Walls are large, flat surfaces with significant mass that can be used to collect a lot of heat from the sun - which can be both a good thing and a bad thing, depending on what you're trying to achieve. Walls are likely to make up the majority of your building envelope, and need to be designed carefully to ensure they help you to heat or cool your home.
Shape, style and orientation
If you live in a climate where the temperature fluctuates significantly between the seasons, positioning of your walls right may play a crucial role in how you heat and cool your home.
Trombe walls
A wall surface, using some clever design principles, can be used to passively heat air and allow it to naturally flow into your home. Learn more about Trombe walls and how they work.
How to shade your home with a pergola
Pergolas can be used to provide excellent shade when they're positioned properly, which in turn can help reduce heat in homes and lower power bills. Find out how to plan pergolas for strategic shade.
Thermal performance of different materials
Not all materials are equal as far as insulation goes - and even different forms of the same material can offer vastly different benefits. Find out how different materials stack up.