ABSTRACT
This section examines a selection of strategies for designing very low energy housing towards the goal of achieving sustainability.
The first set of strategies address energy. The objective of the first energy strategy is simple: need as little as possible to provide comfort. Energy not needed is the most ecological energy, so first priority goes to conservation. The energy still needed, after building a highly insulated tight envelope and recovering heat otherwise lost, should ideally be provided from renewable energy sources. Accordingly, the next strategies are targeted at maximizing the use of ‘free’ energy: passive solar gains, daylight and active solar thermal systems. These sources can cover all remaining demand but it is more economical to cover the last small fraction by conventional means as efficiently as possible.
