The current practice of sustainable design encompasses a range of green strategies which include, but are not limited to, passive solar design and active solar and wind technologies. Modern passive design technology has learned to build upon the climatologically responsive methodology that is found in vernacular typology. This interest in the vernacular has spawned varied discussions regarding the importance of regionalisms in architectural form. The climate sensitive nature of sustainable design, as well as its awareness of regional environmental and material concerns, demands a fresh look at the issue of the vernacular as it pertains to the practice of sustainable building. The climate and location-centered issues which form the focus of the traditional vernacular type can generate a new sustainable vernacular typology which recognizes environmentally based regional concerns.^{Ref. 1}

Since its inception in 1987 through The World Commission on Environment and Development, ^{Ref. 2} sustainability has been embraced by environmental groups, scientists, government organizations, and various interest groups, as well as the architectural community. The means by which architects and architectural educators may implement sustainable design strategies are becoming widely studied and more clearly focused. Strategies can be differentiated by their applicability at either an urban or individual building scale.^{Ref. 3} The use of solar and climate sensitive design strategies in buildings has become the essential starting point for sustainable architecture since the introduction of these topics into architectural curricula in the 1970's. Such climate sensitive strategies can be characterized to support either passive solar design or active solar and wind design. Passive and active design do not in and of themselves constitute sustainability, but they can be seen as vital supporters of sustainable design.

While these strategies seem to support sustainable development, in actuality the basis of their respective pedagogies can be seen as oppositional. It will be the thrust of this paper to understand the contrasting precepts of passive and active design, as well as their complementary and integrated roles in the architectural implementation of sustainability.