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organizations · updated 2026-08-11

Passive Solar Institute

confidence: medium volatility: cold verified: 2026-08-11fresh

Research and publishing organization founded by David Bainbridge circa 1980–81 in Davis, California. Focused on water wall passive solar design and integral passive solar water heaters.

Founded by David Bainbridge circa 1980–81 in Davis, California. A research, education, and consulting organization focused on solar design and energy conservation, particularly water wall passive solar design and integral passive solar water heaters.

Publications

  • The Integral Passive Solar Water Heater Book (Passive Solar Institute, Davis, CA, 1981, 99pp, ISBN 0933490038) — covers breadbox-type solar water heaters combining collection with storage
  • “Integral passive solar water heater performance” — presented at the 6th National Passive Solar Conference, Portland, Oregon (1981)
  • A Water Wall Solar Design Manual (1981; reissued 2005) — Bainbridge’s practitioner’s guide and history of water-wall thermal mass; credits Baer’s 1971–72 Corrales drumwall house as the catalyzing event for the broader wave of 1970s–80s water-wall practitioners

Status

The Institute appears to have been primarily a research and publishing operation. It became inactive as Bainbridge moved into academic work at UC Riverside, SDSU (1986–2001), and Alliant International University (1995–2010, retired). His archival collection (1976–2017) is housed at California State University.

See also