PA4005- ENERGY EFFICIENT

ARCHITECTURE

BY- PROF. BINIT KUMAR

 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Parameters of architectural design

 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

• In a city like Ahmadabad where the ambient temperatures can reach up to 42 °C in

summer, simple techniques such as orientation, shading, colour of external surfaces
and insulation may help to bring down the temperature to around 36 °C. A significant
reduction no doubt, but the room temperature is still very much above comfort levels. In
such circumstances, additional features need to be considered.

• One way is to use passive techniques such as wind towers coupled with evaporative
cooling to cause further cooling of the interiors.

• This chapter elaborates on both, the simple techniques pertaining to building envelope
as well as passive solar techniques. Wherever possible, the principles are accompanied
by details of construction. An architect may use the methods described as a starting
point for generating customised solutions. Techniques relevant to Indian conditions
such as direct gain, Trombe wall, ventilation, evaporative cooling, and earth-air-pipe
system are explained in greater detail than others.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

BUILDING ENVELOPE

• A building interacts with the environment through its external façades such as walls,
windows, projections, and roofs, referred to as the building envelope. The envelope acts as
a thermal shell, which if thoughtlessly constructed, would result in energy leaks through
every component.

• Hence, each component needs to be properly chosen to ensure an energy efficient building.

• The choice depends on the site and the primary objective is, therefore, to examine the site
conditions. Besides, an ideal orientation of the building at a site and proper building
configuration play a significant role in the building’s performance.

• Site
• Orientation
• Building configuration

• Building components
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

SITE

• Of the various factors influencing the building design, site conditions occupy an important
position.

• The environmental conditions experienced on the site are due to the macroclimate as well as
the microclimate.

• Site-specific conditions such as land form, vegetation, waterbodies, open spaces, etc. play an
important role in building design.

• Proper analysis of these conditions can enable one to choose a site and make suitable design
plans.

• This would help save energy and also provide a fairly satisfactory indoor environment
throughout the year.
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ORIENTATION

• Appropriate orientation of buildings can provide physically and psychologically comfortable

conditions in the building.

• It can help exclude the undesirable effects of severe weather to a great extent.

• For example, in cold climates, a building must be oriented to receive maximum solar radiation
into the living areas for warmth on one hand, while keeping out the prevailing cold winds on
the other.

• Conversely, in hot regions, solar radiation and hot, dusty winds need to be avoided in
summer, while cool winds must be admitted.

• Thus, appropriate orientation can control the amount of solar radiation and wind entering a
building.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

• To decide on an optimum orientation, it is essential to have an idea of the sun’s position on a

daily as well as seasonal basis by using tools such as the sun path diagram.

• Once the orientation is decided, the heat entering a building can be controlled by

(1) area and type of glazings,

(2) types of walls and roofs, and
(3) shading.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

• It is necessary to study the velocity and direction of the wind on an hourly and monthly
basis. This helps one to identify the duration for which the wind may be desirable.

• Besides, the prevalent wind direction can be identified to plan the orientation of apertures
for achieving the desired indoor air motion.

• It is generally found that a variation of orientation of apertures upto 30o with respect to the
prevalent wind direction, does not significantly affect the indoor ventilation (average indoor
velocity) of the building.

• Once orientation is fixed, wind can be controlled by:

➢ tilting and projecting surfaces to deflect wind

➢ providing openings of appropriate size
➢ providing windbreakers to reduce wind speed
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

• To illustrate the effect of orientation, let us consider a rectangular conditioned building

having fully glazed wall on one of its long sides.

• Let us also consider four orientations such as northwest-southeast, north-south, northeast-

southwest and east-west of this building with respect to its long axis.

• The estimated annual

cooling load of such a
conditioned building in a
few Indian cities is shown.

Effect of orientation on the annual load of a conditioned building

 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

BUILDING CONFIGURATION

• Heat exchange between a building and its surroundings occurs primarily through the ‘skin’ of the
building.

• Configuring the geometry of the building appropriate to the climate and usage can control the
magnitude of the heat flow.

• For example, in an extremely cold climate, one needs to minimise heat loss from the building to
the environment.

• This can be achieved by:

a) using buffer spaces, e.g., sunspaces and balconies act as sitouts in favourable weather;
b) locating infrequently used spaces such as store rooms and toilets in the directions that
face prevailing cold winds;
c) maximising exposure to solar radiation, e.g., major living rooms may be arranged facing
the sun to gain heat;
d) locating habitable spaces appropriately, e.g., the most habitable spaces may be kept on
leeward side to avoid cold winds. They may be clustered together to reduce exposure to
cold.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

The heat flow due to radiation and air movement can be controlled by varying the following aspects of the
building configuration:

Surface area to volume ratio (S/V ratio):

• The ratio of the surface area to the volume of

the building (S/V ratio) determines the
magnitude of the heat transfer in and out of
the building.

• The larger the S/V ratio, the greater the heat

gain or loss for a given volume of space.
Conversely, a smaller S/V ratio will result in
the reduction of heat gain/loss.

• For example, in cold climates it is preferable

to have compact house forms with minimum
S/V ratio.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Shape of the building:

• Wind when obstructed by a building creates pressure differences, that is, positive pressure
on the windward side and negative pressure on the leeward side.

• Consequently, a new airflow pattern is established around the building. Thus, wind pattern
across a building can be modified by shaping it appropriately.

Buffer spaces:

• Buffer spaces such as courtyards, atria, balconies and verandahs provide shading and catch
wind.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Arrangement of openings:

• Appropriate openings connecting high and low pressure areas provide effective
ventilation.

• Solid and glazed surfaces need to be suitably arranged and oriented for receiving or
rejecting solar radiation.

Shading:
• Shading of surfaces can be achieved by the self-shading profiles of buildings e.g. H-type or
L-type as compared to the simple cube.

• Shading devices such as chajjas block the solar radiation incident on the exposed surfaces
of a building, consequently reducing heat gain.

• It has been found that in a low-rise residential building in Ahmadabad, shading a window
by a simple horizontal chajja of 0.76m depth can lower the maximum room temperature by
upto 4.6 ºC.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Types of shading devices

 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Shading (continue):

• In the case of hot and dry regions, taller structures may be placed towards the south, so as to shade
other structures in a cluster.

• Walls can be shaded by the use of projections, balconies, fins, textured paints and vegetation.

• Openings can be shaded with appropriately sized chajjas, fins and awnings externally, and/or by
using openable shutters and movable covers like curtains and venetian blinds internally.

• Translucent materials like heat absorbing or heat reflecting glass, plastics, painted glass, etc. can
also be used for reducing solar heat gains through glasses.

• The effectiveness of these shading devices are evaluated in terms of shade factors (defined as the
ratio of the solar heat gain from the fenestration under consideration, to the solar heat gain through a
3 mm plain glass sheet).
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Transmittance and shade factors of different shading devices

PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Reduction in yearly beam radiation incident on

windows due to shading

• Providing a horizontal chajja can reduce the incident beam radiation

falling on the window in various orientations considerably.
• The shading can be further enhanced by providing vertical fins.

(b) Window shaded by 0.6 m chajja with 0.15 m extension (1.2m x 1.2 m)
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Aspects of building configuration that can reduce heat gains in a hot climate
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Building components
(A) Roof
(B) Walls
(C) Ground-based floor
(D) Fenestrations
(E) External colour and texture

• The heat flow through these elements is characterised by their resistance, thermal capacity, absorption,
transmission and emission.

• The thermophysical parameters of materials that must be considered are specific heat, density and thermal
conductivity.

• Colour and texture define surface characteristics such as emissivity, reflectivity, absorptivity and roughness.
These are vital for heat flow and light distribution.

• For example, if the roof of a building is painted white, then the transmission of heat can be reduced by upto
80% as compared to a dark colour.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

• Walls, floors and roofs can be insulated by materials such as polyurethane foam (PUF), or thermocol, either
externally or internally.

• Another mode of insulation is by incorporating an air cavity in the external building envelope. In cavity
walls, the air gap inhibits the transmission of the heat into or out of the building as air acts as a bad
conductor of heat.

• Variations can be achieved by using different insulation materials, adjusting their thickness, and using them
in different locations (internal or external).

• In cavity walls, the property of the air gap can be varied by opting for a ventilated or unventilated air cavity,
and adjusting its thickness.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

• For example, in a typical single storeyed building, maximum heat gain occurs through the roof, whereas in
a multi-storeyed building it is through the walls and windows.

• The heat gain through various building elements on the cooling load of a ground + 4 storeyed residential
building for some cities of India is given below.

Heat gain through various building components

 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

The heat gain through each element can be varied by:

 area of the element

 orientation and tilt of the element
 material properties (U-value, time lag, decrement factor, transmissivity, emmissivity, etc)
 finishes
 control of incoming solar radiation
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

(A) Roof

The roof of a building receives a significant amount of solar radiation. Thus, its design and construction
play an important role in modifying the heat flow, daylighting and ventilation.

As per Indian Standard I.S. code 3792 – 1978 [4], the maximum value of overall
thermal transmittance (U-value) of a roof should not exceed 2.33 W/m2-K in hot-dry, and
warm and humid climates.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

The code recommends that the heat gain through roofs may be reduced by the following methods:

• Insulating materials may be applied externally or internally to the roofs. In case of external application, the
insulating material needs to be protected by waterproofing treatments. For internal application, the insulating
material may be fixed by adhesive or by other means on the underside of the roofs. A false ceiling of insulation
material may be provided below the roofs with air gaps in between. Shining and reflecting material (e.g. glazed
china mosaic) may be laid on top of the roof.

• Roofs may be flooded with water in the form of sprays or in other ways. Loss due to evaporation may be
compensated by make-up arrangement.

• Movable covers of suitable heat insulating material, if practicable, may be considered.

• White washing of the roof can be done before the onset of each summer.

• The second and fourth recommendations would be fully effective if the surfaces are kept clean, without
accumulation of dust.
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Relative performance of different techniques on a flat roof

The roof can also be used advantageously for effective ventilation and daylighting by incorporating vents and
skylights respectively.
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• The reduction of ceiling surface temperature due to some of the above techniques for a flat roof in a
hot and dry climate on two consecutive summer days. It is seen that the ceiling surface temperature
can be reduced by about 100C.

• A massive roof composed of material such as reinforced cement concrete (RCC) tends to delay the transmission
of heat into the interior when compared to lighter roofs such as asbestos cement sheet roofing.

• Sometimes, the roof is also covered by inverted earthen pots with a layer of earth over them. The earth and the
air inside the pots provide good insulation for resisting heat gain.

• A doubly pitched or curved roof provides a larger surface area for heat loss compared to a flat roof. Thus, both
the shape as well as the material have an effect on the performance of the roof.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Recommended thicknesses of a few insulating materials for roofs

 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN
(B) Walls
Walls constitute a major part of the building envelope and receive a large amount of direct radiation.
Depending on whether the need is for heating or cooling, the thickness and material of the wall can be
varied to control heat gain.

The resistance to heat flow through the exposed walls may be increased in the following ways:
• The thickness of the wall may be increased

• Cavity wall construction may be adopted.

• The wall maybe constructed out of suitable heat insulating material, provided structural requirements
are met.

• Heat insulating material may be fixed on the inside or outside of the exposed wall. In the case of
external application, overall water proofing is essential.

• Light coloured whitewash or distemper may be applied on the exposed side of the wall.

The I.S. code 3972-1978 [4] specifies that the Uvalues of exposed walls should not exceed 2.56 W/m2-K in hot and dry, and hot and
humid regions. In warm and humid regions, they should not exceed 2.91 W/m2-K.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

(C) Ground-based Floors

• Heat is transferred by conduction from the building to the ground through the floor which is in contact with the
ground.

• The transfer of heat between the building and the ground occurs primarily via the perimeter of the building, and
to a lesser extent through the central portion of the floor.

• In warmer climates, this heat loss is desirable from the point of view of comfort. On the other hand, in cold
climates, heat loss through the ground needs to be minimised and hence insulation may be provided.

• The effectiveness of insulation under a floor will depend on factors such as the moisture content and
temperatures of the ground.

• If the moisture content is high or the temperature is low, the tendency for heat to be lost through the floor to the
ground will increase. In these instances, insulation (typically of U-value = 0.09 W/m2-K) of thickness of 50mm
and depth of 600mm should be provided along the entire perimeter of the slab.

• To improve performance, the entire slab should be insulated. Foundation insulation using foam board on the
inside face of the foundation wall may also be provided. This protects both during construction and during the
life of the building.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN
(D) Fenestration (openings)
• Fenestration is provided for the purposes of heat gain, daylighting and ventilation.

• Their pattern and configuration form an important aspect of building design. Appropriate design of
openings and shading devices help to keep out sun and wind or allow them into the building.

• Ventilation lets in the fresh air and exhausts hot room air, resulting in cooling.

• While planning the position of a window, it must be remembered that the tendency of hot air is to
rise. Openings at higher levels would naturally aid in venting the hot air out.

• The size, shape and orientation of the opening affect the speed and flow of air inside the building.

• For example, openings on opposite walls relieve high pressure on the windward side, permitting good
cross-ventilation of the interior space.

• Also, a small inlet and large outlet increases the velocity and distribution of airflow through the room.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN
The percentage changes in wind speed in a room due to various window locations and orientations

A negative sign indicates that the wind speed has decreased

and a positive sign indicates an increase.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

• Windows are usually glazed, glass is transparent to solar radiation but opaque to long wave radiation. This
characteristic can be used to heat a building interior by promoting heat gain.

• This is desirable in winter, but may cause overheating in summer.

• For reducing solar gain during summer, the window size should be kept minimum in the hot and dry regions.

• For example, in a city like Ahmadabad, the number of uncomfortable hours in a year can be reduced by as
much as 35% if glazing is taken as 10 % of the floor area instead of, say, 20%.

• Thus, though natural light is introduced into the building through glazed openings, skylights, lightshelves, or
clerestories, the amount of light and glare that enters needs to be controlled. This can be achieved by providing
openable shutters and movable covers like curtains or venetian blinds.

• Tinted glazing or glazing with surface coatings can be used to control solar transmission, absorption and
reflection.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

• For example, the direct transmission of solar radiation through a 6mm thick absorbing glass can be reduced by
about 45%.

Transmission properties of absorbing glass (6 mm thick)

• Reflective glass is usually made by coating the glass with a layer of reflective material or low emittance layer.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

• Reflectivity could vary depending on whether the coating is on the outer or inner face of the glass.

• Glazing of these types can reduce heat gain without obstructing viewing. They are usually used for
windows which cannot be shaded externally.

Transmission properties of reflecting glass (6 mm thick)

 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

• I.S. Standard 3792-1978 recommends that in the hot and arid, hot and humid, warm and humid and cold zones,
no exposed window should have a shade factor of more than 0.5 and a transmittance (U-value) of more than
6.51 W/m2-K for unconditioned buildings; for conditioned buildings, the corresponding values are 0.4 and 3.8
W/m2-K respectively.

• For heat insulation of exposed windows and doors, suitable methods should be adopted to reduce both solar heat
and heat transmission

Thermal transmittance of windows

 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN
Thermal transmittance of doors

This can be achieved by the following means:

• external shading such as louvered shutters, and sun breakers such as chajjas
• internal shading such as curtains and venetian blinds
• use of heat resistant glasses/ films
• use of double or triple glasses with air space in between (glasses are held apart by spacer
bars and a desiccant is used to remove moisture)
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

• There are many approaches to advanced glazing system design.

• These include smart windows, evacuated glazings, transparent insulation materials, monolithic and
granular aerogels, low-emittance coatings, angular selective transmittance coatings, holographic and
prismatic materials, and thermochromic and liquid crystal devices.

• Commercial systems now exist for a few cases and are being developed for the remaining ones.

• A basic explanation of energy-efficient glazing has recently been reported by Bandyopadhyay.

 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

(i) Spectrally selective glazing

• Spectrally selective glazing permits some portions of the solar spectrum to enter through it while blocking others.

• The glazing admits as much daylight as possible while preventing transmission of as much solar heat as
possible.

• Consequently, such glazing when used in windows significantly reduces building energy consumption and peak
demand; the capacity of the building's cooling system might also be downsized because of reduced peak loads.

• The spectral selectivity is achieved by a microscopically thin,

low-emissivity (low-E) coating on the glass, or on a film applied
to the glass, or suspended within the insulating glass unit.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN
Ideal spectral transmittance for glazings in different climates (Source: McCluney, 1996).

1. Idealized transmittance of a glazing with a low-E coating designed for low solar heat gain. Visible light is
transmitted and solar-infrared radiation is reflected. Long-wave infrared radiation is reflected back in to the
interior. This approach is to reduce solar heat gain and is suitable in almost all climates.
2.Idealized transmittance of a glazing with a low-E coating designed for high solar heat gain. Visible light and solar-
infrared radiation are transmitted. Long-wave infrared radiation is reflected back in the interior. This approach is
more commonly used in cold climates where solar gain is wanted.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN
• Spectrally selective glazings can be combined with other absorbing and reflecting glazings to provide a whole
range of sun control performance.

• They can be used in windows, skylights, glass doors, and atria of commercial and residential buildings. It
may be noted that these glazings may not provide glare control even if solar gain is reduced.

HOT CLIMATE

COLD CLIMATE

Spectrally selective glazings offer a number of advantages such as:

• They are more transparent than tinted glazing, enabling occupants to have an unimpeded view and a sense
of connection to the outdoors.

• They offer better night views than reflective and dark tinted glazings.

• From the exterior, the appearance of spectrally selective glazing is clear, and not mirrored or heavily
tinted.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

(ii) Angular selective solar control

• From the point of view of daylighting of a building, the objective is to block or reflect direct sun light and
admit diffuse light.
• Angular selective façades provide such control based on the sun's angle
of incidence on the façade.

• These have high transmittance at low angles of incidence and much

lower transmittance at slightly higher angles of incidence compared to
normal glazing.

• Consequently, the solar radiation gets

transmitted to the building interior
during winter (due to lower elevation
of the sun) and is prevented from
entering the building when the sun has
slightly higher elevations.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

• Variations on this theme include between-pane louvers, or blinds with a mirrored upper surface;
these can be used in the clerestory portion of the window wall.

• In case of exterior glass lamellas (louvers), the upper surface can be treated with a reflective coating.
These systems fully or partially block direct sun and redirect sunlight to the interior ceiling plane,
given seasonal adjustments.

• Conventional louvered or venetian blind systems enable users or an automated control system to
tailor the adjusted angle of blockage according to solar position, daylight availability, glare, or other
criteria.

• Frit is the most common angle-selective coating. It consists of a ceramic coating, either translucent or opaque,
which is screen printed in small patterns on a glass surface.

• The pattern used controls the light based on its angle of incidence.

• The colour of frit controls reflection or absorption, the view and/or visual privacy.

• Visual transparency can also be controlled by applying frit to both sides of the glass to make it appear
transparent in some angles and opaque in others.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Glass embedded with ceramic frit or

UV patterns

Detail view of frit glazing

The facade of the Anchorage Museum in Anchorage, Alaska

incorporates a large amount of custom insulated fritted glass.
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(iii) Smart windows

• Smart windows are characterised by their ability to vary the visible light as well as solar radiation.

• This is achieved by incorporating a chromogenic material in the window.

• Generally, this is done in the form of a thin film having photochromic, thermochromic or electrochromic
properties. As the terms suggest, these devices are activated by light, heat and electricity respectively.

Electrochromic windows

Thermochromic windows

Photochromic windows
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Electrochromic windows

• An electrochromic window is a thin, multi-layer assembly sandwiched between traditional pieces of glass.

• The outer two layers of the assembly are transparent electronic conductors. The next one is a counter-
electrode layer and an electrochromic layer, with an ion conductor layer in between.

• When a low voltage is applied across the conductors, the ions move from the counter-electrode to the
electrochromic layer. This causes the assembly to change color.

• When the voltage is reversed, the ions move from the electrochromic layer back to the counter-electrode layer; this
restores the device to its previous clear state.

• The windows operate on a very low voltage -- one to three volts -- and use energy only to change their condition,
and not to maintain any particular state.

• The glass may be programmed to absorb only part of the light spectrum.
PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Thermochromic windows

• Thermochromic windows alter their properties due to heat.

• In response to changes in the ambient temperature, clear thermochromic glazings become diffused.

• Among the thermochromic technologies, gel-based coatings seem to be the most promising.

• In addition to automatically changing from clear to diffuse in response to heat, the glazings also turn white and
reflective, thereby reducing the transmission of solar heat.

• This property can reduce air conditioning costs significantly when the outside is quite hot.

• As one cannot see through the window once it loses its transparency, this glazing is probably better suited for
skylights rather than view windows.
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 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Photochromic windows

• Photochromic windows respond to changes in light, much like sunglasses that darken when one moves
from a dim light to a bright one.

• They work well to reduce glare, but don't control heat gain.

• This is because the amount of light that strikes a window does not necessarily correspond to the amount
of solar heat a window absorbs.

• Photochromic windows are still in the development stage and are yet to be tested successfully on a large-
scale and commercial level.
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 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Smart windows hold promise for reducing energy demands and cutting air conditioning and heating loads in
the future. They offer the next major step in windows that are increasingly sophisticated and energy efficient.

Liquid crystal windows are used for

privacy control. They do not provide
energy savings.

In this window's normal "off"

condition, the glazing is a translucent
milky white. When an electric current
is applied, however, it turns slightly
hazy clear. The switch between the
two states is nearly instantaneous.

Liquid Crystal Windows

 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

(E) External colour and texture

• The nature of the external surface finish determines the amount of heat absorbed or reflected by it.

• A smooth and light-coloured surface reflects more heat and light; a rough textured surface causes self-
shading and increases the area for re-radiation.

• White or lighter shades have higher solar reflectivity and therefore are ideally used for reducing heat
gain in warmer climates.

• Moreover, a heavy texture on these light-coloured surfaces helps to reduce the glare.

• Dark colours absorb more radiation, which increases heat gain through the surface, and can thus be used
in cooler regions.

• An example of the effect of the colour of external surfaces in the four cities of Ahmadabad, Mumbai, Nagpur
and Pune.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Effect of colour of external surfaces on room temperatures in different climatic zones

Effect of colour of external surfaces on room temperatures in different climatic zones

 PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

• In all cities, a white painted surface outperforms all other colours in terms of lowering room
temperatures.
 CASE-STUDY ON ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Orientation:
The TERI retreat building, Gurgaon has been selected to show how Orientation also plays an important
role in “solar architecture”. The TERI retreat building was oriented along the east-west axis so as to
have maximum exposure along north and south which is the most recommended orientation in solar
passive architecture. South orientation receives maximum solar radiation during winters which is
preferable as composite climate receives severe winters. The orientation ensured winter sun (while
keeping the summer sun out) and adequate daylight in the building

A north view of the RETREAT building

CASE-STUDY ON ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

South view of the building showing solar water

heating panels and solar chimney
 CASE-STUDY ON ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Building Form:
The form of the PEDA office complex in Chandigarh is a climate-
responsive building, with an innovative concept of architectural design.

The building form is a three-dimensional form developed in response to

solar geometry, i.e minimizing solar heat gain in the hot-dry period and
maximizing solar heat gain in the cold period, the scale and form of the
building on the two main roads of the intersection bears the character
and scale of a office building, the building responds to the residential
context on the south/south-east edges by gradually scaling down in mass
and volume
Interconnected volumes of
space to enable passive
space conditioning of
entire volume of the
building
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HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID
 CASE-STUDY ON ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Sectional view of the domical roof for

ventilation and day lighting
 CASE-STUDY ON ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Shading:
The RETREAT building of TERI, in Gurgaon depicts the best case for solar passive design. The building
has been designed with adequate shading devices and fenestration has been designed to cut off summer
sun and let in winter sun. The external walls are also shaded adequately with red stone jail and deciduous
trees. Creepers and trees along the walls add to the insulation and help evaporative cooling

Half North block with red stone jail and landscaping Red stone jail as a shading devices for external facades
 CASE-STUDY ON ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Daylight integration:

The ITC, Green Centre in Gurgaon adopts effective daylight integration. At ITC green centre, in day time, unlike
other office buildings, artificial light is not consumed at all. The design of the building ensures natural light
penetration deep into the interior spaces. The glazing for the building has been designed to maximize the effect of
natural light, largely eliminating the need for artificial ones yet cutting down the heat gain in the interiors

Elevation of the ITC Green centre with high performance glass

The massive ceiling of the building allows adequate

amount of natural light deep into the interior spaces
 CASE-STUDY ON ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Landscaping:
The SOS Tibetan children’s village at Rajpur, Dehradun adopts a careful landscape planning. Landscape planning has
been carefully done to provide shelter from cold winter winds and access to winter sun. The planning and plantation
schemes are combined. The large playground is in a wind-sheltered zone with clear winter sun access, while the
existing fruit orchard in the campus doubles as a shaded playground. Smaller pockets between buildings, benches
under the shelter of trees and low walls to sit or slide on are also planned as places for informal recreation

The site plan of the building

integrated to the landscape of
the area
 CASE-STUDY ON ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Water bodies:
The fountain in the Transportation Corporation of India Ltd, (TCIL)
building, Gurgaon is a re-circulating system in which a large body
of water flows over extensive surfaces to maximize evaporation.
Water evaporation has a cooling effect on the surrounding areas. The
tall solid concrete columns of broad diameters over which the water
trickles down the height of the courtyard, and the thin sheet that
overflows the sides of the pool at ground level create a large heat
sink and a body of air close to wet bulb temperature. The white
marble sides of the tank reflect the courtyard light into the basement
work areas. This showcases demonstration of a natural element in
true harness and as an appropriate modifier of micro-climate

Water in a fountain in TCIL building as a

modifier of micro-climate
 CASE-STUDY ON ENERGY CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Courtyards and verandahs:

The American Institute of Indian studies, in Gurgaon is one of the best examples of providing spaces with
different thermal characteristics through verandahs and courtyards. As one moves in from the lobby, the
building opens up to two sunken courtyards with vegetation and water. The sunken courtyards provide an
element of surprise to visitor and bring adequate daylight and ventilation into all areas of the building.

The architect has attempted to restore to the

courtyard its original function of being an
internal climate modifier. The breezy central
verandah is ideally suited for the monsoon
period. The first court is ornamental with a
water pool and fountain while the send one
has plants and sitting areas. The diagonal
placement of two courtyards, with the second
one being open-ended, has immensely
increased the air circulation within the
building

Elevation of the building

Internal courtyard as a climate modifier