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Solar gain (also known as solar heat gain or passive solar gain) refers to the increase in temperature in a space, object or structure that results from solar radiation. The amount of solar gain increases with the strength of the sun, and with the ability of any intervening material to transmit or resist the radiation. Image File history File links Portal. ... In thermodynamics, temperature is the physical property of a system that underlies the common notions of hot and cold —something that is hotter has the greater temperature. ... Solar power describes a number of methods of harnessing energy from the light of the sun. ... In the fields of optics and spectroscopy, transmittance is the fraction of incident light at a specified wavelength that passes through a sample. ...

Objects struck by sunlight absorb the short-wave radiation from the light and re-radiate the heat at longer infrared wavelengths. Where there is a material or substance between the sun and the objects struck that is more transparant to the shorter wavelengths than the longer, then when the sun is shining the net result is an increase in temperature - solar gain. This effect, the greenhouse effect, so called due to the solar gain that is experience behind the glass of a greenhouse, has since become well known in the context of global warming. Prism splitting light Light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength that is visible to the eye (visible light) or, in a technical or scientific context, electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength. ... Image of a small dog taken in mid-infrared (thermal) light (false color) Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves. ... The wavelength is the distance between repeating units of a wave pattern. ... The Sun is the star of our solar system. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... A schematic representation of the exchanges of energy between outer space, the Earths atmosphere, and the Earth surface. ... Global mean surface temperatures 1856 to 2005 Mean surface temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980 Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere and oceans in recent decades. ...

Solar gain and building design

In the context of passive solar building design the aim of the designer is normally to maximise solar gain within the building in the winter (to reduce space heating demand), and to control it in summer (to minimise cooling requirements). Thermal mass may be used to even out the fluctuations during the day, and to some extent between days. Passive solar building design involves the modeling, selection and use of appropriate passive solar technologies to maintain the building environment at a comfortable temperature through the suns daily and annual cycles. ... Space heating is the heating of a space, usually enclosed, such as a house or room. ... Thermal mass, in the most general sense, is any mass that absorbs and holds heat. ...

In direct solar gain systems, the composition and coating of the building glazing can also be manipulated to optimise the greenhouse effect, while its size, position and shading can be used to optimise solar gain. Solar gain can also be transfered to the building by indirect or isolated solar gain systems. For further details, see passive solar building design. Passive solar building design involves the modeling, selection and use of appropriate passive solar technologies to maintain the building environment at a comfortable temperature through the suns daily and annual cycles. ...

See also

• Heating degree day
• Insulated glazing
  • Low-emissivity coatings