**Abstract**

Incorporating passive cooling devices within building design requires analysis of device variables and actions to improve cooling performance, maximize efficiency, and integrate with building elements. Improving devices performance requires understanding the relation of devices to design stages, building elements, and working mechanism, and actions performed by devices to enhance cooling process and effectiveness. Therefore, designers could integrate passive devices as intrinsic design elements. The current research introduces *SARS* as an innovative classification of passive devices based on cooling actions that are performed by a device like *storing*, *avoidance*, *removal* or *slowing (SARS)*. All actions, devices, and variables were discussed and analyzed to help integrate them within design stages: analysis, designing, and performance. Understanding actions will help maximize the performance of the devices, combine two or more devices together, and integrate the devices' deign in design process. Combining more devices together to perform more than one function will move passive design to a new level to become as whole building design approach and to be a core design element.

**Keywords:** passive cooling, storing, avoidance, removal, slowing, design matrix, shading, ventilation

### **1. Introduction**

The integration of passive systems in the architectural design process requires many considerations on all levels of design stages. The aim of this integration is to achieve and provide high-efficiency thermal comfort or natural lighting. Passive system performances depend mostly on natural and environmental elements like the sun, wind, earth, and water. It is, therefore, significant to study and analyze how passive systems interact with natural elements and their relationship to a building site. Passive cooling systems, thereafter, need to be integrated within the design process, as their performance requirements are affected by orientation, height, materials, form, and characteristics of many architectural elements.

The main two innovative ideas of this chapter are, first, to provide analysis of passive devices based on one or more of the cooling actions (store, avoid, remove, and slow (SARS)) and, second, to develop a design matrix based on SARS actions and analysis of examples of integrated passive systems.

## **2. Passive cooling systems**

Passive cooling systems were the main design driver in low energy architecture and vernacular architecture especially in hot climate regions. Buildings were designed and built to adapt to local environmental conditions and to use natural elements to provide occupants with the required thermal comfort around the year. However, the discovery of fossil fuels and the development of new construction materials the building industry became less respect to the surrounding environment and less dependent on passive techniques. Buildings become heavily dependent on energy to provide the indoor environment with the required thermal comfort. The use of fossil fuels on a large spreader scale resulted on many environmental and health problems that associated with the greenhouse emissions. These problems shifted architects' awareness to environmental and climatic variables to be key drivers of the building design to provide the required thermal comfort and reduce energy consumptions.

Passive cooling or heating approaches play a major role in bringing architecture closer to the original green, environmental, and vernacular architecture by using surrounding environmental elements such as solar radiation and natural ventilation. Passive cooling is an approach that focuses on providing thermal comfort by controlling heat gains and heat dissipation without involving mechanical or electrical devices. The performance quality of this approach depends totally on the interaction of the building's design and devices with the surrounding environmental factors, such as sun rays, ambient air temperature, wind, and humidity, to achieve energy balance for occupants. Therefore, conducting a thorough analysis of a building's local climatic conditions is essential for any passive cooling approach to successfully fulfill its purpose and to maximize a specific action of SARS.

Heat gain sources include internal and external sources. The internal heat gains are produced from human activities, artificial lights, equipment, and appliances used by the occupants, while the external heat gains result from the interaction of the building with the outdoor environment. Heat gain or loss has four forms: *first*, heat gains caused by solar radiation passing through opaque envelope materials and heating the interior spaces with the greenhouse effect, *second*, heat gain caused by direct sun rays transmitted through windows and transparent surfaces into the interior spaces, *third*, heat gains caused by conduction between the building envelope and the surrounding environment, and, *fourth*, heat gains through convection caused by air infiltration and ventilation exchange between the outdoor and indoor environment as seen in **Figure 1**.

Lechner [1] presented many simple passive devices used for cooling in hot climates like simple courtyard, wind tower, thermal massing, windows, arcade, shading devices, and solar chimney. In addition the book discussed the ventilation principles and pattern. Many studies investigated in different approaches and methods the potential of passive cooling techniques in saving energy and cooling the indoor space in different climates. Nunes and Oliveira Panão [2] suggested a method to calculate the monthly cooling energy needs in zones where passive cooling systems are installed and applied on an office ventilated by passive devices like earth cooling and solar chimney. Kachkouch et al. [3] investigated three passive techniques in the real conditions in hot semiarid climate. The study tested the effect of three main techniques are, shading ceiling color and insulation on heat flux. The study concluded that these techniques helped to reduce heat flux with best results of white painted. Prieto et al. [4] showed how important it is to apply the passive strategies in early design stages and use active equipment after that if necessary. They studied, using simulation software, the effectiveness of selected passive cooling strategies like glazing, shading, color, and heat sink in commercial

**37**

*Advances in Passive Cooling Design: An Integrated Design Approach*

*The interaction of the building with the environmental elements (author).*

buildings in warm climates. The study concluded that the efficiency of the passive strategies conditioned to both the harshness of a given climate and design of different building parameters. Tejero-González et al. [5] reviewed many passive design techniques and parameters affecting applicability of such techniques. The study investigated how the climatic parameters are needed to be studied thoroughly to design and select passive cooling/heating techniques. Panchabikesan et al. [6] studied many passive design techniques like evaporative cooling, nocturnal radiative cooling, and phase change material (PCM) in different climatic conditions in India to reduce energy consumption. The study showed that these techniques best result in hot climates. Oropeza-Perez and Østergaard [7] review many passive and active cooling methods that could be used in residential buildings. They studied firstly many technologies in term of heat balance, secondly they scientifically analyzed the results, and finally they focused on feasibility and economic value of the findings. The study developed a decision-making program to find out the most suitable cooling method in dwelling design. Passive cooling focuses on controlling heat gain or heat loss in a building in order to reduce energy consumption and in

Understanding the sources of heat gains that affect thermal comfort in the building is essential for deciding the type of actions to be taken to avoid as much heat gains as possible, to slow the heating process to remove the uncontrolled gained heat, or to store cold air or elements. The four passive cooling actions include

1.*Storing* of cold mass or air within building envelope. This action is defined by keeping cold air or mass away from direct heat gains to provide spaces with cold air or cool down the air before entering the interior spaces like courtyards,

2.*Avoidance* of direct external solar radiation heat gain. This action is conducted by applying design considerations and devices in the building. Avoidance could be applied by using shading windows and glazed areas, using landscape, designing of self-shading forms, and considering colors and reflectivity of

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87123*

order to create the indoor thermal comfort [8].

basements, earth spaces, and thermal masses.

**3. Passive cooling actions**

external surfaces.

the following:

**Figure 1.**

*Advances in Passive Cooling Design: An Integrated Design Approach DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87123*

#### **Figure 1.**

*Zero and Net Zero Energy*

energy consumptions.

environment as seen in **Figure 1**.

**2. Passive cooling systems**

Passive cooling systems were the main design driver in low energy architecture

Passive cooling or heating approaches play a major role in bringing architecture closer to the original green, environmental, and vernacular architecture by using surrounding environmental elements such as solar radiation and natural ventilation. Passive cooling is an approach that focuses on providing thermal comfort by controlling heat gains and heat dissipation without involving mechanical or electrical devices. The performance quality of this approach depends totally on the interaction of the building's design and devices with the surrounding environmental factors, such as sun rays, ambient air temperature, wind, and humidity, to achieve energy balance for occupants. Therefore, conducting a thorough analysis of a building's local climatic conditions is essential for any passive cooling approach to

Heat gain sources include internal and external sources. The internal heat gains are produced from human activities, artificial lights, equipment, and appliances used by the occupants, while the external heat gains result from the interaction of the building with the outdoor environment. Heat gain or loss has four forms: *first*, heat gains caused by solar radiation passing through opaque envelope materials and heating the interior spaces with the greenhouse effect, *second*, heat gain caused by direct sun rays transmitted through windows and transparent surfaces into the interior spaces, *third*, heat gains caused by conduction between the building envelope and the surrounding environment, and, *fourth*, heat gains through convection caused by air infiltration and ventilation exchange between the outdoor and indoor

Lechner [1] presented many simple passive devices used for cooling in hot climates like simple courtyard, wind tower, thermal massing, windows, arcade, shading devices, and solar chimney. In addition the book discussed the ventilation principles and pattern. Many studies investigated in different approaches and methods the potential of passive cooling techniques in saving energy and cooling the indoor space in different climates. Nunes and Oliveira Panão [2] suggested a method to calculate the monthly cooling energy needs in zones where passive cooling systems are installed and applied on an office ventilated by passive devices like earth cooling and solar chimney. Kachkouch et al. [3] investigated three passive techniques in the real conditions in hot semiarid climate. The study tested the effect of three main techniques are, shading ceiling color and insulation on heat flux. The study concluded that these techniques helped to reduce heat flux with best results of white painted. Prieto et al. [4] showed how important it is to apply the passive strategies in early design stages and use active equipment after that if necessary. They studied, using simulation software, the effectiveness of selected passive cooling strategies like glazing, shading, color, and heat sink in commercial

successfully fulfill its purpose and to maximize a specific action of SARS.

and vernacular architecture especially in hot climate regions. Buildings were designed and built to adapt to local environmental conditions and to use natural elements to provide occupants with the required thermal comfort around the year. However, the discovery of fossil fuels and the development of new construction materials the building industry became less respect to the surrounding environment and less dependent on passive techniques. Buildings become heavily dependent on energy to provide the indoor environment with the required thermal comfort. The use of fossil fuels on a large spreader scale resulted on many environmental and health problems that associated with the greenhouse emissions. These problems shifted architects' awareness to environmental and climatic variables to be key drivers of the building design to provide the required thermal comfort and reduce

**36**

*The interaction of the building with the environmental elements (author).*

buildings in warm climates. The study concluded that the efficiency of the passive strategies conditioned to both the harshness of a given climate and design of different building parameters. Tejero-González et al. [5] reviewed many passive design techniques and parameters affecting applicability of such techniques. The study investigated how the climatic parameters are needed to be studied thoroughly to design and select passive cooling/heating techniques. Panchabikesan et al. [6] studied many passive design techniques like evaporative cooling, nocturnal radiative cooling, and phase change material (PCM) in different climatic conditions in India to reduce energy consumption. The study showed that these techniques best result in hot climates. Oropeza-Perez and Østergaard [7] review many passive and active cooling methods that could be used in residential buildings. They studied firstly many technologies in term of heat balance, secondly they scientifically analyzed the results, and finally they focused on feasibility and economic value of the findings. The study developed a decision-making program to find out the most suitable cooling method in dwelling design. Passive cooling focuses on controlling heat gain or heat loss in a building in order to reduce energy consumption and in order to create the indoor thermal comfort [8].
