Passive solar heating methods for energy efficient architecture

Abstract

The likely increase in global warming over the coming century means that designers will require greater creative skills and better understanding of building performance in order to ensure that low energy and passive buildings can continue to meet end-user needs and expectations. The priority is to find alternative, preferably 'natural' means of achieving benign environmental conditions. Energy efficiency in architecture, and as one important factor in this area the natural ventilation, present important ways of "Climate conscious" design and the reduction of energy consumption in buildings. In this paper are presented the main objectives and the view into past and present methods and concepts of passive solar heating adapted in the building sector, to assure comfort for the users together with the most effective methods of energy efficiency in buildings. Various concepts for passive solar heating are discussed with specific architectural design possibilities, including executed projects in the field.