Does a passive solar house include solar hot water?

There are two main types of solar panels – panels or collectors that convert the sun’s heat into hot water and panels that convert sunlight to electricity (photovoltaic cells). These are active (not passive) methods of providing free energy from the sun after initial cost outlay, ‘Passive solar design’ is utilises careful design of the actual building design to make use of winter warming sun penetration, whilst shading the windows and walls in the hotter months.

However, we actively encourage the installation of solar hot water heating and consideration of solar photovoltaic panels, as they are some of the most effective ways to reduce your environmental footprint.