Solar Power
One way to make your home more sustainable is by the use of solar power.
Passive solar design tries to optimise the amount of energy that can be derived directly from the sun. Careful planning of buildings to collect heat and light from the Sun reduces the need for heating systems and artificial light. Similarly, careful consideration of building materials and fabric can help to further reduce the need for ventilation.
Passive solar houses are designed to let in heat during the winter months and shield from the Sun during the summer. This can be achieved using deciduous trees or bushes to the south of the buildings. During the summer, the leaves on these trees block out a lot of the suns and unwanted heat. These trees lose their leaves in the winter, allowing an increase in the solar gain during the colder days.
Simple features can be incorporated at the design stage such as large south-facing windows and building materials (thermal mass) that absorb and slowly release the Suns' heat.