Active Or Passive Which Alternative Structure is Best?

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With so many choices and so many opinions about alternative building, how do you choose the best one? I would like to suggest its not about the type. It's about using the appropriate characteristics of the materials to make something that actually works in your climate. The majority of people do not live in a climate that stays comfortable if you only use thermal mass like rammed earth, cob, and earthbags. A house can not be fully passive if you have only insulation.

So first you decide if you want a passive home or one that uses some technology and energy. Passive will give you an average temperature of what nature provides; often this is not comfortable enough for most people. Active homes use technology and energy to provide comfort in any climate..

With fully passive structures you need insulation & thermal mass. With purely active structures thermal mass is not required. Then there are hybrids where you can take advantage of the good seasons where you can go passive using thermal mass then turn on the active temperature control during the rest of the year and let the insulation do its things.

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