ABSTRACT
Based on the information obtained in the EU Solgain project, the passive solar gains to cover the heat demand of the existing European housing stock have been determined. A comparison with official energy statistics shows that the value of passive solar gains is not considered and therefore the solar contribution is not counted in its true dimensions. The chapter is organized into four subsections. Physical fundamentals of passive solar heating are covered in the second subsection. The third subsection summarizes the results of a European project on the quantification of passive solar heating in the existing building stock. The fourth subsection illustrates the state of the art of passive solar heating in high-performance housing as given by an analysis of demonstration buildings within an ongoing International Energy Agency (IEA) activity. The final section focuses on future perspectives for related materials and technologies with strategic importance for the subject of passive solar heating.
