Generally speaking, passive solar means using energy directly from the environment for heating and cooling purposes without first turning it into electricity. S

Generally speaking, passive solar means using energy directly from the environment for heating and cooling purposes without first turning it into electricity. So, passive solar water heaters can use black painted copper piping to heat water directly with sunlight, no electricity required. Wind is caused by solar energy and can have a cooling effect without first being converted to electricity. Etc. When done right, it is vastly more efficient and has far fewer side effects in terms of things like waste heat.