Certified Energy Auditor Practice Exam

Passive solar design harnesses sunlight directly to reduce energy costs, particularly heating expenses. By strategically placing windows, using thermal mass materials, and optimizing the layout of a building, passive solar designs can capture and retain heat during the day while minimizing heat loss during the night. This leads to significant reductions in heating requirements, and consequently, lower heating bills.

In contrast, options related to building height, construction times, and mechanical ventilation do not directly correlate with the benefits of passive solar design. Increased building height may affect solar access but is not a defining characteristic of passive solar strategies. Similarly, passive solar design does not inherently lead to faster construction times; construction methodologies and timelines are influenced by multiple factors beyond the design approach. While passive solar can reduce the need for mechanical heating methods, it does not necessarily impact the need for mechanical ventilation, which is often governed by other factors such as indoor air quality and building occupancy.