The sun gives life to this planet and, if properly harnessed, it can provide plenty of energy and light. Unfortunately, using sunshine effectively is not as simple as just letting the sun shine. In the winter, we want more when there is less and in the summer we want less when there is more. It seems that these two goals are constantly reversed. Natural sunlight and solar heat gain used to be one of the most underused methods of heating a home, but that is changing.
One solution to reducing solar heat gain in the summer is planting trees. Using deciduous trees provides the benefit of natural shade in the summer and very little shading after the leaves fall in the autumn season. For some building owners trees may take too much time to grow to a sufficient size to offset massive cooling bills. They might desire more immediate solutions.
For property owners of existing structures, great strides can be made in energy efficiency without a remodel. Owners may receive many of the benefits of energy efficient new construction with simple aftermarket solutions. Some improvements include awnings, solar screens, reflective paints, cool roof coatings, insulated vinyl siding and aftermarket Low-E window treatments.
Today, green builders and architects utilize overhangs and passive shading to increase the energy efficiency of their designs. Overhangs are also very common in older homes, as well, but were originally only designed to keep rain and moisture away from the side of the building. Newer, more energy efficient designs consider the seasonal angle of the sun. In the summer, the overhang shades the windows and walls from direct sunlight thereby decreasing the solar heat gain. In the winter when the sun is lower in the sky, the overhang allows the sun to strike the side of the building and the windows thereby increasing solar heat gain in the colder months. Using these passive designs can drastically increase the energy efficiency of a home by decreasing the demands on the heating and cooling equipment (HVAC).
Natural Lighting
Another great way to be energy efficient is to not use any energy and all. The more a building utilizes natural sunlight the less it needs to rely on artificial lighting. Opening the blinds and letting the sunshine in is a great way to to reduce energy consumption. Cleaning windows and trimming overgrowth of the surrounding shrubbery can greatly benefit the natural lighting. If the budget allows, consider installing skylights or opting for solar tubes. If the budget won’t allow for these upgrades, dark rooms can be brightened up with a fresh coat of bright colored paint, bounce panels or even a mirror.
