Nothing but the Sun

If any type of building embodies the American ethos of independence and provides a practical blueprint for throwing off the chains of energy dependency, it’s passive solar design. Popular in Europe and gaining traction in the United States, passive solar construction incorporates specific siting, the innovative use of materials, and deceptively simple building techniques to create habitats that, when it comes to energy consumption, sip rather than guzzle. With the addition of solar panels, a passive solar building can effectively reduce its need for additional fuel sources and its carbon emissions to zero.

Photos by Deborah DeGraffenreid