Editing Passive solar building design (section)

{{Short description|Architectural engineering that uses the Sun's heat without electric or mechanical systems}}{{More citations needed|date=July 2023}}
[[File:Passive_Solar_Design.png|alt=Passive Solar Design|thumb|This image shows the characteristics of a Passive Solar home and its benefits.]]
In '''passive solar building design''', windows, walls, and floors are made to collect, store, reflect, and distribute [[solar energy]], in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer. This is called passive solar design because, unlike active [[solar heating]] systems, it does not involve the use of mechanical and electrical devices.{{Sfn|Doerr|2012}} 

The key to designing a passive solar building is to best take advantage of the local [[climate]] performing an accurate [[site analysis]]. Elements to be considered include window placement and size, and [[Glazing (window)|glazing]] type, [[thermal insulation]], [[thermal mass]], and shading.{{Sfn|Norton|2014}} Passive solar design techniques can be applied most easily to new buildings, but existing buildings can be adapted or "retrofitted".{{Sustainable energy}}