pas·sive
accepting or allowing what happens, without active response or resistance.
ac·tive
(of a thing) working; operative.
Passive & Active Design Strategies Explained
Passive Design
Passive design refers to the use of the building’s architecture to minimize energy consumption, harnessing natural resources like sunlight, climate, and ventilation to heat, cool, and light the building. This approach focuses on creating a comfortable indoor environment with minimal mechanical heating or cooling. Key elements include proper building orientation, thermal mass, insulation, natural ventilation, and daylighting. Passive design strategies are inherently integrated into the building structure and require careful planning and design from the outset.
Active Design
Active design, in contrast, involves the use of mechanical or electrical devices to achieve environmental comfort within a building. It includes systems like solar panels, efficient HVAC systems, and other technologies that actively control or modify the environment. While active design can significantly reduce energy consumption and enhance sustainability, it relies on external energy sources and complex systems that require maintenance over time.
Passive |
Solar Orientation
Passive strategies, such as considering sun orientation and climate when siting and being thoughtful about window placement and operation, are used to best manage daylighting and natural ventilation and go a long way in reducing energy requirements for the building. In certain climates, thermal mass techniques can be used to harness solar energy. In such cases, thick walls absorb heat from the sun during the day and release it into the building at night.
Passive | Thermal Mass
Active strategies include consulting with mechanical and electrical engineers to implement high-efficiency electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and other systems, which are designed to have small environmental footprints.
Passive |
Superinsulation
Renewable energy systems, including those that harness solar and wind energy, are also great options for some buildings. These systems are often used in conjunction with passive design strategies.
Passive |
Natural Ventilation
We make it priority to source steel, lumber, concrete, and finishing materials, such as carpet and furnishings, from local companies that use environmentally responsible manufacturing techniques or recycled materials.
Daylighting
Landscaping choices can make a big impact in civic building water consumption. By using trees, plants, and grasses that are native to the area, architects can greatly reduce irrigation needs. Landscaping can also be used as part of a passive energy strategy. By planting trees that shade the roof and windows during the hottest time of the day, solar heat gain inside the building can be reduced.
Shading Devices
When rain falls on an untouched site, the water that doesn’t evaporate absorbs back into the ground, replenishing the natural water table. However, when a building is placed on the site, along with parking lots, sidewalks, access roads, and other hardscaping, rainfall behaves differently. The water runs off these surfaces and into storm drains. By implementing stormwater management strategies, such as pervious pavement that helps to reduce runoff and retention ponds that capture runoff and slowly release water back into the ground, the negative environmental impact of buildings can be reduced.