Comprehensive Study of Passive Cooling Techniques

The emerging need of India on thermal comfort in commercial buildings has increased the dependency of mechanical cooling which leads to the increased use of energy, higher operating costs and environmental pollution. This is a challenge that is very intense in hot and dry areas where the temperature is usually more than 45degC and it is hard to be very comfortable indoors. Passive cooling is an environmentally friendly alternative because it minimizes heat gain, maximizes the natural heat dissipation, and keeps interior areas comfortable without energy intensive systems.Passive cooling features such as courtyards, Jaali screens, and thick walls that were well used in traditional Indian architecture have inspired the current approach of shading equipment, cool roofs, trees, thermal mass, night ventilation, and evaporative cooling. Research indicates that these technologies differ in performance, but when used together at sites, buildings, and envelope scales, they have a significant impact on mechanical cooling loads, which is why they are best applied in hot and dry climates.