Blog » Photovoltaics

8 Key Lessons to Optimize Solar Design for Net Zero Energy Houses

Shawna HendersonSeptember 19, 2024

By using better envelopes and windows, building designers can reduce energy loads and avoid overheating, leading to a more comfortable and energy-efficient living space. We can optimize the power of the sun to provide energy in several ways. That means two primary goals need to be met: Passive solar design that bakes in the best strategies to collect, store, and distribute heat. Active solar energy systems that provide electrical or thermal energy (or even both!). Introduction to Renewables in Housing covers the fundamentals of both goals. Whether you’re a builder, renovator, or designer, working in the industry, or a homeowner looking to get the best out of your major investment, this course is for you! The two-module course is a comprehensive overview of the key principles and strategies involved in achieving the twin goals of minimizing energy loads and maximizing energy production.

Know the issues around Solar Ready in your area

Shawna HendersonDecember 08, 2014

Solar ready sounds pretty groovy. But what does it mean? There is no uniform definition. At one level, it applies to minor changes in the design and construction of individual houses or buildings to ‘rough-in’ the necessary elements to accommodate a future photovoltaic (PV) or solar hot water (SHW) system....