WHAT IS "PASSIVE SOLAR STRATEGY?"
In New York, the arc of the sun passes significantly higher in the sky during the summer months than it does
in the winter. Because of that, custom homes can be designed with overhangs that are calibrated to block
direct sunlight in the summer months yet allow the low winter sun to naturally warm the home. This simple
design solution will positively impact energy costs in all seasons.
The term "passive solar strategy" means that, once the home is built, there are no systems that need to be
active for this strategy to benefit the home's energy consumption. The home is simply in unison with the sun's
natural path.
HOW DOES IT EFFECT HOME COSTS?
Addressing the sun's natural path can be done in a number of ways, from simple awnings to intricate
cantilevered volumes. Our architectural design process will weigh your budget against the numerous methods for
creating these solar shading systems and propose a solution that works for you.
Because of the enormous impact that this will have on the long-term energy consumption and expenses, this is
an option that we feel is necessary to include in some way on every home we design. This, along with many
other design decisions, is what makes our homes more efficient than standard building techniques.