136: Thermal Mass is Not That Useful

Passive House vs Passive Solar with Lloyd Alter

Much of this comes down to two design principles which are similar in name and have some overlap in their detail, but are fundamentally quite different. As Lloyd Alter points out, the 'Superinsulated' house was really the origin and (along with airtightness) is the basis of Passive House design.

'Passive solar' design is what's in question here, in particular the reliance on thermal mass and sun angles.

http://homestylegreen.com/136
http://www.treehugger.com/author/lloyd-alter/