passive design case study in india

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Volume 09, Issue 08 (August 2020)

Vernacular passive cooling techniques – a case study of a vernacular house in allur village, kalaburagi, india.

• Article Download / Views: 3,955
• Authors : Anju Kumari. J. Wanti , Vimala Swamy , Sangamesh Sakri
• Paper ID : IJERTV9IS080150
• Volume & Issue : Volume 09, Issue 08 (August 2020)
• Published (First Online): 20-08-2020
• ISSN (Online) : 2278-0181
• Publisher Name : IJERT

Anju Kumari. J. Wanti 1

1Dept. Of Architecture PDA College of Engineering

Kalaburagi :585102, Karnataka, India.

Sangamesh Sakri 3

Vimala Swamy 2 2Dept. of Architecture REVA University, Bengaluru, India

3Dept. Of Electrical and Electronics PDA College of Engineering Kalaburagi :585102, Karnataka, India.

Abstract In Traditional Architecture buildings were designed by the local builders who are unschooled in the formal architectural design and their works reflects the diversity of local climate, local available materials, tradition and culture of that particular place and most comfortable for all the activities. Climate had a major effect on the performance of the traditional building architecture and its energy consumption in hot dry area of North Karnataka region. These strategies include: layout orientation, distance between buildings, building orientation & form, climatic elements such as Roof projections, jharokhas, central courtyard to mention a few

Many Vernacular Technologies are Energy efficient and sustainable although some of them are currently no longer functioning properly because of changed culture and ecological situations. In this regard the key challenge is to learn fundamental lessons and principals of Vernacular Architecture, and to find the ways of integrating those principles into development programmes to plan new residence. Studying Traditional Techniques to understand the sustainable strategies used in hot-dry region to achieve thermal comfort should make a valuable contribution to the field. The paper depicts empirical study of a vernacular residence of Kalaburagi.

Keywords Traditional Architecture, Hot-Dry area, Energy efficient, Traditional techniques, Thermal Comfort.

INTRODUCTION

Energy is the important component for economic development of the country. The modern equipment and materials used in construction and to maintain indoor thermal environment consumes significant amount of our national energy. In view of the shortage of energy it is very much essential to review the historical origin of Architecture &Technology to restore the comfort inside the building. Thermal performance and air quality inside the buildings can be improved substantially and energy can be saved through understanding the ancient design concept.

Traditional architecture is the outcome of centuries of optimization of climate consideration, of material use, construction techniques. Ancient buildings demonstrate the passive architecture of that specific region. Without mechanical means these buildings are better than the newly designed buildings. Natural ventilation and advantages of

solar direction was taken in those buildings. Materials are chosen for construction according to the climatic characteristics of the place. Vernacular Architecture of Hot- Dry places like The Palaces in Rajasthan also demonstrates the natural ventilation techniques. Havelis of Rajasthan and Gujarat are good examples of passive architecture (Gupta, N.

/ Journal of Buildings and Sustainability, 2017, Vol. 2, No. 1). Courtyard was also an important design element in old residential buildings in hot dry climate called Havelis. It was an element of passive cooling for regular fresh air supply.

The vernacular architecture is constructed by indigenous people without any knowledge about architecture which is a more functional design rather than an aesthetic design for satisfying the initial needs and protections from wind, rain and harsh climatic situations.

PURPOSE OF STUDY:

The fundamental purpose of buildings is to provide man with a comfortable working and living space, protected from the extremes of climate. In these days of fuel crisis, it is important that such comforts be provided with as little expenditure of energy as possible. Vernacular architecture with hundreds of years of experience behind it has evolved appropriate building methods for each type of climate.

DESIGN PROCESS IN KALABURAGI: Decisions to be made during the design process in hot dry climate include: –

Planning Decisions

Functional Decisions

Material Related Decision PLANNING DECISIONS:

House Plans:

Compact Plans are preferred as these will expose minimum surface to harsh solar radiations.

Deeper rooms are better against hot outside solar radiations.

Inward looking plans best suits for this type of climate as these straight away protect us from external solar heat and radiation.

Courtyard planning along with some trees and small water body creates very good cool microclimate as evaporative cooling effects occurs in this type of courtyard.

Thicker external walls with the minimum windows should be used to avoid heat and solar radiations.

Heat producing areas should be separated from other areas of house.

Fig.1 Court Yard Concept with Thicker Walls

FUNCTIONAL DECISIONS: (OPENINGS)

Physical Access

Fresh Air inlet.

Used (hot) air outlet.

Visual Access

Audial Access

Fig2.Small Openings Provided for Ventilation and Visual Access

MATERIAL RELATED DECISIONS:

DEEPER WINDOWS AND ROOMS

Material and Construction Technique is vital in setting forth the chemistry of building with external elements through its thermal coefficient, material properties and dynamics of its physics. If sunburnt clay block is taken as a unit of energy demand of material, cement is nearly 10 times energy intensive, steel is 30 times and aluminium 160 times.

Finishes and Surface Articulation: Although Seemingly micro, the skin rendering turn out to be the first aspects of building to negotiate with environmental conditions. As the first soldier, it takes most of the burns of nature.

Fig3. Shahabad Stone Used for Indoor and Outdoor Flooring

Shahabad Stone is one of the wonders of Mother Nature. Slabs stacked neatly say it all. And its just below the top soil, not much effort required to haul them out. Here's one of the quarries while travelling between Chitapur and Shahabad.

A multi-storey house and a smaller house which is totally constructed using Shahabad stones from foundation to roof.

There is nothing that binds these stones together. If we closely observe we find they are placed skilfully one above the other. The use of local materials, local technology for construction of buildings with the help of local artisans helps vernacular buildings energy efficient. The most wide spread building materials are sand stone, Basalt (Deccan trap) stone, schist, granite (pink or grey colour), lime, shale, timber, mud, Shahabad stone, etc.

Massive Walls

The walls of vernacular buildings are massive with the thickness varying from 45cm to 60cm. The thick walls are

constructed with Shahabad lime stones and mortar of lime and surkhi, the walls are sometime pointed or remained unfinished without plaster, thick walls stores large amount of heat due to large heat capacities and create a larger timeline, this helps the inside cool during day time when it is most inconvenient outside, on the other hand in winter heating requirements are reduced due to heat stored in the walls which is radiated during night.

Fig4.Polished Shahabad stone flooring

Fig5. Shahabad stone flooring

Roof Construction

Sloped roof

Pitched roof

Brick bat slab

Flat stone slab roof

Fig6.Timber Beams Fig7. Column and Beam Junction

The massive roof construction of thickness (15 to 30cm) ensures a very large time lag for sun radiations to penetrate the interiors.

Fig8. Roof with A Wooden Column and A Metal Beam and Wooden Columns and Wooden Beams.

Roofs were constructed with the help of wooden logs and Shahabad stones for the covering. Metal I sections were used as an alternate material to support roofs and lime mortar as weathering coat.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY:

Foundations are built out of stone with lime mortar.

Walls (16 to 36 thick) are built out of finely cut or rough tooled sand stone, basalt stone or Shahabad stone with lime mortar.

Roofs are covered with stone slabs supported by wooden beams & rafters in the natural form topped by lime mortar. In some places stone slabs supported by wooden beams & joists cut into required size & it is topped by lime concrete & finished with lime mortar.

The paving of entrance lobby & court is generally in the rough stone slabs set either regularly or random rubble fashion. Floors of veranda & rooms are of stone slabs.

SHADING DEVICES: The natural cooling may be achieved by cutting off the suns radiations, reducing the absorption and slowing down the transmission of heat. The sunshades not only protect from suns radiations through the windows but walls too. Vernacular buildings have deep and inclined sun shades which are more effective as they cover the more surface area. Deep carving on building exteriors causes mutual shading in the day and in the evening and the extended surface area increases convective heat transfer to the air.

Tapered windows with smaller section inside also increase the velocity of entering air. The hot air rises up in a domed space and the vents near the ceiling allow hot air to escape.

Fig9.Very Small Window Opening Seen On The Huge Walls

A small window on a huge wall, as we see in most of the buildings in hot dry & composite allows the wind to move inside the building with a greater force (Gupta 1984). When the air with a greater velocity enters into a wider space, sudden expansion results in lowering down of the temperature of inside spaces of the buildings.

LATTICE SCREEN:

Fig10. Jaali Work Providing Privacy And Internal Cool Spaces

Another strong feature which makes the internal spaces cool is lattice screen or jaali. Jaali is used frequently in buildings of composite & hot dry region architecture and is a prominent element. On one hand, it provides privacy and it controls the airflow and lower down the temperature of

internal spaces on the other. When there is sunshine outside in the day, the internal spaces are not clearly visible from outside however, the diffused light is spread throughout the interiors. To get a clear outside view, a cutout is provided at eye level for the viewer sitting on the floor.

CULTURAL ASPECTS:

The way of life of building occupants & the way they use their shelters, is of great influence on building forms. The size of family units, who shares which spaces, how food is prepared & eaten, how people interact and many other cultural considerations will affect the layout & size of dwellings.

Culture also has a great influence on the appearance of vernacular buildings, as occupants often decorate buildings in accordance with local customs and beliefs.

MICROCLIMATE CONTROL:

The environment outside the building is important to control the inside temperature of the building. The external air is treated by improving microclimate of the region which consequently enhances the quality of air inside the building.

Vegetation & water bodies were added to improve the quality of outer spaces and to enhance cooling by evapo- transpiration. Planting deciduous trees to shade east and west walls would prove beneficial in hot and dry zones. In summer, they provide shade from intense morning and evening sun, reduce glare, as well as cut off hot breezes. On the other hand, deciduous trees shed their leaves in winter and allow solar radiation to heat the building.

INTEGRATING INDOOR OUTDOOR LIVING:

The relationship between human activities and nature was strong in the past. With the passage of time, this harmony was weakened resulting in buildings designed without context. With minor inconvenience, the users were suggested to shift from less comfortable spaces to more comfortable spaces depending upon the seasonal changes. Whenever it was uncomfortable inside the buildings, the people were suggested to use the outside spaces.

Even today, people in villages spend their daytime on lower floors while they spend their nights on the terraces. The roof tops become the centre of activities on sunny days in winters.

CASE STUDY:

In order to see the practical use of above listed parameters in providing natural cooling in hot-dry climate regions, a residential building of Allur village Chitapur Taluka in Kalaburagi city of Karnataka State in India have been considered. Description of house is given below:

ABOUT THE VILLAGE ALLUR : LOCATION :

Chittapur is located at 17 12*N 77.08*E it has an average elevation of 403mts. The town is spread at an area of 35km. chittapur taluk has borders only with other talukas of

Kalaburagi district . It borders Kalaburagi to north west , chincholi taluk to north , sedam taluk to the east, yadgir taluk to south east, shahpur taluk to the south and jewargi to the west. Kanga river flows in this taluk.

Allur is a small village/hamlet in Chitapur Taluka of Kalaburagi District of Karnataka state. It comes under Chitapur Taluka panchayath, Kalaburagi division. The village is 18kms away from Chitapur Taluka. It has its own historic background. There are ancient ruined temples and mosques scattered in this area which probably belonged to the Rashtrakutas.

ACCESS TO ALLUR :

The village comes under Chitapur Taluka. It is located 34kms from district headquarters and 51kms from state capital, Bangalore. By Road: chittapur is nearest town to allur road connectivity s there from chittapur to allur.

POPULATION:

According to 2017 census, presently the village population is 5635 out of which 2763 are female and 2872 are male. Total households are 1200. Literacy rate of this village is 48.76%.

Climate in this area is Hot dry climate and the village is too hot during summers. The highest day degree temperature during summers is around 34*C 42*C. Average temperature in January is 27*C and 29*C in February. According to 2017 weather survey reports, the average rainfall was 410mm per year, the maximum wind speed was 20mph. the average humidity was 56% and average pressure was 1009mb.

ARCHITECTURE:

Buildings in this village are usually constructed by stone in Islamic Architecture or Chalukyan Architecture by Rashtrakutas.

One of the most significant influence on vernacular arcitecture is the micro climate of the area in which the building is constructed. Buildings in warm climate

, in contrast , tend to be constructed of lighter materials and to allow significant cross ventialation through openings in the fabric of the building.

ABOUT THE HOUSE:

Life Style: Life style of an area is determined by the activities performed by the people & the activities performed in context to housing. A rural house has to incorporate a large multitude of activities within it. The activities inside & those in the surroundings of a house, shows the life of a villager & his family members as a daily routine. The people use different spaces in the house for fulfilling their activities.

The aim of vernacular architecture was catered to large families to live under one roof & enjoy the commonly owned facilitis of the homestead.

The house is located behind Angal Basveshwara temple. The main door facing towards East.

This is one of the well-preserved houses of Allur.

Fig11. Entrance Façade of the House

The façade is usually symmetrical around a central projection. The tallest and most impressive feature of the house.

There is a huge front façade made of stone and a little of wood, it acts as an entrance to the house.

There are two doors in the entrance one for the main

entry to the house, and the other door is for the entry of the cows.

As we proceed towards inside, there is a central

courtyard which is open to sky and as a teak wood pillars on all side.

In hot dry and hot humid climates, courtyard is the centre of the building provides a comfortable place for living. The courtyard makes a plan internally oriented and prevents the internal spaces from solar radiations and hot-and-dusty winds. It always shaded throughout the day even if the building is oriented to any direction. In the evening, air temperature falls considerably due to re- radiation to the night sky.

Around this courtyard we find a mezzanine floor on

the either side. At one side it is used for storing of grains and fodders for the cattles and on the either side it is used for sleeping. Central courtyard has a sloping stone roof to face the onslaught of the torrential monsoon.

A narrow corridor runs all around the courtyard connecting to the room in the upper floor.

Fig12. Courtyard Fig13 Open to Sky

It has an open roof space in the middle, so that the rain water is collected within and excess water is drained out

Fig14. Kitchen Fig15.Puja Room

Both the families share separate kitchen, separate puja room separate bedroom, and one common hall, the rooms are symmetrically divided from the padasala.

Fig16. View Of First Floor Fig17. Small Openings For

Light And Ventilation

In the upper floor there are eight rooms which consist of two halls and six rooms which are used mainly for sleeping and storing grains, and drying grains.

Light and ventilation is obtained through small windows and openings.

The house is made primarily of stone.

The principle building material is stone and wood.

The house is totally made using locally available

materials accessible around area to suit the climatic and traditions of the owner.

Fig18.One of the common characters is the use of lime plaster on the walls.

The lime plaster is used to help to keep the insects away and also reflected sunlight to reduce the heat within the house.

The roof of the house is also covered with flat stones, slabs, packed with mud.

The wooden pillars support the roof.

The kitchen is at the rear of the house or even a little away to keep the smoke away.

There was a separate toilet area for ladies which are placed at the rear side of the house.

The unique feature of that house is that men and

women share kind of respect, status and position.

The whole façade is constructed using Shahabad stone.

Small windows are provided so that hot air should not enter the building.

The design criteria in this Hot Dry region are to resist heat gain & promote heat loss & increase thermal capacity because of high temperature, low humidity, hot winds & clear sky with high solar radiation.

PASSIVE COOLING TECHNIQUES OF THE RESIDENCE:

The Planning Concept:

In the first floor again, rooms were surrounded on all the four sides. Window openings were very small. Windows had a high sill level and windows were covered with the jali works from outside. Another strong feature which makes the internal space cool is the lattice girder or jharokha. It is a prominent element of vernacular architecture of hot dry climate.

On one hand jharokha provides privacy and it controls the airflow and lower down the temperature of internal spaces on the other, when there is sunshine outside during the day time the internal spaces are not clearly visible from outside. However, a diffused light is spread throughout the interiors. To get a clear outside view, a cut out is provided at eye level for the viewer sitting on the floor.

Fig19 Ground Floor Plan

It is 150 years old two-storied building. Plan of the building is simple, square and symmetrical about North- South axis. The building is functionally convenient. The main entrance is from the Eastern side. The first entry leads to Jhalaji and goes to the open courtyard. Then it goes to main building. The plan of the building is compact. All rooms are arranged around central courtyard. Doors of all the rooms are opened to the central courtyard. On the left side they have cattle shed which has a separate entry beside the main door and on the right side there is a fodder store room for the cattles which has a mezzanine floor used for storage purpose.

Fig20.First Floor Plan

Fig21.Second Floor Plan

In the third floor the western side is fully covered with the rooms. This creates a shadow in the courtyard from the west side in the hot afternoons during summer thus creating natural cooling effects to the rooms below where maximum activities take place.

Fig22. Elevations

Fig23. Sections

Fig24. Sketch of Interior View

External walls are 900 mm thick and internal walls 450 mm. Materials used for the construction of walls are stone, mud and lime mortar. The time-lag factor of external walls is more than 12 hours. So it absorbs the heat during day time and release at night. Thus, it maintains daytime comfort, but at night hours some discomfort is felt during summer because of small ventilation. Small openings are provided to get required ventilation and to stop solar radiation, glare and dust. Roof is made with well-compacted lime surkhi on which Shahabad stones are laid. The roof is supported by the wooden columns and rafters on which lime surkhi is compacted.

The buildings function according to seasonal changes. In summer, one feels cool and comfort inside during daytime. Courtyard and roof top are used for sleeping as the rooms remain hot at night due to small ventilation. During winter, the heat stored in walls during daytime radiate at nights in the rooms and provides the comfort without using mechanical system. But throughout the year the building is comfortable without using artificial systems of cooling.

At close sight, the textures of the walls and roofs in rural houses express the earthiness and simplicity of rural life- styles. The rural craftsman is in total control, producing a variety of textures. In areas which abound in stone, the rough- hewn stone in mud mortar with natural colours, covering a wide range, is generally left completely exposed. These wall textures have a kind of perennial beauty in spite of the coarse finish. Where mud mortar and whitewash are used, one finds a reposeful smoothness and whiteness which contrast with the natural strong colours of the roofing.

The study of the vernacular architecture principles is not just to copy them in the present context but to have a better understanding of the environment, life style, tradition and culture of the society and their influence on the built forms of the vernacular residences have evolved in response to the climate, life style and availability of the materials and techniques specific to that region which ultimately lead to sustainability. The vernacular dwellings strongly express that more than quantity of spaces such as variety and size it is the

quality of spaces with most efficient use that matters. Spatial flexibility and the climate conscious design approach have been adopted in these structures which enhances the qualitative aspects of each and individual space. The esirable thermal comfort conditions are achieved in these houses with no or minimum use of mechanical devices. Thermal comfort is all achieved mainly due to its planning aspects in terms of its plan, elevation, sections, form and other architectural details of the structure. The materials used and the techniques adopted may be expensive and time consuming in the present condition but the context and relevance of these aspects in satisfying the users need is highly appreciable and the essence of these need to be explored in modern context.

CONCLUDING REMARKS:

From the case study of the above residence following are the conclusions:

The energy consumed in the residences for the thermal comfort can be reduced by the climatic consideration of that region and by using a better degree of natural conditions.

The most important factor is the relation between the interior and exterior environment, building form, orientation and the materials used for the construction.

Considering the sun path and the wind direction create the natural comfort in the building.

In hot dry climate the building orientation should always be north-south i.e. longer sides of the rectangle should be facing along north and south.

Landscape can also be a passive cooling technique which controls wind, solar radiation and extreme temperature.

Along with the wind direction if a buffer space or a water body is provided then the intensity of heat is reduced until it reaches inside. All the service areas like toilets, stairs, and stores can be provided on western sides so that the other habitable rooms are cool.

Courtyard is the important feature of the vernacular architecture. All the rooms of the house will be surrounded all around this rectangular opening which act as a source for natural light and ventilation and provide shaded spaces.

Thicker walls act as a cooling technique as the intensity of heat reduces by the time it enters inside thus providing a comfortable indoors.

The window sizes are small and the window sill is also high thus reducing the heat gain and increase the light penetration. The ventilators are also provide very high thus it helps in removing the hot air from inside.

This paper has reviewed the passive techniques applied In Kalaburagi to achieve thermal comfort. These vernacular houses had been constructed with some underlying principles conveyed from one generation to other, to make it respond positively to the prevailing climatic condition. The vernacular housing has efficiently been

withstanding harsh climate for so many years. The indigenous principles are decoded and can be applied to any residences in the hot and dry area. Understanding the potential of passive techniques will greatly help in reducing the dependencies on energy for achieving thermal comfort.

Ashwani Kumar and Navneet Munoth, (July 2011) Vernacular Architecture A pre-requisite for Sustainable development Architecture Time Space and People: Council of Architecture India.

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Tools and Rules-of-Thumb for Passive Design Strategies for Indian Climatic Conditions

Sakshi Nagpal, Prasad Vaidya | 2017 

Energy required by the building sector in India accounts for 33% of the national energy use. Climate- responsive design can drive the building sector in India towards a low energy future because including passive design approaches and materials can decrease cooling by 60%–90% for new buildings and 50%– 90% for retrofits. Different passive design strategies are applicable for the 5 climate zones in India.

This study uses literature to identify prescriptive approaches to passive design strategies along with published rules of thumb. Of the 45 strategies identified through the literature research, only 19 were found to have rules-of-thumb that help sizing of building elements during design. For the 45 strategies, a Strategy Index for India is compiled, which includes the rules-of-thumb where available, applicable climatic as well as building conditions. Where specific values for climate conditions relevant to the strategies are not found and only generic climatic conditions, such as Hot-Dry, Warm-Humid or cold are found, the specific climatic conditions are derived by cross referencing the climate zone definitions and their threshold values from the literature. However, when this approach is applied to TMY weather data of Indian cities, it leads to recommendations that do not correspond with the strategies found in those cities. This analysis is presented in the paper. A monthly climate assessment method is proposed, which enables building designers to select passive design strategies that respond to seasonal variations within a climate. A Strategy Decision tool is formulated to help building designers select strategies that are applicable based on the local weather data and site conditions. Taken together, the Strategy Decision tool and the Strategy Index can be an important toolkit for building designers in India.

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Analysis of Indian Traditional Buildings using Passive Cooling through Natural Ventilation Techniques

2021, International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology (IJRASET)

There is a rapid increase in the use of active cooling strategies for ventilation and air circulation in the recent scenario, and hence an urge of climate-responsive buildings is a need of today. Taking the advantage of local climate and designing buildings that decrease energy use can be achieved by implementing passive cooling strategies in a building. The present study focuses on how various solar passive techniques have helped in designing climate-responsive structures in the past and how its implementation can enhance the structure in modern construction techniques. By analysing structures from the past and studying the science behind them, the passive cooling effect and its development in design implementation can be examined. The paper concludes by having incited on how solar passive strategies can help to create a flexible building, responding to climatic effects and its evolution over a period of time.

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https://www.ijert.org/vernacular-passive-cooling-techniques-a-case-study-of-a-vernacular-house-in-allur-village-kalaburagi-india https://www.ijert.org/research/vernacular-passive-cooling-techniques-a-case-study-of-a-vernacular-house-in-allur-village-kalaburagi-india-IJERTV9IS080150.pdf In Traditional Architecture buildings were designed by the local builders who are unschooled in the formal architectural design and their works reflects the diversity of local climate, local available materials, tradition and culture of that particular place and most comfortable for all the activities. Climate had a major effect on the performance of the traditional building architecture and its energy consumption in hot dry area of North Karnataka region. These strategies include: layout orientation, distance between buildings, building orientation & form, climatic elements such as Roof projections, jharokhas, central courtyard to mention a few Many Vernacular Technologies are Energy efficient and sustainable although some of them are currently no longer functioning properly because of changed culture and ecological situations. In this regard the key challenge is to learn fundamental lessons and principals of Vernacular Architecture, and to find the ways of integrating those principles into development programmes to plan new residence. Studying Traditional Techniques to understand the sustainable strategies used in hot-dry region to achieve thermal comfort should make a valuable contribution to the field. The paper depicts empirical study of a vernacular residence of Kalaburagi.

IAEME Publication

The modern day construction practice depends much on electromechanically devices for thermal comfort of the buildings increasing the demand for already fast depleting energy resources. The solar passive architecture concepts incorporated in the design of the building uses minimum or no energy for keeping the building comfortable naturally. So, an attempt has been made by constructing a modern building using solar passive architecture techniques in Thanjavur, Tamilnadu for warm-humid climate. Performance evaluation of the designed building is studied during the peak summer during the month of May and peak winter during the month of December. During summer and winter, the air temperature inside the building ranges from 24.6 to 30.8˚C and relative humidity ranges from 46 to 74%. It is found that the building is well within the thermal comfort as predicted by Tropical Summer Index & National Building Code of India Standards and bioclimatic chart. The analysis shows that thermal comfort model as suggested by Humphreys and Nicol (2000) is the model of best fit for the designed building. It is also evident from the analysis that the naturally ventilated building with solar passive architecture provides a thermally comfortable environment during summer and winter seasons.

Solar Energy

Sadhan Mahapatra

ajer research

The continued rapid growth of construction industry and demand of energy raises a number of persistent questions and problems and demands for solution. Passive design responds to local climate and site conditions in order to maximize the comfort and health of building users while minimizing energy use. The key to designing a passive building is to take best advantage of the local climate. Passive cooling refers to a building design approach that focuses on heat gain control and heat dissipation in a building in order to improve the indoor thermal comfort with low or nil energy consumption. Passive cooling systems use non-mechanical methods to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature and are a key factor in extenuating the impact of buildings on the environment. The energy consumption in buildings is very much with the anticipation to further increase because of improving standards of leaving and the increase of world population. Air conditioning use has increasingly penetrated the market during the last few years and quite enough to contribute in the rise of absolute energy consumption. This paper reviews and analyses the performance of various passive cooling systems and their role in providing thermal comfort and its significance in energy conservation with the help of Architectural interventions.

Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology

Dr. Sangeeta Shukla

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4 Indian homes that spotlight sustainable design practices 

By AD Staff

A Kerala Home Inspired by Laurie Baker

A jackfruit tree and need for privacy formed the basis of architect Vinu Daniel’s design philosophy when he was approached by a client to build a family home for eight near Ernakulam in Kerala. “We decide to take up a project only when the client has the same vision for the house they want to live in as we do,” says Daniel, founder of The Wallmakers, whose work is deeply influenced by Laurie Baker, pioneer of sustainable, cost-effective, and context-driven architecture in India.

The tree in question held court over one corner of the site. “This gave form to the idea of a compound wall that revolves around the tree and twists upwards to join the ferro-cement shell roof of the house seamlessly,” he explains. “This in turn created a small intimate space, landscaped like a Japanese zen garden,” he adds. Though located near the entrance of the home, the courtyard has plenty of shade and privacy for family gatherings, and is also easily accessible from the kitchen.

The Kerala home is deliberately spartan to allow the material palette to be the star of the show. Photographs courtesy of Anand Jaju and Syam Sreesylam/The Wallmakers

The 2,750-square-feet home is spread across two storeys. The first floor accommodates an open living and dining area, three bedrooms, kitchen, and an outdoor barbecue. A fourth bedroom and reading area populate the second floor, alongside an adjoining balcony and terrace. Adhering to the firm’s sustainable design philosophy, the house has been constructed from compressed stabilised earth blocks (CSEB) and rammed earth walls. “These walls take the load of the ferro-cement roof which is made from 1.5-centimetre thick, precast steel-reinforced arched shells. They effectively reduce the overall cement consumption by 40 percent and steel consumption by 30 percent and are at par with reinforced concrete slabs in all other aspects, including strength,” says Daniel.

A spiral staircase, designed to appear like draped fabric, connects the two floors. Made from cement over a skeleton of discarded pipes, it mirrors the curve of the compound wall and roof. “The staircase was a tricky one. We found out that whatever we did in 3D, didn't come up exactly. We had to think on our feet,” says Daniel. Brick walls cast a warm glow in the bedrooms—also furnished in wood—making the space cozy, despite the use of a very basic material palette.

By Kriti Saraswat-Satpathy

By Alisha Lad

By Annabelle Dufraigne

A staircase made from cement and discarded pipes connects the two floors of the house

At first glance, you might think this property (featured image) is a forest lodge tucked away in the hills. While that’s not too far from the truth, you’d be surprised to know that this house—a secondary home for a family of four, spread across 4,128 square feet—is located within the premises of a small food processing unit in Guwahati, Assam. While the location is bang in the middle of an industrial pocket with the sound of men and machines, the home, owing to its inward-looking design, still exudes peace and affords privacy.

This was also achieved by planning a separate entrance away from the other industrial buildings. The brief to the design team—Sustainable Architecture for Earth, represented by lead architect Krittika Agarwal—was simple: the owners wanted to coexist with nature while being allowed to comfortably travel between the indoors and the outdoors.

“The Aangan, as the home is known, is an attempt to acknowledge contemporary living needs while responding to our responsibility towards the environment. The project is a composition of spaces that intertwine the outdoors and indoors. It is a reflection of our Indian culture, where the central courtyard or  aangan is the heart of the house,” says Agarwal about the philosophy behind the home.

Photographs courtesy of Lina Baishya/Sustainable Architecture for Earth

In keeping with this idea, the decor was planned to accommodate local materials and traditional crafts. The sustainable design employs local timbers sourced from within a 100 kilometre radius. Similarly, the art and artefacts that the home is dotted with have been carefully curated to showcase local arts and artisans. “The handmade carpets that embellish the interiors have been sourced from multiple stores in India. The ceiling of the prayer room is adorned with miniature hand paintings by the artisans of Mandawa in Rajasthan. This painted ceiling depicts stories of Lord Krishna and connects the family to their Marwari roots. The decor is further enriched by pieces collected by the family from flea markets during their travels, both in India and abroad. Additionally, the nooks and corners of the house are adorned with oil paintings made by the lady of the house,” says Agarwal.

The homeowners are welcomed with lush greenery around the main entrance, which leads to the staircase. As one ascends, the tropical greens and delicate hanging lamps in the stairwell create an interesting visual impact. The living room is the centre of the home, and this double-height space opens out into a courtyard, blurring the lines between the outdoors and indoors.

View from the living room

A Home in Trivandrum That Funnels in Air and Light

In the heart of Trivandrum, there is a small spot that breathes fresh air. "It was being suffocated by other residential projects from all four sides," says Vinu Daniel, whose firm, The Wallmakers inverted the home 's layout to funnel the interior air flow into a central courtyard.

Airy and luminous as it may be, those are, however, not the only hallmarks that distinguish this curious home from its cookie-cutter surroundings. Its Rat-Trap bond masonry, upcycled decor and grillwork are a nod to the foolproof tradition of sustainable architecture. "Sadly, today, less than 30 percent of the world's population lives in buildings made of earth, although it is a more sustainable and durable material. The blame lies solely on the advent of industrialization and a widespread demand for cement houses. At Wallmakers, we have devoted ourselves to the cause of using mud and waste as chief components to make structures that are both utilitarian and alluring," Daniel says.

A sustainable home inspired by Laurie Baker's design philosophy in Trivandrum. Photographs courtesy of Jino Sam/The Wallmakers

Pirouetting beehive forms, fire engine red bricks and an illusion of undulating, near-constant movement: this is the facade of the Pirouette House. The decision to employ the Rat-Trap bond masonry technique proved fruitful, as the site did not offer the opportunity for soil excavation to make mud blocks. Using the Rat-Trap bond technique, Daniel and his team layered bricks vertically, rather than horizontally, to create wall cavities pointed at increasing thermal efficiency, minimizing total brick volume, and concealing structural members and service ducts. “The idea was further developed to form a series of slanting walls that danced left and right, converging only to support the ferrocement shell roof. We also used MMT ferrocement shells. These wafer-like structures are steel-reinforced, arched shells with an effective thickness of 2.5 centimetres. By taking on loads akin to RCC slabs, they reduce the overall cement consumption by 40 percent and steel consumption by 30percent,” he explains.

Brickwork walls create a cocoon in the living room, proving consonant with the wooden scrap pieces that have been polished and panelled over the floor. The cane treatment is of particular note, as it finds expression in the furniture and grillwork, with the latter doubling as a partial screen for privacy.

These wafer-like structures are steel-reinforced

A circular screen—apparently salvaged from waste metal—adds character to the wall, as is echoed in equal spirit by the cement oxide ceiling. Says Daniel of the home's orientation, "The design is inward-facing, aligned in the east-west direction, with all spaces funnelling into the central courtyard. The openings facilitate maximum cross-ventilation."

The cane treatment is of particular note, as it finds expression in the furniture and grillwork, with the latter doubling as a partial screen for privacy.

A Home in Ghaziabad That Works With Nature

Whether you gaze at the Rajasthan 'baolis' that create a cooler microclimate around the monument, Kathiawadi jali lattice work that replaces window frames, or most famously, the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur—North India's long-established historic architecture is known for providing cool indoor climatic conditions to its occupants using passive and natural cooling methods. Architect Sachin Rastogi, the founding director at ZED Lab—a Delhi-based research-driven architecture and interior design studio specializing in net-zero energy buildings—has used said design principles to build the Cantilever House , a standalone home located in Raj Nagar, Ghaziabad.

The house responds to the hot and dry climate of the region through a host of design interventions and passive cooling techniques. By placing the living areas in the north and the east to allow sufficient daylight, and by allocating space for private areas in the west and the south, the house records minimal heat gain throughout the day. The windows on the south are shaded by a pergola to ensure that the south face remains comfortable throughout the year. So, even in peak summer, only the fans are switched on in this home.

The structure employs a series of mechanisms that minimize resource consumption. Photograph courtesy of André J Fanthome/ZED Lab

The residence employs a series of mechanisms that minimize resource consumption and reduce the building's environmental impact, while enhancing the residents' thermal comfort. For example, the double-height lobby is flanked by the summer court on the north and the winter court on the south to enable stack ventilation at all times. The night-time spaces are characterized by optimum thermal mass to protect the day-time spaces from the south and west sun. The north face of the house is glazed to admit diffused daylight and avoid heat gain and glare. The facade is fitted with double-glazed units with low e-coating for thermal resistance. Nearly all of the glass surfaces for the day-time spaces are designed to open into the water court, envisioned as a transitional area between the harsh outdoors and the ambient indoors.

Interstitial spaces in the property are reinterpreted by enabling seamless movement from the inside to the outside. For instance, as one walks into the house through the double-height lobby on the east-facing entrance porch, they are pleasantly surprised by the garden's view with a water body. Greenery in the interiors establishes a strong visual connection with the outdoor landscape, while the integration of landscape features with the built envelope ensures a cool microclimate for the residents. The water court on the north serves as a heat sink; the plants and vertical garden also contribute to thermal comfort while purifying the air, trapping dust and pollutants. The front and rear lawns along with the water court also serve as recharge pits for adequate rainwater harvesting. The residents' hot water requirements are met by evacuated tube solar hot water systems installed on the rooftop.

By Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar

Photography by Moriq

By Nolan Lewis

Photography by Isha Shah

By Avantika Shankar

Photography by Studio Noughts and Crosses | Andre J. Fanthome

By Arman Khan

• Case Studies
• India Case Studies
• Bayer Case Study

A Decrease font size. A Reset font size. A Increase font size.

Eco Commercial Building (ECB) Bayer Material Science

Energy Efficient Design Features

Introduction

The Eco Commercial Building is part of the Bayer Climate Program which seeks to reduce the company’s greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy and resource efficiency. This administration building is energy self-sufficient, and requires 70 percent less electricity compared to similar buildings in this region.

Passive Design Strategies

• Orientation: Detailed analysis of environmental conditions were conducted to choose a orientation that would optimize building energy performance. The building form helps reduce heat gain or loss.
• Landscaping: Native and indige­nous species were selected for land­scaping, eliminating the need for regular irrigation. To help establish the new landscaping, plants were watered twice a day for the first two years.
• Daylighting: Daylighting is maximized in all occupied spaces. Appropriate shading devices designed through simulation software are used to minimize glare. Integrated motorised blinds are used for occupant’s visual comfort.
• Ventilation: A design ventilation rate of 30% additional outdoor air over that specified in ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2004 enhances the indoor air quality within the build­ing and provides superior occupant comfort. Passive design features resulted in a total diversified AC load of 84 kW for 891 m 2  (24 tons for 9,600 ft 2 ).
• Climatically responsive façade design, including a roof that projects beyond all four sides of the building, protecting it from direct sun and reducing heat gain.
• All external surfaces, including the walls, roof and foundation, are insulated on the exterior using polyurethane panels.
• Exterior wall assembly is composed of 150 mm (6 in.) autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), fly-ash block work and 75 mm (3 in.) polyurethane foam (PUF).
• Roof insulation materials are 75 mm (3 in.) rigid polyurethane insulation and a 50 mm (2 in.) layer of mineral wool
• Window-to-wall ratio (WWR) is 33.8%, which helps ensure maximum daylighting potential with minimum solar heat gains.
• High performance envelope insulation leads to 40% reduction in energy use compared with the ASHRAE/ IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 base­line.
• High performance double glazed windows with integrated motorized blinds provide improved protection against sunlight. Efficient glazing balances the low thermal conductivity and shading coefficient.
• The building uses regional building materials with recycled content.
• Low VOC paints, sealants, coatings and adhesives have been used wherever possible.

Active Strategies

Lighting Design

• An energy-efficient lighting system with daylighting controls is used.
• Energy-efficient fixtures and bal­lasts contribute to a 37% reduction in lighting energy compared to ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004.
• The building uses a combination of energy-efficient T5 linear fluores­cent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps.
• Occupancy sensors in normally unoccupied areas like storage areas, toilets and mechanical rooms mini­mize lighting use.
• Lighting controls ensure minimum internal heat gain and reduced air-conditioning load in those spaces.
• Approximately 87% of regu­larly occupied spaces in the build­ing have a minimum daylight factor of 2%. A lighting power density (LPD) of 7.2 W/m 2  (0.67 W/ft 2 ) in all occupied spaces is significantly lower than the ASHRAE Standard 1-2004 baseline of 11.8 W/m 2  (1.1 W/ft 2 ).
• The building uses energy-sav­ing technologies associated with the electrical power supply sys­tem/building management system

Optimized Energy Systems / HVAC system

• Chilled beams for radiant cooling eliminates energy that would be used for supply fans.
• Chilled water is supplied at 15°C (59°F) rather than at the conventional 7°C (45°F).
• Based on indoor design conditions of 24°C (75°F) and 55% relative humidity, the room dew-point tem­perature is 14°C (57°F) and chilled water is supplied at a temperature 1°C (0.6°F) higher (at 15°C [59°F]) to avoid any condensation on surfaces.

Indoor Air Quality 

• Dry outdoor ventilation air is sup­plied through an externally mounted unit that dehumidifies the air before it is supplied to occupied space. This dry outdoor air acts as primary air to the chilled beams.
• Air quality is monitored inside the entire building with help of CO2 sensors located 1.8 m (6 ft.) above the floor level in various spaces. These sensors provide an audible alarm to the operator when the dif­ference between outdoor and indoor CO2 levels exceeds 530 ppm.
• Demand Outdoor Air System (DOAS) starts at 7 a.m. to remove moisture that builds up dur­ing unoccupied hours and brings down the temperature to desired level before office operational hours start.
• DOAS recovers heat from the building’s exhaust air.
• Dehumidified cold exhaust air from the bathrooms and office space is collected in each service core. This air enters one side of the rotating heat wheel, chilling the wheel and drying the desiccant coating. This cool and dry part of the wheel then rotates into the outdoor air­stream where it absorbs heat and humidity from the incoming ventilation air before it is cooled to room temperature in the air-han­dling unit (AHU) room.
• The energy recovery wheel reduces the ventila­tion load by 80%, minimizing operating energy and the size of air-conditioning equipment.

Commissioning

• The project incorporated ASHRAE-recommended commissioning meth­odology, and used a third-party commis­sioning agent and energy auditor.
• Design phase commissioning provided early input for incorpo­rating monitoring mechanisms to facilitate successful operation and maintenance by building staff.
• Construction phase commissioning ensured proper implementation of mechanical and electrical systems.
• Acceptance phase commissioning required contractors to dem­onstrate the operation of the equip­ment as per design intent.
• Occupancy phase commissioning focused on proper operation of the systems by the operation and maintenance (O&M) staff.
• Ongoing commissioning peri­odically verifies operational methods and equipment performance.
• Metered systems include the main incoming power supply, chillers, internal lighting, external lighting, air-handling units,  water supply system, sewage treatment plant and the solar PV system

Renewable Energy

• Draws 100% of its energy from roof-top PV plant.
• 57 kW PV plant generates 88.9 MWh/yr.
• Excess energy fed to other buildings at site.
• http://www.hpbmagazine.org/attachments/article/11842/13F-EcoCommercial-Building-Noida-Uttar-Pradesh-India.pdf

Disclaimer: This website is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of Environmental Design Solutions and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

Case-Studies

• other regions
• nalanda university [PACE-D pilot]

Privacy Policy

What are Passive Design Strategies?

One of the main reasons for global warming is the burning of fossil fuels, natural gas, coal, etc which produces large amounts of greenhouse gases. These gases get trapped in the earth’s atmosphere and increase the global temperature.  A primary cause for this is the electricity production from these non-renewable resources, and hence we must reduce our dependence on them. Passive design strategies help us maintain thermal comfort inside a building without the use of electricity as heating and cooling require the most.

Passive design strategies are decided based on the climate of the place. Temperature and humidity mainly determine the type. Scotland winters require passive heating strategies, whereas Dubai summers require passive cooling strategies. In countries like India, some parts need both heating and cooling strategies.

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Psychrometric-chart-Givoni-1992_fig1_327768540

Passive cooling strategies 

In general, for a cooling effect, the orientation of the building should be such that it is not along the north-south axis as the longer sides are exposed to the sun. The house should be well ventilated, both horizontally and vertically, so that heat is lost by air movement and convection. 

Trees placed adjacent to buildings reduce the heat gains of walls and admit diffused light into the house. Having courtyards is advantageous as a part of it is heated by the inclined direct sunlight, and the rest remains cool due to shade from the adjacent wall, raising the hot air due to the stack effect. 

Windows placed at the right positions along the wind direction pushes the cool air into the house. Windows that open 100% like the casement windows with proper vertical or horizontal sunshades are used in such regions. Apart from these, there are also climate-specific strategies, as listed below.

https://archi-monarch.com/passive-cooling/

Wind catchers | Passive Design Strategies

In hot and humid regions, where air movement is the most preferred method of cooling, wind catchers are built. These are nothing but tower-like structures with openings at the end facing the wind. They direct the wind down into the building, creating air movement and a comfortable environment. The partition wall allows the hot air to exit the building.

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/575053446145225202/  

Solar chimney 

Solar chimneys are used in a similar climate but to improve the stack ventilation. These structures have openings at their ends made up of some heat-absorbing material to increase the temperature and speed of the stack effect. It helps in maintaining fresh air circulation within the building.

https://designingyourperfecthouse.com/category/building-construction/heating-cooling/

Evaporative cooling | Passive Design Strategies

This method of cooling is adopted in places where the air is very dry and hot. Here the major problem is dryness, and so to increase the relative humidity level, water ponds are placed. The space around a pond is cooled by the removal of latent heat by the evaporating molecules , thus creating a comfortable space.

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-18456-8_5

Thermal mass

In places where the nights are cold and days are hot, walls, floors or roofs with high thermal capacity are used so that the heat absorbed during the day gets released at night. This way, the interior is maintained at comfortable temperatures day and night. 

https://www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/concrete-exploiting-thermal-mass/

Thermal wall with night ventilation | Passive Design Strategies

In the case of hot summers, where both day and night require cooling, thermal walls with night ventilation punctures are adopted. The open system at night allows natural ventilation to take place. 

https://iitbuildingscience.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/night-flushing/

Roof ponds are similar to thermal walls. The roof pond is covered with a movable insulated reflective surface, which during the day bounces off the sun rays and maintains a cool temperature inside the house as the pond is filled with cold water. At night, the pond is left uncovered and is naturally cooled.

https://www.slideshare.net/manish23march/solar-15780933

Passive heating strategies

In cold regions, to utilize the sun’s heat to the fullest, buildings are placed such that the longer side faces the sun. No windows are placed along the wind direction to prevent the cold breeze from entering inside. 

While designing sunshades , both summer and winter sun altitudes are to be considered as the summer sun might heat the place too much. The material used should be able to retain this heat inside however low the outside temperature is. 

https://sustainability.williams.edu/green-building-basics/passive-solar-design/

Direct solar gain | Passive Design Strategies

Wall apertures allow sunlight to directly enter the building and heat the interior living space. Equator-facing windows are specially used for this purpose. In the northern hemisphere, these are placed at 90deg, facing the south direction to admit as maximum light as possible. 

The glazing should be well insulated to prevent the leakage of heat into the exterior . It is also essential to prevent glare and too much heat during summers. 

https://www.ecodesignadvisor.org.nz/passive-solar-design/passive-solar-house/

Indirect solar gain

Indirect solar gain is used to heat spaces which or not the living spaces, but a passage or space adjacent to them. The direct sunlight hits the outer wall and heats the passage which acts as a thermal mass and heats the interior wall with less intensity. This design is not preferred much as it blocks views and daylight. 

Glass Trombe walls are typically used to heat a particular section and pass it on to the interiors through a thermal wall that retains the heat. Window screens also act as an indirect solar gain wall.

https://slideplayer.com/slide/9949597/

Thermal mass | Passive Design Strategies

As already mentioned, the wall should be well insulated to retain within the interior and absorb more heat. In places where there are large diurnal temperature variations, high thermal mass walls are preferred. The color of the wall also plays a major role in absorbing heat.

https://carbontrack.com.au/blog/passive-solar-design/

Vernacular passive design strategies

Before the invention of electricity, passive designing was the only choice to achieve thermal comfort. Every vernacular architecture style had a reason behind it. 

In cold regions, the houses were small facing the sun, with less surface area, thick stone walls, tightly sealed doors, and windows, a central hearth, and turf-roofed to achieve a comfortable interior. 

Whereas in warmer regions, the open-plan, clerestory openings, cooling ponds, mud walls, lattice windows made from dry leaves, courtyard houses, shade from trees, etc., have been used. 

In windy regions, a dome-shaped roof is preferred to prevent overturning. There are so many such vernacular design examples around the world that help us design better. Very few architects like Ken Yeang have tried to incorporate them into modern buildings .   

Karpagam is a 3rd year undergraduate student who is very passionate about architecture and takes advantage of any opportunity that comes her way to build herself as an architect .She believes that through healthy discussions, critical changes can be brought in the society.

Emerging Technology Trends that will help shape Future of Architecture

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