House with passive cooling
Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:52 pm
All, thanks for your kind words.
The house construction is over. The house is east facing with a garden in the northern side.
Since the house is vastu compliant :-) all the above are true.
Building a house with central court yard or with verandah's on all sides requires more space. So we only have a 2ft pathway around the house. Regarding the windows, the engineer did not agree to window height upto 9ft. So went for the compromise approach of 5X5 windows rising to lintel level with 2ft wide ventilators just below the roof.
The staircase has multiple openings(3x3) to give a cooling tower effect.
Windows are upvc with single glazing.
Weathering course with White ceramic tiles has been laid on the terrace.
The planting of plant trees on south/west is yet to commence. I'm thinking of banana tree on both the sides. Other suggestions are most welcome.
The first summer is yet to start. Will report on the observations soon in this thread.
Dutyful;187008
Based on my studies, research, and experience, North is the cooler side and has very desirable even illumination. West and south are the warmest sides of a house. East is warm in the mornings but escapes th hot afternoons.
The house construction is over. The house is east facing with a garden in the northern side.
Dutyful;187008
I would design my house in such a way that the living/family room and dining area to have Northern exposure and of course the kitchen and breakfast, if any, to the SE and NE respectively. The bedrooms would have to be on the South and SW and NW if you follow Vastu.
Since the house is vastu compliant :-) all the above are true.
Dutyful;187008
Have windows in the headroom above stairs (internal) which will function as a cooling tower for hot air to escape (hot air naturally moves up) and the cooler air enters the house from ground floor. It is most important to have windows and doors placed in such a way that the prevailing winds (in India) have a good circulation and thus provide the best possible ventilation. Having a verandah all around the house (may be expensive but worth it) will also help immensely to keep the house cool (again air circulation and ventilation). On the terrace (first or second floor), have a arbor or some cover (plant -vines) to provide shade. Have the most and largest windows in the North direction and then East and extend them from floor to ceiling (like you already stated) and keep the windows in the west and South at least 30" to 36" above floor level.
I have not done it but I would if I build again - plan layout (floor plan) of the house with a central court yard. That is the best suited design for Indian conditions. If you do some research in this area, this has been the vernacular design for most houses in just about all parts of India.
ananthd;186729If you have not erected your walls, you can consider full or partial jaalis(latticed walls)....
They not only allow light, but also circulate air; jaalis were ubiquitous in my ancestral home in Kerala and we never felt uncomfortable, even in the hottest months....
Another overlooked item in modern building is interior windows(windows not facing the outside) for better circulation....
Building a house with central court yard or with verandah's on all sides requires more space. So we only have a 2ft pathway around the house. Regarding the windows, the engineer did not agree to window height upto 9ft. So went for the compromise approach of 5X5 windows rising to lintel level with 2ft wide ventilators just below the roof.
The staircase has multiple openings(3x3) to give a cooling tower effect.
Dutyful;187008
If you could get vinyl windows, double paned, and low-E coating (double) then go for them. You will be able to keep dust to the minimum and the noise level low. Helps keep the home cooler by blocking heat from entering inside and block UV too. Plan on installing mosquito net on all windows but design it before windows are installed.
Windows are upvc with single glazing.
Dutyful;187008
Select White paint for outside and paint the terrace white too. The current Energy Secretary of US, a Nobel laureate, strongly recommends that all roofs must be painted white and that alone will cut down energy usage the most.
humble;186881I read in 'The Hindu' that one guy put white tiles on the terrace to reflect the sun rays/heat which made the house cooler than it used to be it seems.
You can try that as well.
Weathering course with White ceramic tiles has been laid on the terrace.
Dutyful;187008
If you have enough open land left around the house, plant trees on South and West to provide shade (not on North side)
You might have already planned with all these design ideas but I thought I would share the info any way.
All the best.
The planting of plant trees on south/west is yet to commence. I'm thinking of banana tree on both the sides. Other suggestions are most welcome.
The first summer is yet to start. Will report on the observations soon in this thread.