Buildings with different mass levels were monitored in the summer of 1993 in Pala, South California, under different ventilation and shading conditions. The effect of mass in lowering the daytime (maximum) indoor temperatures, in closed and in night ventilated buildings, was thus evaluated. Night ventilation had only a very small effect on the indoor maxima of the low-mass building. However, it was very effective in lowering the indoor maximum temperatures for the high mass building below the outdoor maxima, especially during the 'heat wave' periods.
Studies at the Oxford Brookes University have shown that opportunities for improving a building's fabric thermal storage performance relate more to aspects of its configuration, control and ventilation strategy than the choice of structural system.
Termodeck's passive cooling system of indoor climate control uses hollowed-out concrete slabs through which room air is circulated. During the summer, the fan runs at night, too, passing cool air over the slabs to ensure the temperature remains cool for the day ahead. Andy Cook reports.
PASSPORT Plus is a new building thermal simulation tool, developed in the framework of PASCOOL. It incorporates new findings from the experimental and theoretical research activities performed in PASCOOL that have been integrated in an original informatic structure. Overall, the emphasis during the development of the program was given on dealing with problem related to cooling of buildings, especially by natural and passive techniques.
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