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!

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

Thanks for mentioning NAEBRS. It is shaping up to be an epic meeting. We have MANY of our passive solar pioneers attending. Really looking forward to it, including your presentation on solar cookers.

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M Keith Sharp
Emeritus Professor
Louisville KY
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-28-2025 09:37 AM
From: Luther Krueger
Subject: Should ASES be educating more about efficiency-first building strategies?

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]
------------------------------

Absolutely. Even though the cost of going solar is at historic low, greater efficiency should always be the starting point. From an architectural perspective, designs incorporating super insulation, thermal mass and passive solar not only save energy, but are more comfortable to live in and can be extraordinarily beautiful. That said, not everyone can afford to start from the ground up. To make solar widely adopted, we need a big tent - or maybe something better insulated.....

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Tracy Dahl
Retired
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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..

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william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
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Latest data says to Go Electric no matter what to sop the fossil flow. Switching to an induction stove, EVs and heat pumps (include ground source and thermal) as they drop the energy demand. 

For the 1 plate induction burner there's no option except digital. Get the "knob" style cooktop. I have both and much prefer the simple round dial to move the temperature up or down. Digital is a press and wait and guess flop. Use a magnet to check your old pots and pans. Cast iron and the black Granite Wear we all like for solar cooking works! It's made in Mexico, super cheap and will go from solar cooker to induction no problem. 

Deep energy retrofits on older buildings are still more sustainable than building new. I've enjoyed living with the new insulation and caulking of our 1851 carriage house/barn. The shutters work with the whisper screens, too.. Another friend has the Velcro inside storms on her historic windows. With geothermal she never opens a window. She says, "Next house no vent hood". I know exactly what she means. 

Is it possible the USA needs more trained insulators? Yes. And we need to manufacture our own blown in cellulose. 

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Wyldon Fishman
President and Founder
New York Solar Energy Society (NYSES)
Bronx NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-29-2025 09:03 AM
From: william fitch
Subject: Should ASES be educating more about efficiency-first building strategies?

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..

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william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
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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.

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M Keith Sharp
Emeritus Professor
Louisville KY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-29-2025 09:03 AM
From: william fitch
Subject: Should ASES be educating more about efficiency-first building strategies?

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..

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william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
------------------------------

I would not want to see the price tag on an extreme retro. There is a simple truth in the building trades. If the remodel gets to big, its cheaper to knock it down and go from scratch. Its just labor reality. Small to moderate though can be well worth it.

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william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-02-2025 09:43 AM
From: M Keith Sharp
Subject: Should ASES be educating more about efficiency-first building strategies?

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.

------------------------------
M Keith Sharp
Emeritus Professor
Louisville KY
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 08-29-2025 09:03 AM
From: william fitch
Subject: Should ASES be educating more about efficiency-first building strategies?

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..

------------------------------
william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com

ASES would seem to be an appropriate place for an archive of examples of successful ambient-conditioned buildings. Complete specs and construction details are necessary, but performance results would make the archive more useful. We need examples across all climates.

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M Keith Sharp
Emeritus Professor
Louisville KY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-29-2025 09:03 AM
From: william fitch
Subject: Should ASES be educating more about efficiency-first building strategies?

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..

------------------------------
william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
------------------------------

We should acknowledge that Green Home Institute is doing good work engaging designers and builders with their videos, including some on ambient heating and cooling. We just need more! 

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M Keith Sharp
Emeritus Professor
Louisville KY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-29-2025 09:03 AM
From: william fitch
Subject: Should ASES be educating more about efficiency-first building strategies?

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..

------------------------------
william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
------------------------------

It is also true that builders tend to charge more for things that they are not familiar with and are not particularly interested in doing. Insulation is not one of the expensive building materials. With training and buy-in from builders, the whole job does not have to be expensive.

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M Keith Sharp
Emeritus Professor
Louisville KY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-29-2025 09:03 AM
From: william fitch
Subject: Should ASES be educating more about efficiency-first building strategies?

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..

------------------------------
william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
------------------------------

ASES could and should do more to promote ambient-conditioned buildings. Just got the "Highlights and Insights from Solar 2025" newsletter. No mention of passive solar, passive cooling or anything related to ambient energy for buildings. What do we need to do to change this?

------------------------------
M Keith Sharp
Emeritus Professor
Louisville KY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-29-2025 09:03 AM
From: william fitch
Subject: Should ASES be educating more about efficiency-first building strategies?

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..

------------------------------
william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
------------------------------

Yes absolutely.  As an owner and builder of a passive solar and well insulated home it definitely makes a difference.  With our 9.5kW solar system we have enough to power our home AND vehicles.

Energy efficient appliances like inverter driven heat pump and a heat pump water heater help along with all LED lighting.   I talk about this in my book "Driving to Net 0 - Stories of Hope for a Carbon Free Future"     Driving to Net 0: Stories of Hope for a Carbon Free Future

Amazon		remove preview
Driving to Net 0: Stories of Hope for a Carbon Free Future Scientists say we need to reduce our use of fossil fuels by 80% or more to avert the most dangerous effects of global warming. But is such a drastic cut possible without totally disrupting our lifestyle? The short answer is yes as the contributors of this book have shown. View this on Amazon >

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David Hrivnak
SalesEngineering
EcoLogical part time
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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. 

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M Keith Sharp
Emeritus Professor
Louisville KY
------------------------------

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). 

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Baker Makarem
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-02-2025 10:00 AM
From: M Keith Sharp
Subject: Should ASES be educating more about efficiency-first building strategies?

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. 

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M Keith Sharp
Emeritus Professor
Louisville KY
------------------------------

There is a bit of a yin-yang in what you say. You always try and be efficient first, because it usually has the best ROI over production. Given that, the number of panels will determine when you reach net zero. I now have 54 - 327W gening about 23-24MWH's a year. I am basically net zero depending on the year. I will be adding 7KW more for the slam dunk, reaching over 30MWH's a year. I am all electric.

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william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-29-2025 07:36 AM
From: Baker Makarem
Subject: Should ASES be educating more about efficiency-first building strategies?

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). 

------------------------------
Baker Makarem
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 09-02-2025 10:00 AM
From: M Keith Sharp
Subject: Should ASES be educating more about efficiency-first building strategies?

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. 

------------------------------
M Keith Sharp
Emeritus Professor
Louisville KY