Passive Design
Passive Design at Taman Petanu
Passive design is design that doesn’t need mechanical heating or cooling. Buildings that are passively designed take advantage of natural climate to maintain thermal comfort.
Passive design basically means designing for the climate and considering the buildings’ orientation. Well designed building envelopes (the roof, walls, windows, floors and internal walls of buildings) maximize cooling air movement and exclude sun.
Incorporating the principles of passive design in the Taman Petanu Eco Neighborhood’s development:
Significantly improves the quality of environmental comfort for the residents
Saves energy, in fact it pretty much eliminates the need for cooling bills
Reduces greenhouse gas emissions from cooling, mechanical ventilation and lighting
Have a look at this introductory video that covers some of the basic principles of passive cooling in Spain...
Basic principles of passive cooling design for tropical climates
working with natural elements
landscapes supporting passive design
appropriate insulation of buildings
traditional roof designs
Site for exposure to breezes and shading all year
Use of light colored roofs and walls to reflect more solar radiation and reduce heat gain
Elevate buildings to permit airflow beneath floors & consider high or raked ceilings
Provide shaded outdoor living areas
Design and build for cyclonic conditions
Use lightweight construction include thermal mass where diurnal range is significant
Maximize external wall areas (plans ideally one room deep) to encourage movement of breezes through the building (cross ventilation)
Use evaporative cooling or ceiling fans
Allow passive solar access in cooler months only
Shade all east and west walls year round
Use reflective and bulk insulation (especially if the house is air-conditioned) and vapor barriers
Orientation for exposure to cooling breezes
Increase natural ventilation by reducing barriers to air paths through the building
Provide paths for warm air to exit the building
Floor plan zoning to maximise comfort for daytime activities and sleeping comfort
Appropriate windows and glazing to minimise unwanted heat gains and maximise ventilation (less windows, more open air flow is better)
shutters that can channel wind as needed
awnings and shades in this tropical climate
traditional Indonesian buildings show principles
Effective shading (including planting shading species in strategic locations)
Adequate levels of appropriate insulation
Maximise the indoor/outdoor relationship and provide appropriate screened, shaded, rain protected outdoor living spaces
Maximise convective ventilation with high-level windows, ceiling and roof space vents
Design ceilings and furnishing positions for optimum efficiency of fans, cool breezes and convective ventilation
Locate mechanically cooled rooms in thermally protected areas
Adjust eve overhangs to suit the particular micro-climate
Include evaporative cooling and water features
Basic principles of passive design for humidity control
High humidity levels limit the body’s ability to lose heat by evaporation of perspiration. Sleeping comfort is a significant issue – especially during periods of high humidity.
Design eaves and shading to permanently exclude solar access to rooms
Consider shading the whole building with a fly roof
Maximize shaded external wall areas and exposure to (and funneling of) cooling breezes through the building
Use single room depths with maximum shaded openings to enhance cross ventilation and heat removal
Design unobstructed cross ventilation paths
Provide hot air ventilation at ceiling level for all rooms with spinnaways, shaded opening clerestorey windows or ridge vents
Shade outdoor areas around the house with planting and shade structures to lower ground temperatures
Use insulation solutions that minimise heat gain during the day and maximise heat loss at night. Advanced reflective insulation systems and reflective air spaces can be effective
Choose windows with maximum opening areas (louvres or casement) and avoid fixed glass panels
Include ceiling fans to create air movement during still periods
Consider using whole of house fans with smart switching to draw cooler outside air into the house at night when there is no breeze
Use low thermal mass construction generally. (Note: high mass construction can be beneficial in innovative, well considered design solutions).
Use planting design to funnel cooling breezes and filter strong winds
For more information on passive design see: www.AlamSanti.com