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In hot, dry climates, passive cooling should focus on shading, night flush through cross ventilation and whole-house fans, potentially using high-mass construction

In hot, dry climates, passive cooling should focus on shading, night flush through cross ventilation and whole-house fans, potentially using high-mass construction
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In hot, humid climates, passive cooling should focus on shading, airflow through cross ventilation and ceiling fans, and low-mass construction

In hot, humid climates, passive cooling should focus on shading, airflow through cross ventilation and ceiling fans, and low-mass construction
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In midsummer, the roof and skylights will receive much more solar radiation per square foot than an unshaded east- or west-facing wall, which in turn will receive more solar energy than north- or south-facing walls

In midsummer, the roof and skylights will receive much more solar radiation per square foot than an unshaded east- or west-facing wall, which in turn will receive more solar energy than north- or south-facing walls
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In the middle of summer, the sun shines most directly on the east and west sides of a house, while in winter it shines mostly from the south.

In the middle of summer, the sun shines most directly on the east and west sides of a house, while in winter it shines mostly from the south.
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Inducing airflow through the stack effect requires low inlets and high outlets such as a ridge hood or crown monitor

Inducing airflow through the stack effect requires low inlets and high outlets such as a ridge hood or crown monitor
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Infrared photometry shows the impact of a roof overhang on the south façade of a home, where the unshaded patio stonework is significantly hotter than the shaded portions of the patio and wall surfaces (temperature scale shown is in Celsius).

Infrared photometry shows the impact of a roof overhang on the south façade of a home, where the unshaded patio stonework is significantly hotter than the shaded portions of the patio and wall surfaces (temperature scale shown is in Celsius).
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Installing an ENERGY STAR ceiling fan is a low-energy way to improve comfort in a designated cool room

Installing an ENERGY STAR ceiling fan is a low-energy way to improve comfort in a designated cool room
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Insulating a crawlspace foundation with “cripple wall” in warm climates; in Climate Zones 5+ replace the foil- or plastic-faced fiberglass batt/roll insulation with impermeable rigid insulation or closed-cell spray polyurethane foam

Insulating a crawlspace foundation with “cripple wall” in warm climates; in Climate Zones 5+ replace the foil- or plastic-faced fiberglass batt/roll insulation with impermeable rigid insulation or closed-cell spray polyurethane foam
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Interior Air Barrier

Interior Air Barrier
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Interior window attachments such as these light-filtering roller shades can reduce heat gains while providing pleasant, diffuse natural light.

Interior window attachments such as these light-filtering roller shades can reduce heat gains while providing pleasant, diffuse natural light.
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Keep mulch away from trunk of the tree to allow air circulation at the root collar.

Keep mulch away from trunk of the tree to allow air circulation at the root collar.
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Landscape trees and shrubs to funnel cooling breeze towards a home in hot climate zones.

Landscape trees and shrubs to funnel cooling breeze towards a home in hot climate zones.
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Landscaping and Bahama shutters can provide important shade for a designated cool room

Landscaping and Bahama shutters can provide important shade for a designated cool room
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Large deciduous trees provide heat-blocking shade to the walls and windows of this house.

Large deciduous trees provide heat-blocking shade to the walls and windows of this house.
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Leave the soil level around an existing trunk as is (left); do not increase soil height (center) or remove soil in the root zone (right).

Leave the soil level around an existing trunk as is (left); do not increase soil height (center) or remove soil in the root zone (right).
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Light colors have been used on exterior walls and roofs to keep buildings cooler in hot climates for centuries, as shown by this traditional building in Morocco, built in the early 1800s

Light colors have been used on exterior walls and roofs to keep buildings cooler in hot climates for centuries, as shown by this traditional building in Morocco, built in the early 1800s
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Light-colored roofs and walls and deep overhangs for shade are some of the features used by builders in the hot-humid climate (Source: Alys Beach Construction).

Light-colored roofs and walls and deep overhangs for shade are some of the features used by builders in the hot-humid climate (Source: Alys Beach Construction).
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Locating windows on adjacent and opposite sides of the house will allow cross ventilation regardless of wind direction

Locating windows on adjacent and opposite sides of the house will allow cross ventilation regardless of wind direction
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Louvers and jump ducts allow cross ventilation through rooms with closed doors

Louvers and jump ducts allow cross ventilation through rooms with closed doors
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Low perimeter to area (P/A) ratio home designs reduce heat transfer and perform better in hot climate zones than high P/A ratio homes.

Low perimeter to area (P/A) ratio home designs reduce heat transfer and perform better in hot climate zones than high P/A ratio homes.
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Masonry wall interior retrofit with parge coat, fluid-applied water control layer, rigid mineral wool, wood-framed wall with cavity insulation, smart vapor barrier, and wood or metal service cavity

Masonry wall interior retrofit with parge coat, fluid-applied water control layer, rigid mineral wool, wood-framed wall with cavity insulation, smart vapor barrier, and wood or metal service cavity
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Multi-layer honeycomb cellular shades such as these can provide summertime energy savings by blocking and reflecting solar heat, as well as wintertime energy savings by providing added insulation.

Multi-layer honeycomb cellular shades such as these can provide summertime energy savings by blocking and reflecting solar heat, as well as wintertime energy savings by providing added insulation.
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Natural ventilation can be wind-driven (cross ventilation) or buoyancy-driven (stack ventilation)

Natural ventilation can be wind-driven (cross ventilation) or buoyancy-driven (stack ventilation)
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Net Zero Homes: Why it's easy to build one now!