Switch to solar with a system built for you. There isn’t a strict definition for what makes a home "solar" — it just has to use energy from the sun in some capacity. If you’re building a new home, it ...

A passive solar-heated home needs no solar panels to heat or cool it. Rather, the energy used to heat and cool a house comes directly from the sun through skylights and windows. Some of that energy is ...

Switch to solar with a system built for you. Since ancient times, people have found ways to use the sun’s heat to stay warm or keep cool. They built homes from clay and other materials that hold heat ...

Summary Windows are among the most desirable features of most building types, welcoming in natural light, linking to the outdoors, and serving as an attractive aesthetic. Along with doors, however, ...

Passive solar architecture is a design strategy that optimizes a building’s energy efficiency and long-term sustainability. By relying on a building site’s solar orientation and climate, sustainable ...

David Kuchta, Ph.D. has 10 years of experience in gardening and has read widely in environmental history and the energy transition. An environmental activist since the 1970s, he is also a historian, ...

Heating houses is a major energy suck. Behind passenger cars and trucking, it’s the largest energy draw in the United States. But it turns out homeowners looking to stay warm don’t need to rely just ...

The passive-house building standard relies on lots of insulation and intentional design to use as little energy as possible for heating and cooling. "Things like 'passive house' have become more ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Jamie Gold writes about wellness design and related housing topics. We’re an active, dynamic, movement-focused and energized ...

Beyond the appearance, there are other features that can take your home to the next level. Quiet luxury isn't just about how your home looks; it's also about how it feels. First and foremost, your ...

Benjamin Banneker High School in Washington, D.C., designed by Perkins Eastman, is LEED Platinum–certified and one of the most energy-efficient high schools in the U.S. (Courtesy Perkins ...

Passive solar design is nothing new — it has probably been around as long as people have been building houses — and it has nothing to do with solar panels. It’s all about creating a comfortable space ...