Design tips for temperate climate
	(warm summer, cool winter)

In a temperate climate, we need:

• most glass north-facing, with shading designed to admit the sun's heat in winter, but not in summer - you will need information about solar elevation ;
• internal heat storage capacity to soak up the heat during the day and re-radiate it at night
• air-tight construction (weather-stripping on external doors, plug gaps which allow heat loss via drafts);
• a pale-coloured roof will reflect much of the sun's radiation in summer. Because the winter sun is lower in the sky, it shines more on the walls and windows than on the roof, so the loss of winter solar heating via the roof is not great;
• a house plan which allows cross-ventilation is an advantage, so you can cool your house by opening windows at night, then keeping them closed during the heat of day;
• summer shade at east and west walls (deciduous trees or vines; use evergreens if cold winter winds are a problem).

Within the temperate zone, optimum design details vary from place to place.

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