Passive solar design takes advantage of the sun to heat and light a home, and natural wind ventilation and strategic shading for cooling, thereby reducing the need for mechanical heating and cooling -- effectively giving you free energy. Through design strategies (building orientation, room orientation, and building shape), window sizes, shading, locations, and materials (heat absorbing materials like concrete, brick, and stone in the path of the sun), passive solar strategies collect and distribute the sun’s energy naturally. A good resource for basic information on Passive Solar Design in homes can be found at the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Passive Solar website Passive Solar for Residential Buildings

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