CHAPTER 21 I PASSIVE DESIGN Orientation ACTIVITIES


Sketch the orientation of your home (check it using the Google Earth app). Then make a neat sketch of the internal layout of the ground floor of your home. Highlight the areas of the floor plan that benefit from solar gain.


 as the sun tracks across the sky. This is especially important during the cold winter months when the sun angle is low and the daylight hours are reduced.


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 Overheating and shading devices


Buildings that are designed to harness solar energy have the potential to overheat in the summer. This issue is addressed at the design stage. For example, if a building is being designed to the Passivhaus standard, a software tool called the Passivhaus Planning Package allows the designer to accurately calculate whether the building will overheat and to design preventative measures.


Shading devices are used to control solar gain through south-facing glazing during the summer.    can be used to the east and west. However, planting does not work on the south side of a building because the sun angle is too high. High thermal insulation of the building fabric also helps to keep the building cool during summer.


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