A simulation model has been developed to analyze the potential of the application of transparent insulation for passive salar buildings in northern China. The potential advantages of using transparent insulation materials in buildings are estimated, in which the effects of variations in solar radiation have been taken into account. By simulating the monthly auxiliary energy requirement of the building and the solar fraction variation due to transparent insulation, it is found that if the traditional south brick walls are covered by a 10 cm thickness layer of honeycomb material in the Beijing area, an increase of solar fraction will be around 39%, corresponding to a solar heat gain of around 137 kW/m(2) year.