passive cooling

The coming energy crisis caused by a peak in global oil and natural gas production will profoundly affect the lives of all North Americans. As the price of these vital fuels rises, homeowners will scramble to cut their fuel bills. Two options for meeting the upcoming challenge are dramatic improvements in home energy efficiency and efforts to tap into clean, affordable, renewable energy resources to heat and cool homes, to provide hot water and electricity, and even to cook. These measures can result in huge savings and a level of energy independence.

• accessible guide
• coming energy
• electricity electricity
• energy conservation
• energy option
• home energy efficiency
• homeowner
• hot water
• hydrogen fuel cells
• methane digesters
• passive cooling
• renewable energy options
• renewable energy systems
• wind generated electricity
• wood heat

Passive solar heating and passive cooling--approaches known as natural conditioning--provide comfort throughout the year by reducing, or eliminating, the need for fossil fuel. Yet while heat from sunlight and ventilation from breezes is free for the taking, few modern architects or builders really understand the principles involved. Now Dan Chiras, author of the popular book The Natural House, brings those principles up to date for a new generation of solar enthusiasts. The techniques required to heat and cool a building passively have been used for thousands of years.

• ancient greeks
• easier than ever
• egregious
• energy efficiency measures
• fossil fuel
• insulation
• modern architects
• natural processes
• oil embargoes
• passive cooling
• passive solar heating
• principles
• scant knowledge
• solar architecture
• solar designs
• solar enthusiasts
• solar house
• thermal mass
• windows and skylights