Design a house with a high internal mass
Thermal massHeavy, high-heat-capacity material that can absorb and store a significant amount of heat; used in passive solar heating to keep the house warm at night.
can smooth out temperature spikes.
In dry climates where outdoor temperatures show big swings between night and day, materials with high mass can absorb heat during the day to keep the house cooler. At night, cooler air brings the temperature of the mass down to keep the house more comfortable the following day. Building in thermal mass may make it possible to reduce the size of air conditioning equipment.
Learn more in the Green Building Encyclopedia
