Active and passive solar energy systems can impact a building's:

Active and passive solar energy systems significantly impact a building's heating and cooling loads. Active solar systems, which involve technology such as solar panels and heat pumps, directly convert sunlight into usable energy, helping to reduce the demand for conventional heating and cooling methods. These systems can supply hot water, support heating systems, or even provide electricity to power cooling systems.

Passive solar design, on the other hand, utilizes the building's architecture, materials, and placement to harness sunlight for heating and natural ventilation for cooling without the use of mechanical systems. This involves strategically placing windows, using thermal mass, and implementing shading techniques to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures, thereby reducing the overall heating and cooling loads of the building.

Considering the alternatives, while structural integrity, aesthetic design, and construction costs are influenced to some extent by the integration of solar systems, they are not as directly impacted by solar energy as the heating and cooling loads are. Heating and cooling requirements are critical in assessing energy efficiency and occupancy comfort, making them the most relevant factor regarding solar energy systems.