In a cold climate, the sun is a commodity not to be ignored. In 2014 engineer Marc Rosenbaum gave you the master's session. This session comes from the perspective of a designer who also works to integrate the sun in all aspects of design. High performance, energy efficient buildings should take advantage of what the sun provides. Designing in concert with the sun can bring comfort and beauty to the experience of being in a space. This session explores various ways residential design and construction can benefit from the sun's energy. Solar-optimized design begins with an understanding of the sun's seasonal paths followed by an awareness and analysis of the interactions between a given site, a building and the sun. Discussion includes passive solar design principles, optimizing solar opportunity on a non-optimal site, and celebrating our natural inclination to bask in the warmth of the sun.