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Almost all examples I've seen of passive solar design assume that a new building is being built, and often use unconventional techniques and materials. I've see
by 0xcde4c3db 9y ago
Almost all examples I've seen of passive solar design assume that a new building is being built, and often use unconventional techniques and materials. I've seen a smattering of retrofit examples, but get the impression that they're pretty expensive relative to the results. Are there proven, economical approaches for existing buildings, especially those for which renovations are subject to building codes?
- Mz 9y agoI don't have firsthand experience, but I know some techniques can be retrofit. Low hanging fruit includes landscaping to provide shade in summer and a wind break in winter. Here are a couple of articles found with a quick google that look pretty solid at first glance: http://www.motherearthnews.com/green-homes/passive-solar-home-zmaz80mazraw http://www.motherearthnews.com/green-homes/passive-solar-hom... https://www.homepower.com/articles/home-efficiency/design-construction/passive-solar-retrofit https://www.homepower.com/articles/home-efficiency/design-co...
- dsfyu404ed 9y agoWind breaks suck for shoveling snow. They become perpetual snow drifts.
- posguy 9y agoUse it where it makes sense, this isn't hard to plan out and think ahead. For example, you could landscape this way all over Seattle or Portland, and in most of Hood River, OR as the wind is only consistently strong in small areas in the winter. Also, no reason you can't plant or prune existing trees/shrubbery such that they don't become a blocker for snow, we do it all the time out in Eastern Oregon. A little forethought goes a long way.
- sapote 9y agoSimple but incomplete solution: plant a deciduous tree on the sunny side(s) of your house.