This document summarizes various passive techniques used in traditional Indian architecture to promote energy efficiency and thermal comfort in buildings. It discusses how buildings were historically designed and oriented based on regional climates to minimize heat gain and maximize natural ventilation. Specific passive techniques mentioned include building orientation, shading devices, vegetation, overhangs, and sheltering from hot winds. The document advocates applying these proven passive design principles to modern construction to reduce energy costs and reliance on mechanical cooling systems.
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Original Title
Climatic Responsive Energy Efficient Passive Techniques in Buildings- IE Journal, Apr 2003. (1)
This document summarizes various passive techniques used in traditional Indian architecture to promote energy efficiency and thermal comfort in buildings. It discusses how buildings were historically designed and oriented based on regional climates to minimize heat gain and maximize natural ventilation. Specific passive techniques mentioned include building orientation, shading devices, vegetation, overhangs, and sheltering from hot winds. The document advocates applying these proven passive design principles to modern construction to reduce energy costs and reliance on mechanical cooling systems.
This document summarizes various passive techniques used in traditional Indian architecture to promote energy efficiency and thermal comfort in buildings. It discusses how buildings were historically designed and oriented based on regional climates to minimize heat gain and maximize natural ventilation. Specific passive techniques mentioned include building orientation, shading devices, vegetation, overhangs, and sheltering from hot winds. The document advocates applying these proven passive design principles to modern construction to reduce energy costs and reliance on mechanical cooling systems.
Climatic Responsive Energy Ellicient Passive JecLniques in Buildings
Dr Anupama SLarma, Asscctatc /cmbcr K K DLote, Ncn-mcmbcr R Jiwari, Ncn-mcmbcr Tbc cncrgy ccnsctcus tradtttcna/ Indtan uay c/ /t/c and arcbttccturc cvc/vcd cut c/ tbc grcat ttmc/css vcdtc pbt/cscpbtcs, and bcncc, tt uas tmmutab/y apprcprtatc tc tbc vcry csscncc c/ /t/c bascd cn buman kncu/cdgc, utsdcm and vtstcn c/ naturc-man tntcracttcn. Tbus, arcbttccturc tn tts naturc bascd mant/cstattcns, and apprcprtatcncss, tntcgratcd tc tbc /t/c, bas bccn mcst asstducus/y cu/ttvatcd tn Indta tbrcugb agcs. Tbc cncrgy ccnsctcus arcbttcctura/ bcrttagc, tbus, rcacbcd tts ptnnac/c c/ pcr/ccttcn duc tc tbc scund prtnctp/cs cmbcddcd tn man-naturc sptrttua/ and mcra/ Indtan va/ucs and bcncst dcdtcattcn tc tbc spattc-tcmpcra/ crcattcns. Tbc cvcr a/armtng ccst c/ cncrgy tn but/dtngs cn/crccs a statuary dcmand c/ cncrgy ccnscrvattcn passtvc dcstgn tccbntqucs tn but/dtngs. /cdcrn but/dtngs rcvca/ tnadcquatc tbcrma/ pcr/crmancc and rcqutrc mccbantca/ dcvtccs tc brtng tbcrma/ ccm/crt. KeyuorJs: Energy conservation measures, Passive tecLniques, Evaporative cooling ITBCDLCTIC JLe idea ol using solar energy to Leat and cool our buildings is not new. Ior centuries man Las made use ol sun`s energy. In early days sun was used to temper tLe indoor climates. JLe eartL`s climate is dependent on solar energy. Earlier, man was aware ol tLe advantages ol linding a cave or placing wall openings in tLe direction ol tLe sun`s patL to capture its warmtL during winter days and tLe unique ability ol certain materials to retain sun`s warmtL and release it later alter tLe sun Lad set. JLerelore, tLe designs, materials and orientation tLat exploited tLe natural energy llows around tLe inLabitants were cLosen. Basic lorm and material were carelully relined to introduce solar Leat or to keep out tLe sun as per requirement. Man continually explored new avenues ol Larnessing solar energy lor tLe service ol mankind. It is only during tLe recent times tLat tLese essential principles ol design set lortL in tLe ricL Leritage ol ancient arcLitecture Lave been neglected. Despite tLe increased sopListication and reliability ol solar powered devices, none ol tLe early applications ol solar energy survived competition witL tLe emerging use ol cLeaper lossil luels. AltLougL solar energy was lree and readily available, tLe capital investment was very LigL. In recent years, interest in making use ol energy lrom tLe sun Las accelerated enormously. JLis problem is: Low to convert tLe energy at reasonable cost into a reliable usable lorm lor Leating and cooling ol buildings. EED ICB PASSIVE DESIG India Las dillerent climatic conditions ranging lrom extremely Lot conditions to severely cold conditions. Energy Dr Anupama Sharma and Shri K K Dhote are with the Department of Architecture and Planning, Maulana Azad ational Institute of Technology, Bhopal and Shri B Tiwari is a practising Architect at jaipur. JLis paper was presented and discussed at tLe EigLteentL ational Convention ol ArcLitectural Engineers Leld at ]aipur during Cctober 1/-18, 2002. availability is scarce and people Lave to protect tLemselves lrom tLese extremities ol tLe climate in a natural way. Jraditional arcLitecture exLibits variety ol building design suited to tLe respective climatic conditions. JLe montL wise climatic data available lor 233 stations spread over tLe wLole country Las been analysed by tLe CBRI, Roorkee. JLe various climatic zones tLus determined Lave been delineated on tLe map ol tLe country. JLe various stations Lave been categorised under one or tLe otLer climatic zone il tLeir climate conlormed lor six or more montLs, otLerwise it is placed under tLe 'composite` zone. PASSIVE TECHIQLES AD IEATLBES JLe lirst step to acLieve passive cooling in a building is to reduce unnecessary tLermal loads tLat migLt enter it. Lsually, tLere are two types ol tLermal loads (1) Exterior loads due to tLe climate. Table 1 Basic cooling strategies Minimize Minimize Bemoval Provision of External Internal Heat of Heat Additional Load Due Load Cooling to Climate Reduction ol Reduction ol casual Ventilation EartL contact penetration ol gains buildings direct sun Reduction ol Evaporative conduction ol cooling Leat tLrougL walls/rools Reduction ol Radiative inliltration ol cooling outside Lot air 18 IE (I; }curna/-AR Depending on tLe weatLer, tLe tLermal load enters into a building in tLree major ways: (1) Penetration ol direct beam sunligLt. (2) Conduction ol Leat tLrougL walls, rools etc. (3) Inliltration ol outside air. Iigure 1 Passive techniques in practice (2) Internal loads due to people, appliances, cooking, batLing, ligLts etc. Proper zoning ol dillerent components and local ventilation ol major Leat sources can reduce tLe overall impact ol internally generated Leat loads. Jable 1, summarises tLe basic cooling strategies tLat can be considered in a building design. Vc/ S4, Aprt/ 2003 19 Iigure 2 Heat gain prevention technique through commonly used passive shading device features such as : pro|ections, balconies, buffer spaces etc Any building design lor warm climatic conditions would attempt to exclude any ol tLe above major Leat loads arising due to tLe prevailing ambient temperature and tLe intensity ol solar radiation. Iigure 1 sLows tLe passive tecLniques in practice. HEAT GAI PBEVETIC TECHIQLES Beduction of Solar and Convective Heat Import JLe interaction ol solar radiation by tLe building is tLe source ol maximum Leat gain inside tLe building space. JLe natural 20 IE (I; }curna/-AR way to cool a building, tLerelore, is to minimise tLe incident solar radiation, proper orientation ol tLe building, adequate layout witL respect to tLe neigLbouring buildings and by using proper sLading devices to Lelp control tLe incident solar radiation on a building ellectively. Cood sLading strategies Lelp to save 10%-20% ol energy lor cooling. Properly designed rool overLangs can provide adequate sun protection, especially lor soutL lacing surlaces. Vertical sLading devices sucL as trees, trellises, trellised vines, sLutters, sLading screens awnings and exterior roll blinds are also ellective. JLese options are recommended lor east-lacing and west-lacing windows and walls. Il ambient temperatures are LigLer tLan tLe room temperature, Leat enters into tLe building by convection due to undesirable ventilation, wLicL needs to be reduced to tLe minimum possible level. Adequate wind sLelter and sealing ol windows reduces tLe air inliltration and tLis requires proper planning and landscaping. Iigure 2 sLows some ol tLe Leat gain prevention tecLniques. Crientation of Building Maximum solar radiation is interrupted by tLe rool (Lorizontal surlace) lollowed by tLe east and west walls and tLen tLe nortL wall during tLe summer period, wLen tLe soutL oriented wall receives minimum radiation. It is tLerelore desirable tLat tLe building is oriented witL tLe longest walls lacing nortL and soutL, so tLat only sLort walls lace east and west. JLus only tLe smallest wall areas are exposed to intense morning and evening sun. Shading by eighbouring Buildings JLe buildings in a cluster can be spaced sucL tLat tLey sLade eacL otLer mutually. JLe amount and ellectiveness ol tLe sLading, Lowever, depends on tLe type ol building clusters. Martin and MarcL (19/2) Lave classilied building clusters into tLree basic types, tc, pavilions, streets and courts. Pavilions are isolated buildings, single or in clusters, surrounded by large open spaces. Street, long building blocks arranged in parallel rows, separated by actual streets in open spaces and courts are delined as open spaces surrounded by buildings on all sides. Shading by Vegetation SLading by trees and vegetation is a very ellective metLod ol cooling tLe ambient Lot air and protecting tLe building lrom solar radiation. JLe solar radiation absorbed by tLe leaves is mainly utilized lor pLotosyntLesis and evaporative Leat losses. A part ol tLe solar radiation is stored as Leat by tLe lluids in tLe plants or trees. JLe best place to plant sLady trees is to be decided by observing wLicL windows admit tLe most sunsLine during peak Lours in a single day in tLe Lottest montLs. Lsually east and west oriented windows and walls receive about 50% more sunsLine tLan tLe nortL and soutL oriented windows/walls. Jrees sLould be planted at positions determined by lines lrom tLe centres ol tLe windows on tLe west or east walls toward tLe position ol tLe sun at tLe designated Lour and date. Cn tLe soutL side only deciduous trees sLould be planted. Shading by Cverhangs, Louvers and Textured Iacade JLe devices wLicL provide sLading to an opening can be classilied into tLree types: (i) movable opaque, cg, roller blind, curtain etc can be LigLly ellective in reducing solar gains but eliminates view and impedes air movement, (ii) louvers wLicL may be adjustable or lixed allect view and air movement to some degree and provide security, and (iii) lixed overLangs: easy to attain on single storey buildings witL overLanging rool. Also gives rain protection to walls and openings and Las little or no ellect on view and air movement. Maximum solar radiation in summer is incident on tLe rool. It is, tLerelore, advisable to protect tLe rool lrom tLe sun as lar as possible. Shelter Against Hot Winds Hot winds during summer in Lot and dry climatic conditions are a source ol large convective Leat gain and a source ol extreme tLermal discomlort. Wind sLelter lor a building can be provided by taking tLe advantage ol tLe existing topograpLy, sucL as an elevated landmass or by creating wind barriers in tLe lorm ol trees, sLrubs, lences or walls. Lsually, an opaque barrier creates a turbulent llow ol wind and one Las to avoid tLe accumulation ol Leat lrom tLe sun-irradiated surlaces between tLe barrier and tLe surlace. BCCIIG TECHIQLES A building can cope up witL seasonal weatLer cLanges by tuning itsell to tLe Leat sources or Leat sinks witL wLicL it is coupled. JLe Leat sources sLould be at temperatures LigLer tLan tLe temperatures inside tLe building, wLereas tLe Leat sink must be at a lower temperature. Lsual Leat sources are sun or tLe eartL, wLile tLe Leat sinks are tLe ambient air, radiant sky and tLe eartL. Iigure 3 sLows tLe traditional and modern rooling tecLniques. Shading of Boof and Walls Surlace sLading can be provided as an integral part ol tLe building element or by tLe use ol a separate cover. HigLly textured walls Lave portions ol tLeir surlaces in tLe sLade. JLe radiation absorbing area ol sucL a textured surlace is less tLan its radiation emitting area and tLerelore it will be cooler tLan a llat surlace. JLe increased surlace area will also result in an increased coellicient ol convective Leat transler, wLicL will permit tLe building to cool down laster at nigLt wLen tLe ambient temperature is lower tLan tLe building temperature. Iigure 3 Boof techniques (a) traditional (b) modern Vc/ S4, Aprt/ 2003 21 An alternative metLod is to provide a cover ol deciduous plants or creepers. Because ol tLe evaporation lrom tLe leal surlaces, tLe temperature ol sucL a cover will be lower tLan tLe daytime air temperature and at nigLt it may even be lower tLan tLe sky temperature as in Iigure 3. In addition to sLading, tLis arrangement provides an increased surlace area lor radiative emission, and an insulting cover ol still air over tLe rool wLicL impedes Leat llow into tLe building, wLile still permitting upward Leat llow at nigLt. AltLougL, tLe system ol eartLen pots is tLermally ellicient, tLe metLod sullers lrom practical dilliculties because tLe rool is rendered unusable and its maintenance is dillicult. An ellective rool-sLading device is a removable canvas cover. JLis can be mounted close to tLe rool in tLe daytime and at nigLt it can be rolled up to permit radiative cooling. JLe upper surlace ol tLe canvas sLould be painted wLite to minimize tLe amount ol absorbed radiation by tLe canvas and tLe consequent conductive Leat gain tLrougL it. Beflecting Surfaces Il tLe external surlaces ol tLe building are painted witL sucL colours tLat rellect solar radiation (in order to Lave minimum absorption), but tLe emission in tLe long wave region is LigL, tLen tLe Leat llux transmitted into tLe building is reduced considerably. Building Surface Cooling Cooling ol building surlaces by evaporation ol water provides Leat sink lor tLe room air lor dissipation ol Leat. Maintenance ol water lilm over tLe surlace ol building element especially tLe rool brings down its temperature below tLe wet-bulb temperature ol tLe ambient air even in tLe presence ol solar radiation tLus making tLe rool surlace to act as a means ol Leat transmission lrom inside tLe building to tLe ambient air witLout increasing tLe Lumidity ol tLe room air. Rool surlace evaporative cooling consists ol maintaining a unilorm tLin lilm ol water on tLe rool terraces ol buildings. JLis causes tLe rool temperature to acLieve a mucL lower value tLan tLe otLer elements. JLe rool evaporation process can be very ellective in Lot and dry and also in warm and Lumid climate zones because ol tLe incident solar radiation. JLe ellect ol rool surlace cooling depends on tLe type ol construction. Boof Ponds Water stored on tLe rool acts as a Leat source and Leat sink botL during winter and summer climatic conditions. JLe tLermal resistance ol tLe rool in tLis system is kept very small. In summer during tLe day, tLe rellecting insulation keeps tLe solar Leat away lrom water, wLicL keeps receiving Leat tLrougL tLe rool lrom tLe space below it tLereby cooling it. In tLe nigLt, tLe insulation is removed and water, despite cooling tLe living space below, gets cooler on account ol Leat losses by evaporation, convection and radiation. JLus, tLe water regains its capacity to cool tLe living space. In winter, tLe insulation is removed during tLe day. Water and black surlace ol tLe rool absorb solar radiation, tLe living space continues to receive Leat tLrougL tLe rool. During nigLt water is covered witL insulation to reduce Leat losses. VETILATIC TECHIQLES Windows Windows play a dominant role in inducing indoor ventilation due to wind lorces. Various parameters tLat allect ventilation are climate, wind direction, area ol lenestration/location, size ol inlet and outlet openings, volume ol tLe room, sLading devices, wire mesLes/screens, and internal partitions As in wind, two lorces govern ventilation inside tLe building: (i) Air moves lrom LigL-pressure zone to a low-pressure zone il openings are made on tLe walls ol tLe respective zones in a building. (ii) Il tLe inlet and outlet are placed at dillerent LeigLts, air llows lrom tLe inlet to tLe outlet due to tLe density dillerence created by tLe upward movement ol warm air. Iigure + sLows dillerent tecLniques lor ellective ventilation. In order to attain sensible air movement, it is essential to provide cross-ventilation. Single sided ventilation allows air movement to a very sLallow deptL ol tLe building. An alternative is to provide an exLaust lor tLe air via a ridge terminal or cLimney or an under lloor supply ol air to rooms on tLe leeward side ol tLe building. LIMITATIC CI WIDCW VETILATIC It may not always be possible to locate tLe openings in tLe windward direction due to reasons like site restriction, solar radiation, privacy etc. Jo some extent tLe limitations can be overcome by designing suitable wind dellectors. Wind Tower Prtnctp/c JLe Lot ambient air enters tLe tower tLrougL tLe openings in tLe tower and is cooled wLen it comes in contact witL tLe cool tower and tLus becomes Leavier and sinks down. WLen an inlet is provided to tLe rooms witL an outlet on tLe otLer side tLere is a dralt ol cool air. Alter a wLole day ol Leat excLange, tLe wind tower becomes warm in tLe evening. 22 IE (I; }curna/-AR Vc/ S4, Aprt/ 2003 23 Iigure 4 Ventilation techniques 2+ IE (I; }curna/-AR During nigLt tLe reverse Lappens, tc, tLe cooler ambient air comes in contact witL tLe bottom ol tLe tower tLrougL tLe rooms, it gets Leated up by tLe warm surlace ol wind tower and begins to rise due to buoyancy, and tLus an air llow is maintained in tLe reverse direction. App/tcattcn JLis system can work very ellectively in Lot and dry types ol climate, wLere daily variations in temperatures are LigL witL LigL temperature during day time and low temperature during nigLt time. As a result ol clear sky conditions during tLe nigLt, radiative losses are LigL. JLe openings ol tLe wind tower are provided in tLe direction ol tLe wind, and outlets on tLe leeward side take advantage ol tLe pressure dillerence created by wind speed and direction. ormally, tLe outlets Lave tLrice tLe area ol tLe inlet lor better elliciency. JLe inlet sLould be properly designed lor unilorm distribution. Solar Chimney A solar cLimney utilizes tLe stack ellect, as already described, but Lere tLe air is deliberately Leated by solar radiation in order to create an exLaust ellect. Cne sLould distinguisL between tLe stack ellect ventilation due to tLe building itsell, and tLat due to a solar cLimney. In tLe lormer case, one tries to keep tLe increment in tLe building temperature as small as possible (ventilation is being used lor cooling) and Lence tLe stack ellect is weak. In tLe case ol a solar cLimney, tLere is no limit to tLe temperature increment witLin tLe cLimney, since it is isolated lrom tLe used spaces. JLe cLimney can tLerelore be designed to maximize solar gains and tLe ventilation ellects. JLe parameters ellecting tLe ventilation rates are LeigLt between inlet and outlet, cross-sectional area ol tLe inlet and tLe outlet, geometrical construction ol tLe solar absorbing plate, and inclination angle. JLe use ol solar cLimneys is advisable lor regions wLere very low wind speeds exist. Courtyard Effect Due to tLe incident solar radiation in tLe courtyard, tLe air in tLe courtyard becomes warmer and rises up. Jo replace it, cool air lrom tLe ground level llows tLrougL tLe louvered openings ol tLe room, tLus producing tLe air llow. During tLe nigLt tLe process is reversed. As tLe warm rool surlace gets cooled by convection and radiation, a stage is reacLed wLen its surlace temperature equals tLe dry bulb temperature ol tLe ambient air. Il tLe rool surlaces are sloped towards an internal courtyard, tLe cooled air sinks into tLe court and enters tLe living space tLrougL tLe low level openings and leaves tLrougL LigLer level openings. JLis concept can very well be applied in a warm and Lumid climate. It is nescessary to ensure tLat tLe courtyard gets adequate radiation to produce a dralt tLrougL tLe interior. An airllow inside tLe room can be maintained by a dual courtyard concept, wLere one courtyard is kept cool by sLady trees/ vegetation and anotLer courtyard to sun. Air Vent A typical vent is a Lole cut in tLe apex ol a domed or cylindrical rool. Cpenings in tLe protective cap over tLe vent direct wind across it. WLen air llows over a curved surlace, its velocity increases resulting in lowering ol tLe pressure at tLe apex ol tLe curved rool, tLereby, inducing tLe Lot air under tLe rool to llow out tLrougL tLe vent. In tLis way, air is kept circulating tLrougL tLe room under tLe rool. Air vents are usually placed over living rooms, olten witL a pool ol water directly under tLe vent to cool tLe air, wLicL is moving up to tLe vent, by evaporation. Air vents are employed in areas wLere dusty winds make wind towers impractical. It works well botL in Lot and dry zones and warm and Lumid zones unlike a wind tower wLicL works only in Lot and dry zones. It is most suited lor single units wLicL are just above lrequently used liveable space. CCCLIG TECHIQLES Sensible and Evaporative Cooling JLe Leat loss lrom air (on account ol sensible cooling) results in a decreased air temperature, but no cLange in tLe water- vapour content ol tLe air. Air in tLe upper part ol a wind tower is sensibly cooled. WLen water is introduced into a system, evaporative cooling occurs. SucL cooling involves a cLange in botL tLe water-vapour content and tLe temperature ol tLe air. WLen unsaturated air comes in contact witL water, some water is evaporated, tLus lowering tLe temperature ol tLe air and increasing its water-vapour content. A wind-tower system tLat cools air evaporatively as well as sensibly is particularly ellective. Iigure 5 sLows lew ol tLe commonly adopted cooling tecLniques. Air Cooling by Tunnels Jemperature deep inside tLe eartL remains nearly constant. Daily temperature variations Lardly allect tLe eartL`s temperature at a deptL ol more tLan one meter, wLile tLe seasonal variations ol tLe ambient temperature are strongly dampened by tLe eartL. JLe eartL`s temperature upto a deptL ol 6 m to 8 m is inlluenced by tLe annual ambient temperature variations witL a time delay ol several montLs. It is seen tLat in DelLi tLe eartL`s temperature at a deptL ol about + m is nearly constant at a level ol about 23C tLrougLout tLe year. A tunnel in tLe lorm ol pipes or otLerwise will acquire tLe same temperature at its surlace causing tLe ambient air ventilated tLrougL tLis tunnel to get cooled. Earth Cooling Because ol tLe tLermal storage capacity ol eartL, tLe daily and even tLe annual temperature lluctuation keeps on decreasing witL increasing deptL below tLe ground surlace. At a deptL ol 15 m, tLe eartL Las a constant temperature ol 10C. JLe level ol water table plays an important role Lere. In summer and particularly during tLe day, tLe ground temperature is mucL Vc/ S4, Aprt/ 2003 25 lower tLan tLe ambient air temperature. Il a part ol tLe building is eartL bermed, tLe building loses Leat to tLe eartL particularly, il tLe insulation levels are low. JLe most ancient dwellings were olten dug into tLe ground or covered witL eartL. Pit Louses ol ortL American Indians, Eskimo Louses witL sturdy timber rools lor supporting eartL and a deep covering ol snow in winter, and tLe early Scandinavian larms are lew examples ol tLis principle. Earth Tunnel Cooling Benelits ol ground temperature stabilisation lor Labitable rooms, lood and wine stores Lave been known since Iigure 5 Cooling techniques (evaporative technique) 26 IE (I; }curna/-AR preListoric times. JLere are many examples ol underground vernacular buildings. JLe building may be coupled witL tLe eartL eitLer by conduction, tc, wLere tLe building envelope is in contact witL tLe deep eartL by burying or berming. A tLird medium by wLicL tLe eartL could be coupled witL tLe building is tLe eartL air tunnel, wLere ventilation supply air is drawn into tLe building via insulated ducts buried deep into tLe eartL. Cooling and Heating Techniques using Thermal Mass Tbcrma/ Stcragc JLermal capacity ellects in tLe materials result in time delay as well as damping ol tLe parameters in tLe environment. As a result temperature dillerences exist between tLe materials and tLe environment around tLem and tLis ellect can be utilized lor space cooling. But/dtng E/cmcnts All building elements sucL as walls, rool and lloor can be used lor tLermal storage. Creating a llow ol lluid tLrougL tLe storage media can increase tLe elliciency ol tLermal storage. Additional tLermal storage can be created by construction ol rock bed storage. Ccnvcnttcna/ Wa//s and Cct/tngs JLermal storage elliciency ol a building element depends on tLe Leat storage capacity ol various material layers ol tLe building element, tLe order in wLicL tLese layers are arranged and also on tLe lact wLetLer tLe material is in tLe steady state or in tLe transient state. Ior example, a Langing acoustic ceiling ol mineral wool below tLe rool acts as a ligLtweigLt building element lor tLe tLermal steady state conditions. During tLe transient state, Lowever, tLe concrete room acts as a tLermal storage system witL appreciable time delay. A larger tLermal storage capacity in any case leads to smootLening ol tLe room temperature lluctuation and delays room temperature cLanges. JLe tLermal perlormance ol a building during tLe summer time is positively inlluenced by external as well as internal building elements. But/dtng E/cmcnts uttb Atr I/cu JLe Leat storage capacity ol building elements can be increased by Laving some tubes in tLe massive ceiling and cooling it during tLe nigLt by lorcing air llow. Tbc Vary Tbcrm Wa// Controlling tLe air movement in magnitude and direction gives rise to wall components witL varying tLermal resistance. SucL a system can be used lor mild winter Leating and summer cooling lor mixed climate as in DelLi. JLe external wall components are made ol ligLt material like aluminium or wood, wLile tLe internal component is made ol brick (or concrete) wall. JLe llow ol air is controlled into tLe room or to tLe ambient by providing proper vents in tLe interior wall. During tLe summer daytime, tLe wall provides ellective air insulation and during tLe nigLt tLe cool ambient air comes in contact witL tLe warm brick wall and gets Leated establisLing a natural llow ol air. JLis air movement Lelps in quick removal ol tLe Leat llux. During winter, tLe vents are opened during tLe day into tLe room lor supplying warm air and all vents are kept closed during tLe nigLt time, tLus providing an air insulation wLicL minimizes Leat losses to tLe ambient. Vary tLerm wall deriving its name lrom tLe variable resistance can be operated in tLree modes: (i) o llow ol air in tLe gap tLus ellectively reducing tLe system to an air gap witLin tLe wall, (ii) Continuous llow ol air into tLe room or to tLe atmospLere maintained by natural or lorced convection, and (iii) o air llow during tLe day or nigLt and creating an airllow by opening tLe vents during nigLt or day time depending on tLe weatLer conditions. CCCLLSIC JLe concept ol 'JLermal mass` in buildings was used by ancestors. Joday it is tLougLt ol as a means ol conserving energy. JLe loregoing description ol vernacular arcLitecture il examined lor recurrent lorms, materials or lile patterns may lead to newer ideas. BEIEBECES 1. ] E Aronium. 'Climate and ArcLitecture.` Rctnbc/d Pub/tsbtng Ccrpcrattcn, ew York. 2. B M Civoni. 'Climate and ArcLitecture.` App/tcd Sctcncc Pub/tsbcrs, London, LK, 19/6. 3. S ]armul. 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