I.

INTRODUCTION

What is Passive Cooling?

Passive Cooling is a design process that focus on controlling the temperature of a

building especially in a hot weather to make a comfortable indoor environment for
occupants. It is the least expensive method for cooling our homes or buildings and
is becoming more important as our climate changes. Passive cooling reduces the
use of mechanical methods such as air conditionings, that many establishments
and buildings have been using and is increasing every year, with this much heat
wave, pollution in the atmosphere also increases, making the temperature higher.
With careful designs of Passive cooling, achieving comfort and sustainability can
be possible.

According to the research made by Chris Reardon (2020) on the yourhome.gov.au

about passive cooling, is that it has 2 components, it focuses on cooling the whole
building, and cooling the occupants or the people using the building. Chris Reardon
mentioned that cooling the building is about, reducing heat gain though windows
and proper insulation, and increasing the heat loss and giving more access to
cooling sources by controlling and inviting air movement. While cooling people is
about their comfort physiologically and psychologically. Physiological comfort
means increasing body cooling by encouraging breezes to evaporate perspiration
in the body and psychological comfort or factors that affects how we perceive
comfort, like the air movement or radiation.

To achieve passive cooling, the building must be designed to minimize the heat
that enters during the day and maximize the heat loss during the night, and
designing a building that encourages a maximized access for cool breeze to enter.
Considerations to achieve this includes:

• Making sure that the floorplan and the form of the building is appropriate to the
climate of the site.
• Zoning areas to know which spaces need more cooling and placing them
according to the climate.
• Maximizing ventilation though strategic positioning of windows and ceilings
II. PRINCIPLES OF PASSIVE COOLING

A. REDUCING HEAT GAIN

During the day, especially in tropical countries, heat enters and leaves a building
through the roof, walls, floors and glazing and even the doors and zonings affect
the distribution of heat within.

• Earth Coupling

(Photo source: www.pinterest.com)

Also known as Ground Coupling, it is where the concrete floors are directly
placed on the ground and draws up the deeper ground temperatures on to
the surface of the floor which regulates the temperature of the house, but
earth coupling is not applicable for most northerly places where deep earth
temperatures instead adds to heat fain.
• Insulation
Considered as one of the most critical aspect for passive cooling. With
proper selection of insulation and proper installation fit for the minimum
requirement of insulation level on roofs, walls and floors, these insulation
products will make occupants more comfortable and even prevent
condensation.

• Roof Space Ventilation

(Photo source: www.pinterest.com)

Roof ventilation systems are essential to every home for the comfort of the
occupants, it allows air to pass through and circulate in the attic space and
exit through the roof vents. Through roof vents, the roof stay protected and
prolong its lifespan, it is also cost effect by reducing energy and controls the
temperature within the house.
• Shading of Glazing
Proper choosing of windows
will reduce the attraction of
heat when the sun hits the
window, that’s why glazing in
windows are important.
Shading on the other hand
has a larger effect for this
prevents the sun from even
hitting the window, like
placing a deep overhanging Figure 1 (Photo source: www.buildingenclosureonline.com/)
shading to block the sun.

• Landscape Design
Trees and other plants are known for being effective in reducing the heat in
the environment. According to Trees-Energy-Conservation (2019), trees
cool the aur with the process known as transpiration cooling, where trees
release water into the atmosphere coming from their leaves and cools the
air surrounding it, which is why gardens and green plants are vital parts of
any homes, for it helps reduce the temperature and trees also provides
shade against the heat of the sun.
 Figure 2 (Photo source: www.landscapingnetwork.com/)

B. INCREASING HEAT LOSS

Removing unwanted heat from the home is the goal when it comes prioritizing
the comfort of the occupants. To increase the heat loss, most of the time, the
need for additional cooling devices might be needed to keep the air moving. Air
movement keeps the building cool by carry out the heat and replacing it with
cooler air.

• Cool Breezes
Maximizing the cool air flow in the home
is an important component for passive
cooling. Cool breezes work bet with
narrow and open floor plans, and
maximizes air flow through window
placement where it can be left open.
Proper placing of vegetations and
fences could also help in funneling the
air into the building and filter the strong winds.

• Convection
Convection in design produces air movement that cools the building, it
allows cool air to fall and warm air to rise. Even without any breeze,
 convection removes heat via high openings, windows like high clerestory
windows or roof ventilations

Figure 3(Photo-Source:https://www.yourhome.gov.au/)

• Evaporative Cooling
Evaporative cooling uses the same principle as perspiration, and that as it
evaporates it absorbs heat and cools down our body. Bodies of water helps
cool down hot air as it enters the house.

C. COOLING METHODS
1. WINDOWS
 Windows are critical part in achieving passive cooling, it must be designed
to provide multiple paths for the cooling breeze to come in. To maximize the
flow of the breeze, larger openings should be use on areas that are on the
low pressure or downwind side, and smaller openings on the high-pressure
side, for according to Chris Reardon (2020) wind does not actually ‘blow’
through a building – it gets sucked in towards areas that have a lower air
pressure. Window size, type, shading and position are critical aspects for
passive cooling, windows must be position to direct airflow to areas that are
occupied the most like the living, dining, kitchen and bedroom. In climates
that requires cooling, similar panels can be placed above head height on
interior walls to allow cross-ventilation.

Figure 4(Photo-source: moss-design.com)

2. CEILING OR PERSONAL FANS

Fans help circulate air movement to cool people during the heat. There are
different types of fans:
• Ceiling Fan
• Table Fan
• Tower Fan
• Pedestal Fan
• Exhaust Fan
• Wall Mounted Fan
• Misting Fan
Photo-source:5https://www.yourhome.gov.au/
• Floor Fan
• Industrial Fan
 The usage of ceiling fans is effective for reducing cooling energy use, it
should be placed in the center of rooms, for air speed decreases with the
distance from the fan.

3. AIR CONITIONAING
Famous for providing thermal comfort during the heat and lowers both the
air temperature and humidity. The downside with air-conditioning is that it is
a lot more expensive to install, operate and maintain, it also causes pollution
when used to much, it also causes condensation problems if not anticipated
and managed properly.

Figure 6(Photo-source: www.yourhome.gov.au)

4. HYBRID
COOLING SYSTEMS
 Base on the name, hybrid cooling systems are solutions that combines all
cooling options in the most effective and efficient way possible. It utilizes the
advantage of passive cooling when it is most efficient and available and only
utilize mechanical cooling such as air conditioning during extreme levels of
heat that can’t be solved with passive cooling.

Figure 7(Photo-source: https://www.gsheating.com/system-types/)

REFERENCES

• Electronic Resources
https://www.staydryroofing.com/what-is-roof-venting-what-does-a-roof-
vent-do/
https://trees-energy-conservation.extension.org/how-do-trees-cool-the-
air/
https://www.buildingenclosureonline.com/blogs/14-the-be-
blog/post/88072-gauging-the-impact-of-exterior-shading-using-the-
projection-factor
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/evaporative-cooling
https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/passive-cooling

• Additional Reading
Baggs S, Baggs J and Baggs D (1991). Australian earth-covered and
green roof building, Interactive Publications, Carindale, Queensland
Givoni B (1995). Passive low energy cooling of buildings, John Wiley &
Sons, Brisbane.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312432251_An_overview_of_p
assive_cooling_techniques_in_buildings_Design_concepts_and_archite
ctural_interventions