ABSTRACT
Passive architecture has been part of architecture from the beginning. There have been historical periods of very sophisticated passive design followed by periods of neglect, but overall there has been a gradual evolution of our abilities to develop buildings that passively respond to the heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation needs of the occupants. This evolution has gained speed with the development of material technology, the rise in the cost of fossil fuels and the ability to model building performance. The most recent evolution has been accompanied by an enlargement of the functions that passive buildings can accomplish. The elementary relationships between energy production, use and efficiency are the first considerations in passive solar design. The industrial society has so isolated production and use that very few people think about their use of energy. Another unique character of passive solar architecture is the goal in regard to interior air temperatures.
