PASSIVE COOLING

SYSTEM
ARCH214-18
TROPICAL DESIGN

12 October 2019
Design Variables in
Architectural Expression
◆ SHAPE
◆ Surface to volume ratio; orientation; building height
◆ BUILDING FABRIC
◆ Materials for construction; thermal insulation; surface
qualities; shading and sun control
◆ FENESTRATION
◆ The size, position and orientation of windows; window
glass materials; external and internal shading devices
◆ VENTILATION
◆ Air tightness; outdoor fresh air; cross ventilation and
natural ventilation
PASSIVE COOLING SYSTEM

◆ A cooling system using a building’s design and

construction to maintain a comfortable temperature
within the building
◆ Passive design is essentially low-energy design achieved
by the building’s particular morphological organization
rather than electro-mechanical means
PASSIVE COOLING TECHNIQUES
1. BUILDING CONFIGURATION, SITE LAYOUT and SITE
PLANNING
Example : A building can be protected from direct sunlight by
placing it on a location within the site that utilizes existing
features such as trees, terrain etc.

2. BUILDING ORIENTATION
Example : In tropical countries such as the Philippines, it is
best to place service areas in the west and east facing sides of
the building because these sides are exposed to direct
sunlight.

3. FACADE DESIGN
◆ Use of Double-layered façade
◆ Use Low-emissivity glass (Low-E glass)
◆ Use of Insulation
PASSIVE COOLING TECHNIQUES
4. SUNSHADING DEVICES
◆ HORIZONTAL TYPES
◆ VERTICAL TYPES
◆ EGGCRATE TYPES
Combination of Horizontal and Vertical Shades

5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION

◆ CROSS VENTILATION
The circulation of fresh air through open windows, doors or other
openings on opposite sides of a room

◆ STACK EFFECT / CHIMNEY EFFECT

The tendency of air or gas in a shaft or other vertical space to rise
when heated, creating a draft that draws in cooler air or gas from
below

6. OTHERS: PASSIVE DAYLIGHT DEVICES, BUILDING ENVELOP COLOR,

VERTICAL LANDSCAPING
BUILDING CONFIGURATION, SITE
LAYOUT AND SITE PANNING

◆ A building can be protected from direct sunlight by

placing it on a location within the site that utilizes
existing features such as trees, terrain etc.
BUILDING CONFIGURATION, SITE
LAYOUT AND SITE PANNING

◆ Factors that affect building’s energy use and its

sustainability.
◆ Building's shape
◆ Solar orientation
◆ Interior layout
◆ Size
BUILDING CONFIGURATION, SITE
LAYOUT AND SITE PANNING

◆ In cold climates building form should be

◆ Compact to reduce heat loss caused by winter winds
◆ Elongated on the east west axis to maximize solar gain.
◆ The length of the roof overhangs for summer shading is a
critical factor.
◆ The correct length varies with distance and latitude.
BUILDING CONFIGURATION, SITE
LAYOUT AND SITE PANNING

◆ In a humid hot climate

◆ Heat gain through windows should be minimized
◆ Ventilation and shading maximized.
◆ Air movement should be maximized with cross ventilation.
◆ Increasing the surface area by making the building taller
or longer increases the area of heat transfer.
◆ This is inefficient in winter
◆ Desirable in hot weather. .
BUILDING CONFIGURATION, SITE
LAYOUT AND SITE PANNING

◆ Shape and surroundings of any building

◆ May cause heat gain when cooling is required and heat loss
when heat gain is required.
◆ For any given enclosed building volume, there are
numerous ways in which actual dimensions of height,
length and breadth can vary resulting in different total
surface areas.
◆ Two buildings, both having the same volume and built of the
same materials, may have quiet different surface areas and
hence different rate of heat loss and heat gain.
◆ The way the volume and surfaces of the building are oriented
also severely affect the heat gain or loss from a building.
BUILDING ORIENTATION

◆ In tropical countries such as the Philippines, it is best to

place service areas in the west and east facing sides of
the building because these sides are exposed to direct
sunlight.
BUILDING ORIENTATION

◆ Orientation of the building generally used to refer to

solar orientation
◆ The placement of building with respect to solar access.
◆ Although any building will have different orientations
for its different sides, the orientation can refer to a
particular room, or to the most important facade of the
building.
◆ The building orientation can have an impact on heating,
lighting and cooling costs.
◆ By maximizing southern exposure, for example, one can
take optimal advantage of the sun for daylight and passive
solar heating
◆ This will result in lower cooling costs by minimizing
western exposures, where it's most difficult to provide
shade from the sun.
BUILDING ORIENTATION

◆ Solar orientation is different to

magnetic orientation
◆ It is very important that you
remember to orientate your house
with respect to the Sun and not to
magnetic North (or South), see the
diagram below.
◆ Apparent magnetic North can be
very different to where Solar North
is (up to 20 degrees), this can
make all the difference between
a passive solar design being viable
or not
BUILDING ORIENTATION

◆ Living Area placement

◆ Also of importance is that the rooms most used must be on
the side of the house orientated towards the sun, i.e. the
kitchen, lounge, etc. Also put the least used rooms on the
side of the house in shade, i.e. garage, laundry; these will
also act as additional thermal mass, if properly insulated.
Five Elements of Passive
Solar Design
◆ APERTURE COLLECTOR
◆ (typically glass) the aperture collector is the area through
which sunlight enters the home or building
◆ ABSORBER
◆ the absorber is typically a hard, darkened surface on the
storage element that sits in the path of sunlight and
absorbs its heat.
◆ THERMAL MASS
◆ the material(s) that retain the heat absorbed by the
absorber
◆ Thermal mass can be composed of water, concrete,
stones, bricks, tile or other materials with high specific
heat capacity.
Five Elements of Passive Solar
Design
◆ DISTRIBUTION
◆ the means by which the solar heat is transferred from the
storage material(s) to areas of the home or building
◆ CONTROL
◆ elements that control the under- and overheating of a
space, such as overhangs, differential thermostats, and
operable vents

A true passive solar building includes

proper orientation, collection, and
distribution capability
Background Facts
◆ Building orientation can maximize
◆ Opportunities for passive solar heating when needed,
◆ Avoidance of Solar heat gain during cooling time,
◆ Natural ventilation, and
◆ Daylighting throughout the year.
◆ Southern exposure is the key physical orientation feature for
passive solar energy in the northern hemisphere
◆ Winter in the northern hemisphere, the sun comes up in the
southeast and sets in the southwest.
◆ Summer in the northern hemisphere, the sun comes up in the
northeast and sets in the northwest.
◆ In the middle of the day in the summer, the sun is high in the
sky overhead.
◆ In the middle of the day in the winter, the sun is low in the
southern sky.
Background Facts

◆ The basic considerations for optimizing the solar heating

potential of a sunspace include the directional
orientation and the angle of the glazing (glass or
windows).
◆ In general, a south-facing orientation within 30o east or
west of true south will provide around 90% of the
maximum static solar collection potential.
◆ The optimum directional orientation depends on site
specific factors and on local landscape features such as
trees, hills, or other buildings that may shade the
sunspace during certain times of the day.
Background Facts

◆ Rectangular buildings should be oriented with the long

axis running east-west, so the east and west walls
receive less direct sun in the summer.
◆ In the winter, passive solar heat gain occurs on the
south side of the building
Energy Conservation Strategies
relating to BUILDING ORIENTATION

◆ Maximizing north and south façade exposure for daylight

harvesting to reduce lighting electrical loads
◆ Using southern exposure for solar heat gain to reduce
heating loads in the heating season
◆ Using shading strategies to reduce cooling loads caused
by solar gain on south façades
◆ Turning long façades toward the direction of prevailing
breezes to enhance the cooling effect of natural
ventilation
◆ Turning long façades in the direction parallel to slopes
to take advantage of cool updrafts to enhance natural
ventilation
Energy Conservation Strategies
relating to BUILDING ORIENTATION

◆ Shielding windows and openings from the direction of

harsh winter winds and storms to reduce heating loads
◆ Orienting the most populated building spaces toward
north and south exposures to maximize daylighting and
natural ventilation benefit
◆ Determining building occupant usage patterns for
public, commercial, institutional, or residential
buildings, and how occupants will be affected by the
building orientation, by time of day, on different
exposures
Application: Designing for
Building Orientation
◆ The designer must consider and prioritize all factors and
site conditions affecting building orientation.
◆ Orientation factors depending on functional
requirements:
◆ Designing for cooling load or heating load.
◆ To take advantage of north–south day lighting; the building
may be oriented along an east–west axis.
◆ But this may be counter to street lines and other site
considerations.
◆ Orientation of the building entrance may have to respect
street access, activity zones, and local urban design
guidelines.
Application: Designing for
Building Orientation
◆ For most regions, optimum façade orientation is
typically south.
◆ South-facing glass is relatively easy to shade with an
overhang during the summer to minimize solar heat gain.
◆ Light shelves also can work well with the higher sun in the
southern exposure
◆ North-facing glass receives good daylight but relatively
little direct isolation, so heat gain is less of a concern.
Application: Designing for
Building Orientation
◆ East and west window orientations and horizontal
orientation (skylights) all result in more undesired heat
gain in the summer than winter
◆ East and west sun glare is also more difficult to control for
occupant comfort because of low sun angles in early
morning and late afternoon
Application: Designing for
Building Orientation
◆ Wind will affect tall buildings more than low structures.
◆ Design for wind direction—admitting favorable breezes and
shielding from storms and cold weather winds.
◆ Wind information is often available from airports,
libraries, and/or county agricultural extension offices.
◆ In cold climates, locate pedestrian paths and parking lots
on south and east sides of buildings to enable snow
melting,
◆ In southern climates locate these on the less sunny east or
north sides of the building
Application: Designing for
Building Orientation
◆ In temperate and northern climates
◆ Locate deciduous trees for south-side shading in the
cooling season;
◆ In the heating season, the dropped leaves will permit
desired solar gain.
◆ In urban settings, orientation may be strongly
determined by
◆ Local regulation
◆ View easements
◆ Urban design regulations
Application: Designing for
Building Orientation
◆ To minimize heat losses and gains through the surface of
a building
◆ A compact shape is desirable
◆ This characteristic is mathematically described as the
“surface-to-volume” ratio of the building.
◆ The most compact orthogonal building would be a cube.
◆ This configuration, however, may place a large portion of the
floor area far from perimeter day lighting
Application: Designing for
Building Orientation
◆ To minimize heat losses and gains through the surface of a
building
◆ A compact shape is desirable
◆ This characteristic is mathematically described as the “surface-to-
volume” ratio of the building.
◆ The most compact orthogonal building would be a cube.
◆ This configuration, however, may place a large portion of the floor area
far from perimeter day lighting
◆ Contrary to the cube, a building massing that optimizes day lighting and
ventilation would be elongated along its east–west axis
◆ More of the building area is closer to the perimeter.

◆ Although this may appear to compromise the thermal performance of the

building

◆ The electrical load and cooling load savings achieved by a well-designed day
lighting system will be more than compensate for the increased surface
losses