Passive design refers to low-energy design achieved primarily through which aspect of a building?

Passive design refers to low-energy design achieved primarily through which aspect of a building?

• A. Active design
• B. Passive design
• C. Smart design
• D. Net-zero design

Answer: (B)

Passive design focuses on reducing a building’s energy needs by using the building’s form, materials, and layout to work with natural conditions—sun, shade, wind, and heat flow. By optimizing the envelope, insulation, airtightness, thermal mass, daylighting, shading, and natural ventilation, the building can stay comfortable with minimal mechanical heating, cooling, or lighting. This is different from active design, which relies on mechanical systems to achieve comfort; smart design centers on automated controls to optimize operation; and net-zero design aims to balance energy use with on-site generation, often combining passive and active methods. So the approach described is passive design because the energy savings come mainly from non-mechanical, passive strategies embedded in the building itself.

Passive design focuses on reducing a building’s energy needs by using the building’s form, materials, and layout to work with natural conditions—sun, shade, wind, and heat flow. By optimizing the envelope, insulation, airtightness, thermal mass, daylighting, shading, and natural ventilation, the building can stay comfortable with minimal mechanical heating, cooling, or lighting. This is different from active design, which relies on mechanical systems to achieve comfort; smart design centers on automated controls to optimize operation; and net-zero design aims to balance energy use with on-site generation, often combining passive and active methods. So the approach described is passive design because the energy savings come mainly from non-mechanical, passive strategies embedded in the building itself.