ENERGY EFFICIENT ARCHITECTURE

ELECTIVE SEM 8
-Ar .Md Muthahar

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 UNIT I – PASSIVE DESIGN
• SYLLABUS - Significance of Energy efficiency in
the contemporary context

• Simple passive design consideration involving

site condition,
• building orientation,
• plan form and
• building envelope – heat transfer and
thermal performance of walls and roof.
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WHAT IS ENERGY EFFICIENT ARCHITECTURE?

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• Energy efficiency simply means using less energy to perform the same
task – that is, eliminating energy waste.

• Energy efficiency brings a variety of benefits: reducing greenhouse gas

emissions, reducing demand for energy imports, and lowering our
costs on a household and economy-wide level.

• While renewable energy technologies also help accomplish these

objectives, improving energy efficiency is the cheapest – and often the
most immediate – way to reduce the use of fossil fuels.

• Energy efficiency means using less energy to provide the same service.

•Environmental and energy study institute.

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Energy Efficient Architecture 5
Energy Efficient Architecture 6
 -International energy agency
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Energy Efficient Architecture 8
Global Perspectives
• Buildings and construction together account for 36% of global final
energy use and 39% of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2 )
emissions when upstream power generation is included.

• Progress towards sustainable buildings and construction is advancing,

but improvements are still not keeping up with a growing buildings
sector and rising demand for energy services.

• The energy intensity per square meter (m2 ) of the global buildings
sector needs to improve on average by 30% by 2030 (compared to
2015) to be on track to meet global climate ambitions set forth in the
Paris Agreement.

UN report- Global alliance for Energy

buildings and construction
Efficient and International energy agency 9
Architecture
WHAT ARE THE TWO ENERGY
RESOURCES ?

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 ENERGY RESOURCES
RENEWABLE: CAN BE REGENERATED IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME
OR IS BASICALLY UNLIMITED.
• SOLAR
• RAIN (HYDRO)
• TIDES
• GEOTHERMAL
• WIND

NON-RENEWABLE: CAN’T BE REPLACED IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF

TIME AND IS LIMITED.
FOSSIL FUELS
1. NATURAL GAS
2. COAL
3. OIL

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• Buildings contribute to serious environmental
problems because of excessive consumption
of energy and other natural resources.

• The close connection between energy use in

buildings and environmental damage arises
because energy intensive solutions sought to
construct a building & meet its demands for
heating, cooling, ventilation & lighting cause
severe depletion of invaluable environmental
resources.
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Energy Efficient Architecture 13
 ENERGY USED IN BUILDINGS

CONSTRUCTION:

•FINDING ORE
•MANUFACTURING MATERIALS
•TRANSPORT
•USE AT SITE

OPERATION& MAINTENANCE:

TOMEET ITS DEMANDS FOR

•HEATING
•COOLING
•VENTILATION
•LIGHTING
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How can we design a Building/Space
with Less Energy consumption
without affecting the environment?

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 PASSIVE DESIGN
The ultimate vision of passive design is to fully eliminate requirements
for active mechanical systems (and associated fossil fuel-based energy
consumption) and to maintain occupant comfort at all times.

“ Passive design ” is an approach to building design that uses

the building architecture to minimize energy consumption
and improve thermal comfort.

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 PASSIVE DESIGN
• 'Passive design‘ is a design that takes advantage of the
climate to maintain a comfortable temperature range in the
home.

• Passive design reduces or eliminates the need for auxiliary

heating or cooling, ("Auxiliary heat" means the secondary heating source.)
which accounts for about 40% (or much more in some
climates)of energy use.

• The building form and thermal performance of building

elements (including architectural, structural, envelope and
mechanical) are carefully considered and optimized for
interaction with the local microclimate.

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• Architects can achieve energy efficiency in the buildings they
design by studying the macro-and micro-climate of the site,
applying bioclimatic architectural principles to combat the
adverse conditions, and taking advantage of the desirable
conditions.

Some common PASSIVE DESIGN ELEMENTS to be considered which

reduces the energy consumption in a building are

• (a) landscaping,
• (b) ratio of built form to open spaces,
• (c) location of water bodies,
• (d) orientation,
• (e) plan form and
• (f) building envelope and fenestration.

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PASSIVE DESIGN

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 Passive Design Techniques

Building Planform Building envelope Site condition

orientation

Micro climate Macro climate

Building Form

Walls Landform :
Topography & slope
orientation
Fenestration pattern & configuration

Vegetation type &

Fenestration orientation & Controls pattern

External colours & textures

Water bodies

Roof form & Materials

Ground character

Internal layouts & partitions

Open spaces & built
spaces
Internal materials & finishes
Street widths &
orientation

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Energy Efficient Architecture 21
Energy Efficient Architecture 22
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR SITE PLANNING

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Topography - elevation, slopes, hills and valleys, ground surface conditions.
Vegetation - height, mass, silhouette, texture, location, growth patterns.
Built form - nearby buildings, surface conditions.
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 A. SITE CONDITION - LAND FORM

LAND FORM

•Represents the topography of the site

•It may be flat, undulating or sloping.

Major land forms affecting the site are
mountains, valley and plains.

• Each of them has varying effect

on the microclimate and have to be
planned accordingly.
UNDULATING SITE (undulating (adj)
wavy/having a wavy shape, rising and
falling. A hilly area undulates. Because of
the hills and the valleys, the land in the
area has a wavy shape, full of ups and
downs)
•The air temp and air flow patterns vary in
different parts of the site.
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 SITE CONDITION - LAND FORM
VALLEY/SLOPE
• The hot air temp being lighter
rises above, while cooler air having
higher density settles into the
depressions, resulting in a lower temp
at the bottom.

•The wind flow is higher along the

direction of the valley than across it
due to unrestricted movement

•The air speed increases as it moves up

the windward side, reaching a
maximum at the crest and minimum on
the leeward side.

•The difference in air speed is caused

due to the low pressure area developed
on the leeward side.

•The orientation of the slope too plays

a part in determining the amount of
solar radiation falling on the site.

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Anabatic (of a Katabatic (of a
wind) caused by wind) caused by
local upward local downward
motion of warm motion of cool air.
air

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Undulating surfaces - air speed increases up the slope (due to the force of the wind)
and decrease down it.

Valleys - Depression valleys experience lower air temperatures. They have little air
movement unless they lie in the direction of airflow.

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Large Landforms
•Mountain ranges are diverters of air masses. They affect the flow of moisture-laden air and
cause rain shadows for the areas in their lee.

•Temperature decreases with the rise in height and cold air flows downhill and settles in valleys.

•Airflow pattern is different in the areas with large variation in landforms.

Hot climate – building in a depression and shading from heat and wind minimizes heat gain and
discomfort.

In humid climates our primary concern is maximizing air movement. We must,

therefore, place our building on the top of the windward slope where the air speed would be
the highest.
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Hot climate:
When a building is in a low depressed area, relatively
low air temperature can be felt.
Water in depression area is beneficial for cooling.
When a building is on a slope, leeward side is
preferable with appropriate building orientation.

Cold climate:
Buildings should be constructed in a depressed area,

to avoid cool air. Vegetation in high areas helps to

protect cool breeze.

Humid climate:
Orienting towards windward slope increases the air
speed.

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B. LANDFORM : SLOPE ORIENTATION
For North latitudes, the radiation will be more on south side and less on north side and vice versa for
south latitudes.

East and west slope orientation receives equal amount of radiation almost throughout the day.
Hot & Dry climate: Has hot summers and cold winters. So there is a need to minimize heat gain and
need for heating in winter.
Therefore, construction in a north slope is advisable to make the building warmer in winter and cooler
in summer.

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SITE CONDITION - LAND FORM

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 C. SITE CONDITION – WATER BODIES
• Water absorbs relatively large amount of radiation. They also allow evaporative
cooling.

• As a result, during the daytime areas around water bodies are generally cooler.

• At night, however, water bodies release relatively large amounts of heat to the
surroundings. This heat can be used for warming purposes.

• Water bodies absorb much heat during the day and reradiate it at night

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 Water absorbs much heat during day and reradiates at night

Hot & Dry climate: Water bodies with vegetation minimizes heat gain and provides cool
breeze during summer. Another example for hot dry climate is roof pond.
Cold climate: If heat gain and loss can be controlled, then having a water body enclosed by
the building is acceptable.
Warm-Humid Climate: Avoid water bodies to control humidity levels.

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Example: Flowing form of WALMI building that overlooks a water body

has been used as an advantage for modification of microclimate.

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 D. SITE CONDITION – VEGETATION TYPE AND PATTERN

• Landscaping is an important element in altering the microclimate of a place.

• Proper landscaping reduces direct sun from striking and heating up of building surfaces.

• It prevents reflected light carrying heat into a building from the ground or other surfaces.

• Landscaping creates different airflow patterns and can be used to direct or divert the wind
advantageously by causing a pressure difference.
• Properly designed roof gardens help to reduce heat loads in a building.
• A study shows that the ambient air under a tree adjacent to the wall is about 2 °C to 2.5 °C
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lower than that of non shaded areas, which reduces heat gain by conduction .
•Helps in reducing direct and indirect (reflected light from any surface) sunlight that strikes the
building surface.

•Reduces heat gain – by absorbing radiation during photosynthesis and cools the environment.

•Directs airflow movement and controls airflow speed.

•Reduces air temperature and maintains cooling effect with respect to tree shade, grass and shrubs.
•Acts as an effective shade.

Hot & Dry climate: Planting Trees towards east and west axis cuts of direct sunlight.

Cold climate: Evergreen trees can be planted to cut of cold breeze.

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Ward humid climate: If planted carefully Efficient
airflow canArchitecture
be maximized. 37
E. SITE CONDITION – STREET WIDTH AND ORIENTATION

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• The amount of direct radiation received by a building and the street in an urban area
is determined by the street width and its orientation.

• Consider this point while designing a large residential complex as well as at the
town planning level.

• The building on one side of the street trend to cast a shadow on the street and the
opposite building, if they block the sun’s radiation.

• Thus the width of the street can be relatively narrow or wide depending upon
whether the solar radiation is desirable or not.

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Hot & Dry climate: Narrow streets, especially towards north – south

Warm-Humid Climate: Oriented towards airflow movement

Cold Climate: Wide east west streets to maximize winter sun.

Also to conserve that which is received settlements should be
compactly planned.

•North south streets should be narrow

•Low height building are preferred .
•This would enable heat gain.
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 HOT AND DRY CLIMATE – Jaisalmer
•Most of the streets are narrow
with building shading each other to
reduce the solar radiation.

•The orientation of the street is

particularly useful for controlling air
flow.

•The streets can be oriented

parallel to prevailing wind direction
for free air flow.

•Smaller streets or pedestrian

walkways may have number of
turns to modulate wind speed.

• For restricting or avoiding

wind, the streets may be oriented
at an angle normal to the prevailing
wind direction.
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 F. SITE CONDITION – OPEN SPACES AND BUILT
FORM / SURFACE TO VOLUME RATIO
• Open spaces and built form are
responsible for the different
patterns of air flow in and around
a building, affecting heat gain
and heat loss.

• Both together can modify the

micro-climate of the site.
• Open spaces such as courtyards
can be designed such that solar
radiation incident on them
during daytime be reflected on
the building facades for
augmenting solar heat.
• This is desirable in cold climates
and possible if the surface finish
of the courtyard is reflective in
nature.

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 SITE CONDITION – OPEN SPACES AND BUILT FORM /
SURFACE TO VOLUME RATIO
• Courtyards can also be designed to act as
heat sinks. If it is covered by grass and
other vegetation, it would provide a
cooler environment. Water sprayed on
the courtyards would cause cooling
effect.

• The air in open spaces shaded by

surrounding buildings would be cooler
and can be used to facilitate proper
ventilation and promote heat loss
through building envelope. Built forms
can be such that the buildings cause
mutual shading and thus reduce heat
gain.

• For ensuring unobstructed air flow, taller

structures can be planned towards the
rear side of a building complex

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SITE CONDITION – OPEN SPACES AND BUILT FORM /
SURFACE TO VOLUME RATIO

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Hot & Dry climate: Compact planning with minimal open spaces, minimizes heat gain/loss.

Compact planning in hot dry context

Cold Climate: Compact planning and small open spaces with hard and absorptive surface,
minimizes heat loss/gain.

Compact planning in cold context

Warm-Humid Climate: widespreadEnergy

buildings with more
Efficient open spaces increases airflow
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 G. BUILDING ORIENTATION

• Orientation refers to the location of a

building with respect to the cardinal
directions, (i.e.) North-South and East-West.

• Orientation can be defined based on the

solar radiation and wind.
• Orientation with respect to maximum solar
gain is essential for cold climates and vice
Building Orientation
versa for hot climates.

Example:
The building blocks in MLA hostel, Shimla
located in the cold and cloudy zone are
oriented due south (+ or - 15 degrees) for
direct solar gain.

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• Longer side of the building should face NORTH SOUTH DIRECTION & shorter side- EAST
WEST.

• Windows on eastern and western side should be avoided.

• Main habitable spaces-living room, bedroom should be avoided on east and west side or
covered by vegetation for shade.

• Smaller windows shall be provided on east and western sides.

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•Building orientation is an important parameter of design.

•In Cold climates, building needs to be orientated such that solar radiation is admitted to
the maximum possible, while reverse is true of hot regions.

•For a cold climate, an orientation slightly east of south is favored (especially 15° east of
south), as this exposes the unit to more morning than afternoon sun and enables the house
to begin to heat during the day.

•Similarly winds can be desirable or unwanted, depending on the climate sometimes a

compromise is required between these two orientations.

•With careful design, shading and deflecting devices can be incorporated to exclude the
sun or redirect it into the building, just as wind can be diverted or directed to the extend
desired

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PASSIVE DESIGN THROUGH PLAN
FORM AND BUILDING ENVELOPE

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 PLAN FORM
• The plan form of the building affects the amount of solar radiation received by the
building and the air flow around it. Therefore it plays an important role in ventilation
and heat loss or gain.

• Wind when obstructed by a building creates pressure differences, i.e. positive

pressure on windward side and negative pressure on the leeward side.

• Consequently, a new airflow pattern is established around the building. Appropriate

openings connecting high to low pressure areas provide effective ventilation.

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 PLAN FORM

A. Perimeter- to – area ratio

P/A = PERIMETER/AREA
A larger perimeter to area (P/A) ratio means that a small area is being bounded by a large
perimeter. A small P/A ratio means that the same area would be bounded by a much smaller
perimeter.
Greater the P/A ratio the greater the radiative heat gain during the day and greater the heat loss at
night. Similarly, smaller the P/A ratio, the lesser will be the heat gain during the day and lesser the
loss at night.
Thus P/A ratio is an important factor in controlling heat gain and loss.

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Hot climate: Minimum P/A ratio, results in minimum heat gain.
Cold Climate: Minimum P/A ratio, results in minimum heat loss.
Warm Humid Climate: Minimum P/A ratio, results in minimum heat gain. Widespread plan form
is beneficial. Energy Efficient Architecture 52
Hot climate: Minimum P/A ratio, results in minimum heat gain.
Cold Climate: Minimum P/A ratio, results in minimum heat loss.
Warm Humid Climate: Minimum P/A ratio, results in minimum heat gain. Widespread plan form
is beneficial.
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B. Building form/surface- to-volume ratio

The volume of a space inside a building that needs to be heated or cooled and its relationship with
the area of the envelope enclosing the volume affect the thermal performance of the building. This
parameter is known as S/V ratio, determined by building form.

Compact forms with low S/V ratio minimize heat gains and loss
Hot & Dry climate: Low S/V ratio minimizes heat gains.
Cold Climate: Low S/V ratio minimizes heat losses.

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BUILDING ENVELOPE ?

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 BUILDING ENVELOPE

• A building envelope is the physical separator

between the conditioned and unconditioned
environment of a building including the
resistance to air, water, heat, light, and noise
transfer.

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 The building envelope and its components are key determinants of the amount of heat
gain and loss and wind that enters inside.
The primary elements affecting the performance of a building envelope are
(a) Materials and construction techniques,
(b) Roof,
(c) Walls,
(d) Fenestration and shading, and
(e) Finishes.

ROOF
The roof receives significant solar radiation and plays an important role in heat
gain/losses, daylighting, and ventilation.
Depending on the climatic condition roof treatment is very essential.
• In a hot region, the roof should have enough insulating properties to minimize heat
gains.
For ex: A cover of deciduous plants or creepers can be provided. Evaporation from
leaf surfaces will keep the rooms cool.

The entire roof surface can be covered with inverted earthen pots. It is also an
Energy
insulating cover of still air over Efficient Architecture
the roof. 57
Effective ventilation and daylighting by incorporating vents and skylights
SHAPE:
A doubly pitched or curved roof provides a larger surface area for heat loss compared to a
flat roof.
Thus the shape as well as the material both have an effect on the performance of the roof.

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BUILDING ENVELOPE- ROOF

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BUILDING ENVELOPE- ROOF

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 BUILDING ENVELOPE- ROOF
• GREEN ROOF:
Green roofs reduce the heat ingress through the roof, and less energy for
cooling or heating can lead to significant cost savings.

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 BUILDING ENVELOPE- ROOF

• A swirling green roof tops the gorgeous Nanyang Technical University in

Singapore

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BUILDING ENVELOPE- ROOF

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BUILDING ENVELOPE- ROOF

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BUILDING ENVELOPE- ROOF

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BUILDING ENVELOPE- ROOF

RV COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, BANGLORE

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 BUILDING ENVELOPE- WALL

WALL
•Major part of the building envelope, receiving a large amount of direct radiation.

•Thickness and material of the wall depending on need for heating or cooling.

•It is estimated that more than 25 of the heat gain occurs due to conduction
by walls in the warmer regions of India

•Control of heat gain through walls must be an important consideration for

reducing the cooling loads.

•In the case of an air conditioned building a wall type with low U value can
reduce the cooling load by upto 4-6 times as compared to a concrete block wall.

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U value is a measure of heat loss in a building element such as a wall, floor or roof. It
can also be referred to as an ―overall heat transfer co- efficient and measures how
well parts of a building transfer heat.

• Higher the U value the worse the thermal performance of the building envelope.
• A low U value usually indicates high levels of insulation.

• Thermal transmittance, also known as U-value, is the rate of transfer of

heat through a structure (which can be a single material or a composite),
divided by the difference in temperature across that structure.

• The units of measurement are W/m²K. The better-insulated a structure is,

the lower the U-value will be.

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 CAVITY WALL

• According to the ‘National Building Code of India’, “A wall comprising two leaves, each
leaf being built of masonry units and separated by a cavity and tied together with
metal ties or bonding units is called a cavity wall”.

• Ideally, the thickness of each leaf of a cavity wall shall not be less than 7.5 cm.

• Cavity walls gives good thermal insulation keeping warm in winter and cool in summer.
• They offer a good sound insulation property.
• Cavity walls are fire-resistant.
• Cavity wall can reduce the risk of moisture condensation.
• The wall can reduce the cooling cost of the building.
• It gives protection against efflorescence.
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 GREEN WALL

• Green wall regulate climate either by providing shade or acting as evapotranspiration

cooling element.

• Savings in electricity, reducing cooling load, better air quality, thermal comfort.

• Reduction in effect of urban heat island by around 2 deg celcius.

• Solar radiation is absorbed or reflected by atleast between 40% to 80%.

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TROMBE WALLS, SOLAR WALLS ARE EFFECTIVE IN COLD CLIMATES

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 BUILDING ENVELOPE- FENESTRATION
• Of all the building envelope components the most important is the fenestration
(windows and skylights).

• The pattern and configuration of openings such as window forms an important

aspect of climatic design.

• Appropriate design of openings and shading devices, as well as their location in a

building facade help to keep out sun and wind or allow them in the buildings.

• Size, shape and orientation of openings moderate air velocity and flow in the
room.

• A small inlet and large outlet increase velocity and distribution of airflow through
the room.

• Fenestration design, affects day lighting opportunities, solar gains, cooling loads,
and glare.

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• House should be so positioned that takes it advantage of prevailing winds. South/
south- east during summer.

• Ventilation lets in the fresh air and exhausts hot room air, resulting in cooling. An
indoor air speed of 1.5 – 2 m/s can cause comfort in warm and humid regions where
the outdoor maximum air temperature does not exceed 28 – 32oC.

• The scheduling of natural ventilation in arid climates (i.e., allowing only night-time
ventilation) can reduce the maximum of the indoor temperature by about 5-8 deg.C
compared to that of the outdoor.

• Fenestrations having 15 to 20% of floor area are found adequate for both ventilation
and day lighting in hot and dry, and hot and humid regions.

• Fenestration design is primarily governed by requirements of heat gain and loss,

ventilation and Day lighting.

• The important components of a window that govern these are the glazing systems
and shading devices.

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Hot dry climate:
Windows should be shaded.
Smaller openings are enough for daylight.
High level openings and ventilators for heat sink.

Warm Humid Climate:

- Large windows areas and overhangs for better ventilation and less solar
radiation.

Cold Climate:
-Large Windows with no shading device.

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Energy Efficient Architecture 75
GLAZING SYSTEMS

• Window with one or two layers of glazing allow roughly 75-85% of the solar energy to
enter a building.

• Internal shading devices such as curtains or blinds could reflect back some of that
energy outside the building.

• Windows admit direct solar radiation and hence promote heat gain. This is desirable in
cold climates, but is critical in overheated climates. The window size should be kept
minimum in hot and dry regions.

• Heat gain through windows is determined by the overall heat loss coefficient U-value
(W/m2K) and the solar energy gain factor, and is much higher as compared to that
through solid wall.

• Shading devices for windows and walls thus moderate heat gains into the building. In a
low-rise residential building in Ahmedabad (hot and dry climate), shading a window by
a horizontal 0.76 m deep chhaja can reduce the maximum room temperature by up to
4.6 °C (from 47.7 to 43.1 °C).

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BUILDING ENVELOPE- FENESTRATION
DOUBLE GLAZING

a hygroscopic substance used as a

drying agent.(silica gel)

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BUILDING ENVELOPE- FENESTRATION
TRIPLE GLAZING

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 BUILDING ENVELOPE- SHADING DEVICE
• Shading devices are of various types:

1. Moveable opaque (roller blind, curtains,

etc): These can be highly effective in
reducing solar gains but eliminate view
and impede air movement.

2. Louvers: May be adjustable or fixed.

These affect view and air movement to
some degree.

3. Fixed overhangs.

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 SHADING DEVICE

FENESTRATION CONTROLS
Glazing, shades, light shelves are the important controls for heat gain, daylight and
ventilation.
Hot dry climate: Glazed window with shading devices avoids direct sun and increase in
window section reduces air speed.
Cold Climates: Low angle sun can be seen in winter. Therefore, optimum glazing, light
shelves and large window sections are appropriate.
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Energy Efficient Architecture 81
MOVEABLE BLINDS OR CURTAINS
•Block the transmission of solar radiation through glazed windows, especially on the east
and west walls.
•In hot and dry climates, when ambient air is hotter than room air, they help to reduce
convective heat gain.
•In warm, humid climates, where airflow is desirable, they impede ventilation.
•For air-conditioned buildings, where the flow of outside air is to be blocked, they can
reduce cooling load.

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OVERHANGS AND LOUVERS
•Blocks part of the sky and the sun.

•Overhangs on south-oriented windows provide effective shading from the high-altitude

sun.

•An extended roof shades the entire north or south wall from the noon sun.

•East and west openings need much bigger overhangs, which may not be possible and can
be achieved by porticos, or verandas, on these sides or by specially designed louvers to
suit the building requirements.

Finishes
•Smooth and light colour surface reflects more light and heat in comparison to a dark
colour surface.
•Lighter colour surfaces have higher emissivity and should be ideally used for warm
climate.
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Energy Efficient Architecture 84
BUILDING ENVELOPE- SHADING DEVICE

LOUVERS
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BUILDING ENVELOPE- SHADING DEVICE
LOUVERS

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BUILDING ENVELOPE- SHADING DEVICE

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BUILDING ENVELOPE- SHADING DEVICE

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BUILDING ENVELOPE- SHADING DEVICE

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 BUILDING ENVELOPE- SHADING DEVICE
ACADEMIC BUILDING IN CHICAGO BY JGMA

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 HEAT TRANSFER & THERMAL
PERFORMANCE – WALLS , ROOF

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HEAT TRANSFER- “The movement of thermal energy from one object to another object of
different temperature”.

3 different ways the heat can transfer:

• Conduction (through direct contact),
• Convection (through fluid movement)
• Radiation (through electromagnetic waves).

• According to 2nd law of thermodynamics, heat transfer is only possible in direction

from a higher temperature to an area or object of lower temperature.

• Heat transfer through building envelope is complex and dynamic.

• The direction and magnitude of heat flow are affected by solar gains from sun,
outdoor temperature, indoor temperature and exposed surface area.

• The building envelope components have 3 important characteristics - U FACTOR

(THERMAL CONDUCTANCE), THERMAL MASS (ABILITY TO STORE HEAT-MEASURED
AS HEAT CAPACITY , HC) AND FINISHES.

• HEAT TRANSFER - BUILDING ENVELOPE CONSISTS OF WALLS, ROOF, AND

FENESTRATIONS (OPENINGS).Energy Efficient Architecture 92
WALL AND ROOF

U-VALUE:
• The U factor is the rate of
steady-state heat flow.

• It is the amount of british thermal

units(Btu) that flows each hour
through 1 sq.ft. of surface area
when there is 1 deg F temperature difference between outside and inside air.
• THE U-VALUE IS THE HEAT FLOW (W) THROUGH THE WHOLE AREA OF THE ELEMENT
DIVIDED BY THE TOTAL AREA OF THE ELEMENT AND TEMPERATURE AND DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL ENVIRONMENTS.

• The units of measurement are W/m²K.

R-VALUE:
• The R- value is the thermal resistance of a building element and is the reciprocal of the
U-value. R value is the material property like density, specific heat, conductance.

• A larger R-value has greater thermal resistance or more insulating potential.

• The units of measurement are m²K/W.
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DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS- CASE STUDY

1. HOT AND DRY CLIMATE.

2. WARM AND HUMID CLIMATE.

3. MODERATE CLIMATE.

4. COLD CLIMATE.

5. COMPOSITE CLIMATE.

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1. HOT AND DRY CLIMATE

 High seasonal variation with extremely hot summers and cold winters
 Intense Solar radiation
 Very low Relative humidity (25-40%)
 Low Precipitation (less than 500mm per year)
 Dust laden local winds and isolated whirl winds
 Cloudless skies causing glare in dust laden air
 Radiant heat emanating from the ground and surrounding objects causing
considerable thermal discomfort.

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 ARCHITECT:
B.V. DOSHI
LOCATION:
THALTEJ ROAD,AHMEDABAD
PERIOD OF CONST. :
1979-1981
SITE AREA: 2346 M2
TOTAL BUILT-UP AREA: 585 M2

- RECEPTION
- INTERACTION SPACES
- DESIGN STUDIO
- WORKSHOP
- LIBRARY
- CONFERENCE ROOM
- ANCILLARY SPACES

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MINIMIZING SOLAR RADIATION ON SOUTH AND
WEST SIDE:
-The structure is closely integrated with the

-outdoor spaces.

-Vegetation on site.

-The West and South façade is shaded by dense

trees.

MAXIMIZING WIND FLOW :

- Wind from West and South-West side is
taken in by central open space through which
wind can flow unobstructed.
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VAULTED ROOF FORM
The roof form creates an efficient surface volume/ratio optimizing
material quantities.

HIGHER SPACE VOLUME

Provides for hot air pockets due to convective currents that keep lower
volumes relatively cool.

Ventilating window at
upper volume releases
the accumulated hot air
through pressure
difference.

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INSULATION
Building is largely buried under ground to use earth masses for natural
insulation.
External walls of the building are nearly a meter deep but have been
hollowed out as alcoves to provide storage that becomes an insulative
wall with efficiency of space.

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Lighting
Indirect Lighting
oUpper Level Large Openings - Facing North.
oSkylights as projected masses from the roof.
oSmall cut-outs on roof slab filled with hollow glass blocks.

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CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE
•Locally made clay fuses over the concrete slab.
•The clay fuses entrap air. Known as sandwich vault.

FINISHES
•The concrete of slabs and wall surfaces are kept
bare (unplastered).
•China mosaic glazed tiles enhances insulation.
Retard heat transmission as they are made up of
clay.

USE OF WASTE MATERIAL

•Paving material is a stone chip waste while roof
surface is glazed tiles waste.

•They have been carefully handcrafted and

integrated into the design by fully using the

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PERFORMANCE OF THE BUILDING
•Excellect climatic control – that cools inside
with 8 degree variation between interior
and exterior of the roof skin temperature.

•Usage of natural elements, water recycling

and waste material reuse ensured cost
efficient.

•Natural light and all insulative measures

reduced electrical consumption and
resulted in saving 30% to 50% of cost
reduction in cooling energy.

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2. WARM AND HUMID

VISITOR’S CENTRE IN AUROVILE

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3. MODERATE CLIMATE

Characteristics:

•Generally hilly or high plateau region with fairly abundant vegetation

•Solar radiation is more or less uniformly moderate all through the year
•Variable Relative humidity (30-80%)
•Precipitation is fairly well distributed with total annual rainfall usually
exceeding 1000mm
•Variable winds and generally high during summer.
•Clear sky, occasionally overcast with dense low clouds in summer

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Use of natural elements
Sun: water heating, electricity generation, stack effect ventilation by solar chimneys.
Sky: daylight and as heat sink
Air: wind induced vents, use of venturi effect.
Earth: roof gardens and earth berms for insulation.
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Water: rainwater harvesting, roof ponds and fountains for humidification.
4.COLD AND COULDY CLIMATE

• Highland regions with abundant vegetation in summer.

• Solar radiation is low in winter with a high percentage of diffuse radiation.
• Relative humidity (70-80%)
• Moderate Precipitation evenly throughout the year with annual total around
1000mm.
•Winds are generally intense, especially during rainfall.
•Overcast for most part of the year.
•Summers are pleasant, with higher rainfall.

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Residence For Mohini Mullick- In Bhowali, Nainital - Sanjay Prakash

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5. COMPOSITE CLIMATE

•Extremely variable landscape.

•Solar radiation is intense in summer & with low percentage of diffuse radiation in
winter but very low in monsoon.
•Relative humidity dry periods (20-55%) & wet periods (55-95%)
•Precipitation between 500 and 1300mm per year, monsoon-250mm.
•Winds are hot and dusty in summer. strong winds in monsoon from SE & dry, cold winds
in winter from NE
•Sky conditions are varying; dull in monsoon, clear in summer & winter.
•Seasonal changes in relative humidity cause rapid weakening of building materials.

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Housing For Hudco In Jalandhar (Punjab) - Saakaar Foundation

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