As the topic of ways to save energy rises, many are now wondering how to make their homes more energy efficient. If
you’re interested in building an energy-efficient home from the ground up, then perhaps a passive solar home is for
you. 

Defining a passive solar home system

So, what is a passive solar home? This style of housing utilizes surfaces within and around the property to collect,
allot and minimize energy usage in the most efficient way. 

Homeowners can save an estimated 20 percent on their energy bills just through the use of certain building materials
and window placement.

How the design works 

Typically, these homes are built with apertures; south-facing windows to collect heat during the colder months.
Materials such as brick, stone and concrete are used to build the structure of the home to externally absorb warmth
during heating seasons and keep the internal temperature toasty when it becomes cold outside. 

Structures such as roof overhangs are installed to provide shade over the apertures when it becomes hot outside.
These overhangs provide non-electronic temperature control. 

How to add passive solar features to your current home

If you would like to make your current home more energy efficient, consider starting off by installing skylight
windows to your roof. This allows more natural lighting into your home during the day which may reduce the need for
the use of lighting fixtures. 

You can also paint your roof a light shade which makes the surface more reflective to bounce UV rays away from your
home which can decrease the use of AC in summer. This in turn can save you plenty of money on your energy
bill. 

Passive solar energy homes not only saves you money, but also is a great step towards being more environmentally
friendly.