Passive solar heating and passive cooling?approaches known as natural conditioning?provide comfort throughout the year by reducing, or eliminating, the need for fossil fuel. Yet while heat from sunlight and ventilation from breezes is free for the taking, few modern architects or builders really understand the principles involved. Now Dan Chiras, author of the popular book "The Natural House," brings those principles up to date for a new generation of solar enthusiasts. In "The Solar House," Chiras sets the record straight on the vast potential for passive heating and cooling. Acknowledging the good intentions of misguided solar designers in the past, he highlights certain egregious erros and shows how to avoid them. More importantly, Chiras explains in methodical detail how today?s home builders can succeed with solar designs. Readers will learn: - How to select a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly backup heating system. - how to preserve indoor air quality in an airtight, energy-efficient home. - ways of employing green building materials in a naturally conditioned home.