Everything Solar Forum

Hi members.

While we know that a more energy-efficient building or home will require fewer PV panels, I am curious if you think ASES should be encouraging and educating on efficiency-first building strategies, including passive solar (both heating and cooling)? 

Are there other organizations that you think are already doing an adequate job of building-related education?

Should the online forum be posting more educational information?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

------------------------------
Debbie Coleman
(Architect & ASES Solar Buildings Chair)
Sun Plans, Architect
debra28@sunplans.com
https://www.sunplans.com
------------------------------

Trick question? LOL  Answers: Yes, Yes, Yes.

The recently posted NAEBRS conference would be a good place for gathering the best education components about efficiency-first solar strategies for buildings. 

As a maniac for solar thermal cooking, it would be great if ASES members could post their experience, questions and learnings here. I'll be talking about the practical addition of solar cookers to actual buildings, at the NAEBRS conference, but it would also be great to hear how people have incorporated solar thermal cooking into actual homes, apartment buildings, office complexes...

Short of that, at least, bookmark the best source for solar cooking DIY designs, manufactured models available for purchase, groups that are promoting and distributing solar cookers, and events promoting solar cooking at large:  SolarCooking.org (which directs you to SolarCooking.Fandom.com) This wiki was assembled decades ago and continues to be updated by Solar Cookers International staff and volunteers. Do not google "solar cooking" to learn about solar cooking! Bookmark this link, if you are at all serious about solar thermal cooking. You can also bookmark and join The Solar Cookers World Network to hear from and converse with the worldwide network of solar cooks.

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Luther Krueger
Curator Maximo
Museum of Solar Cooking, Minneapolis
Minneapolis MN
[EmailAddress]

Original Message:
Sent: 08-27-2025 03:29 PM
From: Debbie Coleman
Subject: Should ASES be educating more about efficiency-first building strategies?

Hi members.

While we know that a more energy-efficient building or home will require fewer PV panels, I am curious if you think ASES should be encouraging and educating on efficiency-first building strategies, including passive solar (both heating and cooling)? 

Are there other organizations that you think are already doing an adequate job of building-related education?

Should the online forum be posting more educational information?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

------------------------------
Debbie Coleman
(Architect & ASES Solar Buildings Chair)
Sun Plans, Architect
debra28@sunplans.com
https://www.sunplans.com
------------------------------

Hi members.

While we know that a more energy-efficient building or home will require fewer PV panels, I am curious if you think ASES should be encouraging and educating on efficiency-first building strategies, including passive solar (both heating and cooling)? 

Are there other organizations that you think are already doing an adequate job of building-related education?

Should the online forum be posting more educational information?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Hi members.

While we know that a more energy-efficient building or home will require fewer PV panels, I am curious if you think ASES should be encouraging and educating on efficiency-first building strategies, including passive solar (both heating and cooling)? 

Are there other organizations that you think are already doing an adequate job of building-related education?

Should the online forum be posting more educational information?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Extreme insulation and related designs are only really possible with new construction. Retro which is most housing lends itself better to adding production, but also should not ignore insulation and air infiltration. PV can be added with almost zero invasiveness to the interior of the home. The others can be from minor invasiveness to extreme. Each case needs to be judged on its own when it comes to retro., changes to existing housing..

Hi members.

While we know that a more energy-efficient building or home will require fewer PV panels, I am curious if you think ASES should be encouraging and educating on efficiency-first building strategies, including passive solar (both heating and cooling)? 

Are there other organizations that you think are already doing an adequate job of building-related education?

Should the online forum be posting more educational information?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Extreme insulation and related designs are only really possible with new construction. Retro which is most housing lends itself better to adding production, but also should not ignore insulation and air infiltration. PV can be added with almost zero invasiveness to the interior of the home. The others can be from minor invasiveness to extreme. Each case needs to be judged on its own when it comes to retro., changes to existing housing..

Hi members.

While we know that a more energy-efficient building or home will require fewer PV panels, I am curious if you think ASES should be encouraging and educating on efficiency-first building strategies, including passive solar (both heating and cooling)? 

Are there other organizations that you think are already doing an adequate job of building-related education?

Should the online forum be posting more educational information?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

While some retrofits are more challenging than others, the broad generalization that ambient conditioning is only possible for new construction is not true. In fact, Phius has a program specifically for retrofits https://www.phius.org/standards/retrofit. Phius does super insulation really well, so thermal mass and the right amount of solar gains may also need to be added. Lack of solar access is a deal-breaker, but that applies to PV as well. For homeowners who are fed up with their leaky, low-performance windows, it is a great time to consider a full ambient retrofit with added exterior insulation.

Extreme insulation and related designs are only really possible with new construction. Retro which is most housing lends itself better to adding production, but also should not ignore insulation and air infiltration. PV can be added with almost zero invasiveness to the interior of the home. The others can be from minor invasiveness to extreme. Each case needs to be judged on its own when it comes to retro., changes to existing housing..

Hi members.

While we know that a more energy-efficient building or home will require fewer PV panels, I am curious if you think ASES should be encouraging and educating on efficiency-first building strategies, including passive solar (both heating and cooling)? 

Are there other organizations that you think are already doing an adequate job of building-related education?

Should the online forum be posting more educational information?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Extreme insulation and related designs are only really possible with new construction. Retro which is most housing lends itself better to adding production, but also should not ignore insulation and air infiltration. PV can be added with almost zero invasiveness to the interior of the home. The others can be from minor invasiveness to extreme. Each case needs to be judged on its own when it comes to retro., changes to existing housing..

Hi members.

While we know that a more energy-efficient building or home will require fewer PV panels, I am curious if you think ASES should be encouraging and educating on efficiency-first building strategies, including passive solar (both heating and cooling)? 

Are there other organizations that you think are already doing an adequate job of building-related education?

Should the online forum be posting more educational information?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Extreme insulation and related designs are only really possible with new construction. Retro which is most housing lends itself better to adding production, but also should not ignore insulation and air infiltration. PV can be added with almost zero invasiveness to the interior of the home. The others can be from minor invasiveness to extreme. Each case needs to be judged on its own when it comes to retro., changes to existing housing..

Hi members.

While we know that a more energy-efficient building or home will require fewer PV panels, I am curious if you think ASES should be encouraging and educating on efficiency-first building strategies, including passive solar (both heating and cooling)? 

Are there other organizations that you think are already doing an adequate job of building-related education?

Should the online forum be posting more educational information?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Extreme insulation and related designs are only really possible with new construction. Retro which is most housing lends itself better to adding production, but also should not ignore insulation and air infiltration. PV can be added with almost zero invasiveness to the interior of the home. The others can be from minor invasiveness to extreme. Each case needs to be judged on its own when it comes to retro., changes to existing housing..

Hi members.

While we know that a more energy-efficient building or home will require fewer PV panels, I am curious if you think ASES should be encouraging and educating on efficiency-first building strategies, including passive solar (both heating and cooling)? 

Are there other organizations that you think are already doing an adequate job of building-related education?

Should the online forum be posting more educational information?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Extreme insulation and related designs are only really possible with new construction. Retro which is most housing lends itself better to adding production, but also should not ignore insulation and air infiltration. PV can be added with almost zero invasiveness to the interior of the home. The others can be from minor invasiveness to extreme. Each case needs to be judged on its own when it comes to retro., changes to existing housing..

Hi members.

While we know that a more energy-efficient building or home will require fewer PV panels, I am curious if you think ASES should be encouraging and educating on efficiency-first building strategies, including passive solar (both heating and cooling)? 

Are there other organizations that you think are already doing an adequate job of building-related education?

Should the online forum be posting more educational information?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Hi members.

While we know that a more energy-efficient building or home will require fewer PV panels, I am curious if you think ASES should be encouraging and educating on efficiency-first building strategies, including passive solar (both heating and cooling)? 

Are there other organizations that you think are already doing an adequate job of building-related education?

Should the online forum be posting more educational information?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

------------------------------
Debbie Coleman
(Architect & ASES Solar Buildings Chair)
Sun Plans, Architect
debra28@sunplans.com
https://www.sunplans.com
------------------------------

Hi members.

While we know that a more energy-efficient building or home will require fewer PV panels, I am curious if you think ASES should be encouraging and educating on efficiency-first building strategies, including passive solar (both heating and cooling)? 

Are there other organizations that you think are already doing an adequate job of building-related education?

Should the online forum be posting more educational information?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

It is important to remember that fixed slope PV only produces strongly for a few hours around solar noon. At other times, you are likely using utility electricity, which is on average 60% from fossil fuels in the US. Utility PV also only produces when the sun is out, so this percentage is probably higher when, for instance, you use your non-solar oven during the evening. Net zero is not enough. Electrification is not equivalent to decarbonization.  Using as little utility electricity as possible is the appropriate goal. 

Hi members.

While we know that a more energy-efficient building or home will require fewer PV panels, I am curious if you think ASES should be encouraging and educating on efficiency-first building strategies, including passive solar (both heating and cooling)? 

Are there other organizations that you think are already doing an adequate job of building-related education?

Should the online forum be posting more educational information?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

I agree on this. Reaching net 0 is difficult nowadays, but eventually we will get closer with Load management systems for homes, Power Control Systems (PCS) that will help use our energy efficiently.  My perspective of PV in a grid tied scenario is not how much you export, is how much you have self consumed without changing your consumption behavior. (it doesn't mean, now that you have solar you can have your Christmas lights on through June, LoL). 

It is important to remember that fixed slope PV only produces strongly for a few hours around solar noon. At other times, you are likely using utility electricity, which is on average 60% from fossil fuels in the US. Utility PV also only produces when the sun is out, so this percentage is probably higher when, for instance, you use your non-solar oven during the evening. Net zero is not enough. Electrification is not equivalent to decarbonization.  Using as little utility electricity as possible is the appropriate goal. 

Hi members.

While we know that a more energy-efficient building or home will require fewer PV panels, I am curious if you think ASES should be encouraging and educating on efficiency-first building strategies, including passive solar (both heating and cooling)? 

Are there other organizations that you think are already doing an adequate job of building-related education?

Should the online forum be posting more educational information?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!