Sustainable Architecture

Lecture -03
Passive Cooling Techniques
GATEWAY COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND
DESIGN, SONIPAT HARYANA

What is Passive cooling

Passive Cooling Techniques
Lecture -03 Sustainable Architecture B.Arch.

G.C.A.D.

Asst. Prof. Lenin Sachdeva

Asst. Prof. Parul Saini

Sustainable Architecture

PASSIVE COOLING CONCEPTS

The first steps to achieve natural cooling in a building is to reduce unnecessary
thermal loads that enter it. Usually, there are two types of thermal loads i.e.
Exterior loads due to the climate and
Interior loads due to people ,appliances, cooking , bathing , light etc.
Proper zoning of different components and local ventilation of the major heat
sources can reduce the overall impact of internally generated heat loads .Depending
on the weather , the heat gain in a building can occur in three major ways:
Penetration of direct beam of sunlight
Conduction of heat through wall , roofs
Infiltration of outside air

Lecture -01 Sustainable Architecture B.Arch.

G.C.A.D.

Asst. Prof. Lenin Sachdeva

Asst. Prof. Parul Saini

Sustainable Architecture

ORIENTATION OF BUILDING
In countries like India , during the summers , maximum solar radiation is
interrupted by the roof [ horizontal surface ] followed by the east and west walls
and then the south and north walls.
It is therefore desirable that the building is oriented with the longest walls facing
north and south, so that only short face receives radiation from the east and west
directions.
SHADING BY NEIGHBORING BUILDINGS
The building in a cluster can be spaced such that they shade each other mutually.
The amount and effectiveness of the shading , however , depends on the types of
building clusters.
Building cluster can be classified into three basic types i.e. pavilions , streets and
courts .
Pavilions are isolated building single or in clusters , surrounded by large open
spaces.
Streets are long building blocks arranged in parallel by rows separated by actual
streets in open spaces.
Courts are defined as open spaces surrounded by buildings on all sides.
Lecture -01 Sustainable Architecture B.Arch.

G.C.A.D.

Asst. Prof. Lenin Sachdeva

Asst. Prof. Parul Saini

Sustainable Architecture

SHADING BY VEGETATION
Shading by trees and vegetation is a very effective method of cooling the ambient
hot air and for protecting the building from solar radiation.
The solar radiation absorbed by the leaves is mainly utilized for photosynthesis
and evaporative heat losses.
A part of the solar radiation is stored as heat by the fluids in the plants or trees.
SHADING BY OVERHANGS LOUVERS AND TEXTURED FACADES
Few building element help in blocking direct entry of sunlight into building
envelope which is the most important strategy in passive cooling. Such elements
may be integral part of the building or they may even be externally added . The
devices that provide shading to an opening [door or window ] can be classified in
to three types........
Movable opaque e.g. Roller blind , curtain ,etc; can be highly effective in
reducing solar gain but eliminates view and impedes air movement.
Louvers , may be adjustable or fixed ,effect view and air movement to some
degree , can also provide security .
Lecture -01 Sustainable Architecture B.Arch.

G.C.A.D.

Asst. Prof. Lenin Sachdeva

Asst. Prof. Parul Saini

Sustainable Architecture

Fixed overhangs .Easy to attain on single storey buildings with overhanging

roof . Also gives rain protection to walls and openings .little or no effect on
view and air movement.
MOVABLE BLINDS OR CURTAINS
Movable blinds or curtains effectively block the transmission of solar radiation
through glazed windows , especially on the east and west walls. In hot and dry
climates , when the ambient air is hotter than the room air , these devices also
help to reduce the convective heat gain.
OVERHANGS AND LOUVERS
Overhangs or louvers are utilized to block that part of the sky through which
the sun passes . This leaves the low angle view and entry of air unimpeded.

Lecture -01 Sustainable Architecture B.Arch.

G.C.A.D.

Asst. Prof. Lenin Sachdeva

Asst. Prof. Parul Saini

Sustainable Architecture

REFLECTING SURFACES
If , the external surfaces of the building are painted with such colours that reflect
solar radiation [ in order to have minimum absorption ] , but the emission in the
long wave region is high , then the heat flux transmitted into the building is
reduced considerably.

Lecture -01 Sustainable Architecture B.Arch.

G.C.A.D.

Asst. Prof. Lenin Sachdeva

Asst. Prof. Parul Saini

Sustainable Architecture

THERMAL INSULATION
Use of insulation is a well known and well practice concept used for energy
conservation in building .
In hot climatic conditions ,it should be ensured that the thermal mass is weakly
coupled with external heat source [i.e. Solar radiation ],but strongly coupled with the
interior in order to be able to absorb internal gain easily.

Lecture -01 Sustainable Architecture B.Arch.

G.C.A.D.

Asst. Prof. Lenin Sachdeva

Asst. Prof. Parul Saini

Sustainable Architecture

AIR CAVITIES
Air cavities within walls or an attic space in the roof- ceiling combination reduces
the solar heat gain factor [SHF].
If it is possible to ventilate the air gap between the roof and the ceiling, then we
could expect a further reduction of heat transfer .

Lecture -01 Sustainable Architecture B.Arch.

G.C.A.D.

Asst. Prof. Lenin Sachdeva

Asst. Prof. Parul Saini