Replies

1. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Apr 21, 2014 06:43am | #1

   Erik,
   Perhaps you are confusing passive solar design principles with the Passivhaus standard. The Passivhaus standard (the standard underlying the PHPP software) can be applied to any building, regardless of the amount of insolation (hours of sunlight) at the building site.

   Of course, buildings in very sunny climates will require a different design from buildings in cloudy climate. But all you have to do is to adjust the design of the building -- its shape, the size and glazing specification of the windows, and the insulation R-values, among other factors -- and you can meet the Passivhaus standard using PHPP in a wide variety of climates.

   Of course, in some climates it isn't very cost-effective to meet the Passivhaus standard. But that's another issue altogether.

2. 
   fitchplate | Apr 21, 2014 07:13am | #2

   Solar radiation by location:

   http://www.nrel.gov/gis/solar.html

   http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/1961-1990/redbook/atlas/

   http://www.pge.com/mybusiness/edusafety/training/pec/classes/resources/PV_site_resourceF11.pdf

   https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/green-basics/siting-sun-passive-heating-and-daylighting

   http://www.wbdg.org/resources/psheating.php

   https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/passive-home-design.pdf