Can SIPs be used in a passive solar home?
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) designed a number of passive solar homes that were eventually built in the sunny but cold climate at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Researchers found that the SIP building shells actually performed better than expected. SIPs and solar can work well together, as long as heavy heat storage materials, such as a concrete slab, are included within the building shell. But to be comfortable, solar homes-built with SIPs or traditionally framed-should incorporate high-performance, low-e coated window products.
