1. The continues circulation of air through a building is necessary to create a comfortable environment. The use of natural, passive ventilation will decrease the dependency on energy sapping air conditioning. Natural ventilation strategies take advantage of pressure differences, in order to circulate clean, cooling air throughout the building. With environmental issues at the forefront of peoples minds, the need to minimise energy and resource consumption has become increasingly important. Throughout a building’s life, a high energy drain will continue to devour natural resources (fig 1). Recently an increase in media coverage has raised awareness of this problem. Passive thermal strategies make efficient use of the sun’s energy to regulate a buildings microclimate. All thermal strategies encompass both storage and transfer schemes. How it pays Passive design can significantly reduce running costs of a building and its dependency on mechanical systems. Socially this can provide a more pleasant environment and improved health for inhabitants, reducing the likelihood of Sick Building Syndrome and similar elusive ailments. Commercially this can result in improved productivity and an improved company image which can lead to market advantage. When combined with active strategies the resulting power surplus can be fed back into the national grid. Conclusion In order for development to continue designers must take passive design more seriously and integrate this into all aspects of design from the beginning. The government in turn needs to set tighter guidelines and create enforced legislation for sustainable construction. The future for sustainable design seems promising as more people are becoming aware of the issues and solutions. Orientation of Site Passive design needs to be considered from conception, and carried throughout all aspects of design. The climate, site and situation need to be carefully thought-out to ensure efficient design. If we continue to construct under current practices environmental problems will worsen. Passive design strategies help eliminate this problem, by taking advantage of natural energy sources and reducing a buildings environmental footprint. Passive design is not a new approach although it is only recently that it has been thrust to the forefront of sustainable design. Progress in this field has been hindered due high risk, lack of interest, very little financial investment and the stigma attached to environmental issues. The three key aspects to passive design are thermal, lighting and ventilation. Daylighting strategies aim to maximise the volume and quality of light entering a building and therefore reduce the dependency on electrical lighting. There are many ways of increasing the availably light within a room space and building. Finishes to a building interior can help increase light penetrate further into the building, such as white walls and glazing. Passive Design Strategies. Steven Rogers 0674096, John Gall 0673290, Euan Gray 0673815, Thomas Bignell 0672608. IMS3 Sustainability module, March 2009. Transfer – When the temperature difference is substantial, stored energy is released to achieve comfortable temperatures within the building. Storage - During peak conditions, thermal energy is absorbed and retained in the storage material for later use. SustainableEngineering@Edinburgh Thermal strategies include: Trombe Wall (fig2), solar slab, earth berm, earth built house etc. Figure 2 – Trombe Wall Other daylighting strategies include: overhangs (fig3), light shelves, stepped levels, glass atriums etc. They include: cross, stack (fig4) and evaporative. Figure 4 - Cross and Thermal Chimney ventilation Figure 1 – US energy consumption Figure 3 – Passive Solar House