Even diehard Instagrammers admit it: Sometimes the best design is in what you don’t see. Such is the case with passive solar design, an approach to building that—in a nutshell—uses a house’s site, ...

Passive solar architecture is a design strategy that optimizes a building’s energy efficiency and long-term sustainability. By relying on a building site’s solar orientation and climate, sustainable ...

The need for sustainable and healthy living has never been more urgent than it is today. With the rising threat of climate change and the growing concern for public health, we need to consider how we ...

As I discussed in last week’s column ("Resilience: Dramatically Better Building Envelopes," Jan. 4), a resilient home is extremely well-insulated, so that it can be kept warm with very little ...

Find the best solar options for your home and budget. Since ancient times, people have found ways to use the sun’s heat to stay warm or keep cool. They built homes from clay and other materials that ...

Question: I want to build a conventional-looking house that uses solar heating and cooling without the big solar roof collectors. I would like a spacious, open floor plan. What solar features are best ...

As one of the most beautiful states in the country, Maine offers an infinite number of advantages. But the state’s notoriously frigid winters often leave new residents desperate to find some respite ...

The passive-house building standard relies on lots of insulation and intentional design to use as little energy as possible for heating and cooling. "Things like 'passive house' have become more ...

MONTEVIDEO -- When it's 20 below and winter winds howl, Minnesotans turn to Stone Age technology to stay warm. They add more fuel to the fire. There's a better option: Build homes that take advantage ...

New research shows multifamily passive home projects use significantly less energy than typical apartment buildings in Minnesota. A panel of experts presented the research, funded by the Department of ...