Summary: Passive solar design has been a part of home design for millenia, however, with the advent of cheap energy for heating and cooling systems and rising urbanization and then suburban sprawl, many simple passive techniques have been forgotten.
Passive Solar Design
- The Greeks in 5th century B.C. designed all homes with shelter to the North and openings to the South that take advantage of the winter sun.
- The ancient Romans, in the 1st century B.C. improved upon the Greek design by covering windows with mica or glass and by creating sun-rights laws that prohibited builders from blocking winter sun to other buildings.
- Native Americans in the Southwestern United States built their homes in East-West rows with spacing that prevents winter shading.
- Early New England homes were built in the \"salt box\" style that had two stories on the South wall, with vines to provide summer shading and only one story on the North wall, with a steeply sloped roof to protect from Winter winds.