ACE Update – July 2019

solar designI IGreen Zone

ACEARCHITECTURECONSTRUCTIONENGINEERINGUPDATE july 2019 45

windows, thermal mass and thermal chimneys are common
elements found in passive design,” said Anchuri. Operable
windows are simple windows that can be opened. Thermal
mass refers to materials such as masonry and water that
can store heat energy for extended time. Thermal chimneys
create or reinforce the effect hot air rising to induce air

movement for cooling purposes. “The important elements

considered for the construction of passive solar buildings

are solar index of site location, architectural orientation

of the structures, roof top thermal insulation with geo

fabric and roof top landscape and wall either finished with

vermiculite plaster or exterior cladding with voids,” said

Prem Nath adding that one of the smart tower projects

designed by his firm — SBI Tower at GIFT City — has been

planned with roof top solar panels with pergolas and solar

panel on the south face which shall be able to generate

enough solar backup power and the pergolas also ensure

passive solar feature as a shading factor.

Key considerations

In India we need a design concept which will give passive

solar design many forms. It can be integrated to greater or

lesser degrees in a building. Key considerations regarding

passive design are determined by the characteristics of

the building site. “From Mumbai to Kolkata and Delhi to

Chennai the most effective designs are based on specific

understanding of a building site’s wind patterns, terrain,

Prem Nath, Prem Nath & Associates

One needs to plan for the

right kind of over-hangs,

elevation features, cladding

materials, which all insulate

the building.

Pranesh Chaudhary, Founder and CEO,

ZunRoof Tech

It is important to select the

right angle of inclination for

installation PV system.