These days, we have to pay a steep price for cool, comfortable air. There is a crucial need for methods to re-engineer our homes to keep them comfortable without having to break the bank. The answer, of course, is to turn to natural ventilation.
Natural ventilation is the process of admitting outdoor air into the building and removing ventilated air. A good design will facilitate the continuous replenishment of fresh air in order to produce a pleasant, comfortable, and healthy indoor condition. Warm air has lower density and is thus more buoyant, enabling it to rise above cold air. Colder air can be drawn inside the building by studying wind direction and harnessing its flow. Designers can explore the possibility of admitting cool air from lower level openings and exhaust hot air through upper openings.
One way to achieve this is by having tall and narrow windows. The cooler air outdoors enters from below. The hot stale air within the room emitted by occupants and by equipment would then find an escape in the upper portion of the window. This stack effect increases as temperature difference widens. This technique is also more effective the greater the difference is between the upper and lower openings. You may likewise achieve the same effect by designing operable transoms above the doors. The idea is to create a continuous airflow circuit by strategically locating and designing openings for both supply and exhaust air movements.
Preference for large windows continues to be a popular request among clients. However, it is also good to note the advantages of having tall and narrow windows. One of these is that it does not compromise privacy. At the same time, parents are more at ease for the safety of their young children. The reliance on grilles for security would then be less necessary. This also minimizes the need for window treatments to shield from glare and intense heat, which can even be the cause of the discoloration of interior furnishing. Solar gain is kept to a minimum, which reduces the amount of heat that needs to be vented out. More blank walls, rather than windows, provide more flexibility in planning and repositioning furniture layout. In cases when there are no premium outdoor views, limiting window locations to strategic places will also result to construction cost savings.
When openings are parallel to the wind direction, natural ventilation can still be adapted through the concept of ‘scooping’ the air towards the interior of the building. Analyze actual wind direction prior to the fabrication of windows. The idea is to ‘scoop’ the air in by installing the hinges at the appropriate side. The key to this technique is careful observation.
By making the best use of natural ventilation, we can reduce and minimize the use of mechanically operated ventilators. This results to significant construction and operation cost savings, as well as lessened energy consumption. Often, the best solutions to our building problems can be found in the basic tenets of nature. Again, we rediscover that, indeed, the best air in life is free.
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