Passive Solar Energy Techniques
Incorporating Passive Solar Energy Techniques in Texas
 What
you do to incorporate these techniques in the Texas Hill Country
is different than in other climates and latitudes. Knowing
the technology is far less rare than knowing how to adapt
it effectively and aesthetically with custom residential design.
Architectural design interprets and integrates
these techniques to improve the way a house looks and works.
The techniques save money by realizing energy efficiency and
increase the comfort of living. This results in adding value
to the construction project. This results in making money
on the resale!
Typically, the summer solstice is around
June 19th. In our latitude the sun reaches its highest point
in the sky at around 1:32 PM (adjusted for daylight savings
time), at 87 degrees above the horizon. This day the sun will
rise 15 degrees north of due east at 6:30 AM and set 15 degrees
north of due west at 8:35 PM. It is the day with the longest
daylight of the year for our hemisphere. December 21st is
the winter solstice; the day we have the least daylight when
the sun reaches the opposite extreme. It will only rise 33
degrees above the horizon at 12:32 PM, while rising 15 degrees
south of due east at 7:01 AM and setting 15 degrees south
of due west at 5:56 PM.
 If
you do not fully understand how to incorporate this information
into your new custom residence design do not be worried. Most
importantly, do not dismiss this information as insignificant.
Simply hire an architect with expertise and experience in
passive solar energy design.
With his use of sun angle charts, your architect
will be able to design your residence with full knowledge
and understanding of where the sun is every day of the year
and every hour of the day. He will know how to incorporate
passive solar heating in the winter to reduce your use of
fossil fuel forced air heating. Your architect will utilize
passive cooling in the warmer months through the use of shading
devices such as properly designed overhangs, fin walls, solar
louvers and brise-soleil. He will also use the principles
of convection and solar siphoning to stimulate natural cross
ventilation. [+]
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