Passive Solar Homes

A "passive" solar house keeps the home warm in the winter by storing and distributing the sun's heat and cool in the summer by blocking the sun's ray. A comfortable indoor temperature is maintained without the use of mechanical equipment. For passive heating and cooling, the plan of the house, careful site selection and planning, construction materials, building features and other aspects of the home must be carefully considered before design even begins. Passive solar houses can be built in any architectural style and in any part of the country. Below are some passive solar homes related to NREL's research.

Grand Canyon House

South Rim Grand Canyon, Arizona

Structural insulated panels (SIPs), a Trombe wall, and an integrated mechanical system are a few of this building's energy-efficient features. More.

Konove-Ravetto Residence

Pittsboro, North Carolina

Appropriately placed overhangs and thermal mass help this home to be 66% more efficient than other conventional homes in the area. More.

Tierra I Concrete Homes

Pueblo, Colorado

These homes are designed with passive solar concepts that maximize daylighting and solar gains. The walls are made entirely out of concrete with insulation and stucco applied to the exterior surface. More.

Van Geet Residence

Idaho Springs, Colorado

The Van Geet residence is a 3,781-ft² (including garage) two-story house located 9,200 ft above sea level. The house is completely grid-independent (no power is supplied by the local electric company). More.

Habitat-Earth Smart House

Denver, Colorado

Habitat for Humanity's Denver affiliate built an "Earth Smart" house in early 1997 with the goal of creating a low-energy and cost-affordable house. The 1,104-ft², single-story, three-bedroom house features a sun-tempered design and a well-insulated thermal envelope. More.