Reflective coatings may be added to tinted glazing to further
enhance the solar control performance of the glazing.
The reflection is typically towards the side with brighter
illumination, so at night, the direction of the reflectivity can
change so that the reflection is to the interior.
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Low-E glazing
Low-E coatings are applied to the surface of glazing panes with
specific solar control properties.
A microscopically thin metallic coating is added to the glazing
surface, which lets light through but reflects short-wave infrared
radiation. This suppresses the radiant heat flow and lowers the U-
value of the glazing.
Converting one pane of a clear double-glazed IGU to low-E glazing
is approximately equivalent to adding a third clear pane.
Low-E coated glazing is generally clear, and different types of
coatings are available for high, moderate or low solar gain.
Low-E glazing is typically only used with insulated glazing units,
which provide protection to the coating from the possibility of
damage.
The low-E coating is either: on the cavity-face of the inside pane
to keep heat in (colder climate)on the cavity face of the outside
pane to keep heat out (warmer climate).
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Shading
Solar gains are required to reduce heating loads during winter
months, however, too much solar gain can result in
uncomfortable internal temperatures or increased cooling
energy if air-conditioning is installed. The shading design needs
to find the balance between the two,
normally through optimising the shading to eliminate summer
sun, while allowing winter sun to pass into the building. To
reduce heat gains, external shading devices are the best-
performing option;
internal shading slows heat down, reducing peak loads, but still
allows the majority of the suns heat into the space
Shading strategies generally fall into three categories:
landscaping. roof overhangs and exterior or interior shading
devices.
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In general, midday summer sun is not difficult to exclude
through windows that face within 20 of solar north. The suns
high angle means that it will not enter these windows during the
summer months if shaded by eaves or external shades.
It is more difficult to shade east and west faces as they receive
low morning and afternoon sun. Where low sun is a problem,
keep east and west facing glazing to a minimum.
Orientation Sun direction Time of day Type of shading
North High angle Middle of day Fixed or
adjustable above
window
East-west Low angle Morning/evening Adjustable
screens/shutters
NE/NW Low angle Morning/evening
(winter)
Adjustable
shading
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Providing shade over building openings and outdoor spaces can
reduce temperatures and save energy.
External shading
There are many options for external shade. Its important that
each is designed to take account of the sun paths at the site at
different times of the year.
To be effective, external shading must be considered along with
other passive design features such as location, orientation and
layout, window size and placement, and thermal mass.
Eaves
Eaves or other fixed overhangs are the simplest way to provide
protection against solar gain.
They must be sized correctly to exclude summer sun but still
admit winter sun.

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Awnings
Awnings reduce sun when they are in position. They should be
light in colour to deflect more heat. Retractable awnings will
admit sunlight when in retracted position.
Awnings may not be suitable in windy areas but motorised,
retractable awnings are available that can monitor wind levels
and retract when the wind strength gets too high.
Screens and shutters
Fixed and moveable screens and shutters are available in a
range of sizes and methods of operation including sliding,
hinged and bifolding.
The louvre panels may be fixed blade or operable. They provide
an excellent solution for low angle morning and evening sun as
they can be moved away to admit light when not required.
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Louvres
Horizontal, fixed louvres should be angled to the noon mid-
winter sun angle and be spaced correctly to admit winter sun.
Verandahs
Verandahs provide excellent shade. Deep verandahs are
particularly good for shading east and west facing elevations
although they will still admit very low angle sun. They can be
used in combination with planting or screens to filter sun.
Pergolas
Pergolas covered with deciduous vines provide very good
seasonal shading.
Trees and shrubs
Trees and shrubs provide excellent shading. Deciduous trees
provide shade in the summer and admit sun in the winter.

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Internal shading
Internal shading is less effective at reducing solar heat gain
than external shading because the solar radiation has
already come through the glass.
The shading absorbs the radiation, and while a small amount
of heat is reradiated back to the outside, most remains
within the interior space.
Internal shading can be a useful device when:
the sun penetrates for only a short time
heat build-up will not be a major problem
windows can be left open adjacent to them
it is required to reduce glare.

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Internal shading options
Curtains, when drawn, significantly reduce light but reduce heat
gain by only a small amount. They also reduce ventilation and
block views.
Venetian blinds and vertical blinds can be used to adjust the
amount of incoming light while retaining views but they reduce
heat gain by only a small amount.
Roller blinds and other types of window blinds reduce the light
admitted but also reduce the heat gain by only a small amount.
They may also reduce ventilation and block views but some
types of blinds provide two adjustments: one setting provides
partial light block-out, the other setting provides full block-out.
Blinds may be motorised for high level windows or roof lights.
They can be made from a range of sun filter fabrics to suit the
desired level of light, view and shading.
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Green roof concept
Green roofs have the potential to improve the thermal
performance of a roofing system through shading,
insulation, evapotranspiration and thermal mass, thus
reducing a buildings energy demand for space conditioning.
flic green roof moderates the heat flow through the roofing
system and helps in reducing the temperature fluctuations
due to the changing outside environment.
A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or
completely covered with vegetation and soil that is planted
over the waterproofing membrane.
If wide l used, green roofs can also reduce the problem of an
urban heat island, which would further reduce energy
consumption in urban areas.
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Cool roofs are roofs covered with a reflective coating that has
high emissivity property, which is very effective in reflecting the
suns energy away from tile roof surface.
These cool roofs are known to be cooler than normal roofs
under a hot summer day. This quality greatly helps in reducing
the cooling load that needs to be met by the HVAC system. A
combination of an insulated roof along with a cool roof has
higher energy-saving potential.
External shading of roofs
Shading of roofs through design features, like pergola or solar
photovoltaic panels, helps reduce the incident direct solar
radiation on the roof surface. This, in turn, helps to reduce the
air temperature of the roof and conduction gains in the space
below.

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ROOF INSULATION
Timber-framed roofs
Install ceiling space insulation between joists over the ceiling
lining where possible as this is where the greatest heat loss
occurs. A second layer should be laid over the framing to
reduce the effect of thermal bridging.
Skillion roofs (shed, flat, or lean-to roof)
For skillion roofs with exposed rafters, install insulation over
the ceiling lining between purlins purlins must be sized to
provide sufficient depth for the required thickness of
insulation plus a 25 mm minimum air gap between the
insulation and the flexible roofing underlay.
For skillion roofs with concealed rafters, install insulation
between rafters the combined rafter/purlin depth is likely
to be sufficient to ensure that a 25 mm minimum air gap is
achieved.
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VENTILATION AND PASSIVE COOLING
Ventilation is needed to remove pollutants such as moisture, volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxiode (CO2) from the
buildings internal environment. These pollutants arise from
household activities such as cooking, cleaning and heating, as well as
human activities such as smoking.
Ventilation is also useful for passive cooling
Passive ventilation
Passive (naturally occurring) ventilation is when air is exchanged in a
building through openings in the building envelope using the stack
and wind pressures. It is made up from two sources:
Controlled through openings such as windows and doors or purpose-
built small vents (such as trickle vents on some windows).
Uncontrolled by infiltration through unintentional openings such as
gaps around windows and doors and between building components.

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Air leakage can occur in many place
throughout a home.
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Active ventilation
Passive ventilation alone will not provide enough air exchange
to remove moisture from wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens
and laundries. In those situations, an air extraction system or
other form of active ventilation is needed to remove moisture.
Other forms of mechanical ventilation are also available and
may be useful if a building is very airtight, or security or other
concerns make a passive solution unviable. Heat recovery
systems in particular require very airtight buildings and user
education to work efficiently.

Naturally ventilated building recommendations
Long faade preferably towards northsouth
Eastwest faade to be shaded
Windows to be fully shaded
Roof to be insulated or to be shaded
Light color external finish.

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