ACE Update – July 2019

44 july 2019 ACEARCHITECTURECONSTRUCTIONENGINEERINGUPDATE

Green ZoneI ISolar deSign

Sustainable passive

solar building

Designing of passive solar

buildings involves optimal

positioning of livings rooms,

internal doors, walls and

furniture.

P

assive solar design of buildings is based on the use

of the sun’s energy for the heating and cooling

of living spaces in various parts of the building.

The building envelope should be designed accordingly

considering the sun path. For building, sun path and load

path both are important to make it sustainable wherein

the building itself takes advantage of natural energy

characteristics in materials and air created by exposure

to the sun. Passive systems have few moving parts

and require minimal maintenance with no mechanical

systems.

According to S P Anchuri, Chief Consultant, Anchuri &

Anchuri, passive solar buildings are designed in such a

manner that they reject heat during summers, and they

trap heat during winters. “South facing glass and thermal

mass to absorb, store and distribute heat are two primary

components of passive solar heating. All the changes are

related to the interiors of a building and hence they

have to be finalised well before the construction of the

building is commenced,” says Anchuri.

Planning and elements

There are various factors considered while working out a

project with passive solar design; architecture is a science

and there are multiple scientific methods by which one

is able to design a building in the most efficient manner.

According to Prem Nath, Prem Nath & Associates, the

mere orientation of the building shall enable reduced

impact on the HVAC system by ensuring minimal south-

face fenestrations, shall reduce power consumption by

providing right sized north-face fenestration (for north

light), the positioned placement of the buildings may also

end-up helping the buildings adjoining. Enhancement of

aesthetic appeal too is an architectural art, combined

with the passive solar features - one needs to plan for

the right kind of over-hangs, elevation features, cladding

materials, which all insulate the building. “Buildings

situated in various climate zones will have the passive

designs accordingly and the main elements like operable