Abstract
Passive solar system design is an essential asset in a zero-energy building perspective to reduce heating, cooling, lighting, and ventilation loads. The integration of passive systems in building leads to a reduction of plant operation with considerable environmental benefits. The design can be related to intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence the final performance in a synergistic way. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive view of the elements that influence passive solar systems by means of an analysis of the theoretical background and the synergistic design of various solutions available. The paper quantifies the potential impact of influencing factors on the final performance and then investigates a case study of an existing public building, analyzing the effects of the integration of different passive systems through energy simulations. General investigation has highlighted that latitude and orientation impact energy saving on average by 3–13 and 6–11 percentage points, respectively. The case study showed that almost 20% of the building energy demand can be saved by means of passive solar systems. A higher contribution is given by mixing direct and indirect solutions, as half of the heating and around 25% of the cooling energy demand can be cut off.
Highlights
Energy use in the residential sector represents a great share of the global energy demand, attested between 20% and 40% of the total [1]
Due to the high number of variables defining the interaction of a building and a passive solar system, results from a specific case study or measurement from experimental activity cannot be generalized without proper assumptions
Passive solar systems hide a huge potential as energy saving measures for buildings
Summary
Energy use in the residential sector represents a great share of the global energy demand, attested between 20% and 40% of the total [1]. These data highlight the core role that solar energy plays in building design in the near future: by properly combining photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, solar energy can provide at least 76% of the primary energy demand of a residential building, with a short payback period [7]
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