Passive Solar Design
Students learn about passive solar design for buildingsCopyright https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Solar_energy#/media/File:Technische_Universit%C3%A4t_Darmstadt_-_Solar_Decathlon_2007.jpg
Students are introduced to passive solar design for buildings — an approach that uses the sun's energy and the surrounding climate to provide natural heating and cooling. They learn about some of the disadvantages of conventional heating and cooling and how engineers incorporate passive solar designs into our buildings for improved efficiency.
A widespread interest in passive solar design is growing as energy costs increase and the realities of global climate change become apparent. Organizations, companies, schools and families are looking to engineers to make it happen. Civil engineers study and design the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in existing and newly-constructed buildings, suggesting ways to incorporate more passive solar design techniques to lower costs and energy use, minimize maintenance, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide comfortable indoor environments for people.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Describe drawbacks to standard heating and cooling appliances.
- Define passive solar design.
- Identify a few different passive solar design techniques.
- Describe the role that engineers play in passive solar design.