TROPICAL DESIGN

ArTrp 215
PASSIVE COOLING
A cooling system using a building’s design and construction to
maintain a comfortable temperature within the building.
PASSIVE DESIGN
Is essentially low-energy design achieved by the building’s
particular morphological organization rather than
electro-mechanical means.
SITE ANALYSIS:
- The site analysis is done in the initial stages of a project. Carrying out a site
analysis will assess whether development is financially feasible, and establish
parameters to implement the best design that responds to the physical and
environmental features of the site.
1. Site and Surroundings 9. Natural Features
2. Neighbourhood Context - Topography of the site, valleys, ridges, slope, etc.
- Vegetation-landscape, greenery, shrubs and trees,
3. Legal Information open spaces
4. Site and Zoning - Site Levels
10. Man-made Feature
5. Circulation
- Existing buildings
6. Utilities 11. Climate
7. Sensory - Orientation of the site
- Weather
8. Human and Cultural - Temperature, Rainfall throughout the year
- Prevailing wind directions
- Sun Path throughout the different times of the year
and day
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
Some passive cooling methods used in building design are:

1. BUILDING CONFIGURATION, SITE LAYOUT AND SITE PLANNING.

2. BUILDING ORIENTATION
3. FAÇADE DESIGN
4. HEAT INSULATION
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION
6. BUILDING ENVELOPE COLOR
7. SUN SHADING
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
1. BUILDING CONFIGURATION, SITE LAYOUT AND SITE PLANNING

Example:

A building can be protected from

direct sunlight by placing on a location
within the site that utilizes existing
features such as trees, terrain, etc.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
1. BUILDING CONFIGURATION, SITE LAYOUT AND SITE PLANNING

Trees shade a building most effectively from

the southeast and southwest when the
morning and late afternoon sun has low
altitude.

South-facing overhangs provide more efficient

shading during the midday period when the
sun is high and casts shadows.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
2. BUILDING ORIENTATION

Example:

In the Philippines, it is best to

place service areas in the
west and east facing sides of
the building because these
sides are exposed to direct
sunlight.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
2. BUILDING ORIENTATION

Location of Spaces:

Bedroom – North/Northeast
Kitchen – West
Living – With good view/North
Carport – West
Service Area - West
PROGROGMATIC REQUIREMENT IN DIFFERENT REGIONS
COLD REGION
- Compact Form: A compact home
design minimizes heat loss and helps
conserve energy during colder
months.

- Interior Thermal Mass: Utilizing

materials with thermal mass inside
the home, such as stone or brick,
helps retain heat and stabilizes indoor
temperatures.

- Dark Exterior Finishes: Dark-colored

exterior finishes, like deep browns or
grays, absorb sunlight and contribute
to passive heating during colder days.

- Equator-Facing Windows with

Summer Shades: Strategically
placing south-facing windows with
summer shades allows for solar gain
during winter while reducing heat gain
in the summer.
PROGROGMATIC REQUIREMENT IN DIFFERENT REGIONS
TEMPERATE REGION
- Medium Exterior Finishes: Selecting
medium-colored exterior finishes
helps strike a balance between heat
absorption and reflection.

- Maximize Shading to the West:

Shading strategies are focused on the
west side of the home to prevent
overheating during the hotter parts of
the day.

- Rectangular Shape on the E/W Axis:

Orienting the home on the east-west
axis facing the equator, and favoring
the southeast (or northeast in the
southern hemisphere), optimizes
natural lighting and passive solar
heating.
PROGROGMATIC REQUIREMENT IN DIFFERENT REGIONS
HOT-ARID REGION
- Maximum Thermal Mass Walls:
Utilizing materials with high thermal
mass, such as adobe or rammed
earth, allows the home to absorb and
store heat during the day, releasing it
during cooler nights.
- Minimal Windows with Shading:
Reducing the number of windows and
using shading mechanisms, such as
overhangs or sunscreens, helps
prevent excessive heat gain and
keeps indoor spaces cooler.
- Light-Colored Exterior Finishes:
Opting for light-colored exterior
finishes, like white or pastel hues,
helps reflect sunlight and lowers the
surface temperature of the home.
- Evaporative Cooling: Employing
evaporative cooling systems provides
an energy-efficient method to cool
indoor spaces by using water
evaporation.
PROGROGMATIC REQUIREMENT IN DIFFERENT REGIONS
HOT-HUMID REGION

- Maximized Overhangs and Shading:

Extensive overhangs and shading
mechanisms protect the home from
direct sunlight, reducing indoor heat
buildup.

- High Ceilings and Light Materials:

High ceilings promote air circulation,
while light materials for construction
and exterior finishes minimize heat
absorption.

- Maximize Openings for Cross

Ventilation: Ample openings, such as
windows and doors, are strategically
placed to facilitate natural cross
ventilation and maintain a comfortable
indoor environment.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING PASSIVE SOLAR-HEATING
A solar-heating system using a
building’s design and construction
and the natural flow of heat to
3. FAÇADE DESIGN collect, store, and distribute solar
energy, with minimal use of fans
or pumps.
- Use of
Double-layered
façade BERM
A bank or earth placed against
one or more exterior walls of a
- Use building as protection against
Low-emissivity extremes in temperature.
glass (Low-E
glass) or solar
tint TROMBE WALL
A glass-fronted exterior masonry
wall that absorbs solar heat for
radiation into the interior of a
- Use of building, usually after a time-lag of
materials and several hours.

heat insulation
DRUMWALL SOLARIUM
A stack of block, water-filled
drums placed on the inside of a A glass-enclosed porch, room, or
window wall to absorb solar heat gallery used for sunbathing or for
and then release it slowly into therapeutic exposure to sunlight.
the interior of a building. SUNROOM
A glass-enclosed porch or room oriented
to admit large amounts of sunlight. Also
called sun parlor, sun porch.
SUNDECK
A roof, balcony, or terrace that is
exposed to the sun and used for
sunbathing.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
3. FAÇADE DESIGN
 STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
3. FAÇADE DESIGN
 STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
3. FAÇADE DESIGN

Transparent - allowing light to

pass through so that objects
behind can be distinctly seen.

Translucent - will allow light to

pass through it but objects on
the other side will not be
clearly seen.

Opaque - not able to be seen

through.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
4. HEAT INSULATION
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
4. HEAT INSULATION
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
4. HEAT INSULATION
TYPE MATERIAL WHERE APPLICABLE INSTALLATION METHODS ADVANTAGES
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
4. HEAT INSULATION
TYPE MATERIAL WHERE APPLICABLE INSTALLATION METHODS ADVANTAGES
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
AIR MOVEMENT IN BUILDINGS
1. Air enters through opening located in the positive
pressure zone.
Air exits through openings located at the negative
pressure zone.

2. Air enters through lower level openings.

Air exits at higher level openings.
3. Window width ÷ wall width = 50% to increase indoor air speed.
4. Window heights = 1.10 meters for effective indoor air movement.
5. Window deflectors, horizontal and vertical, to redirect air flow.
6. Prevent wind shadows by placing openings.
Wind Shadows - is a place where the wind doesn’t reach.
 STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION

STACK VENTILATION

Stack Ventilation
uses temperature
differences to move
air. Hot air rises
because it is lower
pressure. For this
reason, it is
sometimes called
buoyancy
ventilation.
 STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION

INERTIA - a property of
matter by which it continues
in its existing state of rest or
uniform motion in a straight
line, unless that state is
changed by an external force.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION

AIR VELOCITY -
describes the speed at
which air is moving over
an individual/matter and
is measured in meters per
second (m/s).
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION

LEEWARD

WINDWARD
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION

ROOF VENTS - allows air to flow

through the attic space, escaping
through the roof vents.
SOFFIT VENTS - are integral
components of a well-designed
roofing system, positioned
beneath the eaves to facilitate
efficient airflow in the attic.
STACK VENTILATION
Placing openings at the
bottom and top of an open space
will encourage natural ventilation
through stack effect. The warm air
will exhaust through the top
openings, resulting in cooler air
being pulled into the building
from the outside through the
openings at the bottom. Openings
at the top and bottom should be
roughly the same size to
encourage even air flow through
the vertical space.

To design for these effects,

the most important consideration
is to have a large difference in
height between air inlets and
outlets. The bigger the difference,
the better.
Combining horizontal and vertical air pathways

(Image from SUn, Wind, and Light, by G.Z. Brown and Mark
DeKay, published by Wiley)
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION
STACK VENTILATION
Installing weatherproof vents to passively ventilate attic spaces in hot climates is an important design
strategy that is often overlooked. In addition to simply preventing overheating, ventilated attics can
use these principles to actually help cool a building.
There are several styles of passive roof vents: open stack, turbine, gable, and ridge vents, etc.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION
EXAMPLE:

Ventilation
Analysis using
Simulation
Software
Tools.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION
EXAMPLE:

Building Form
Optimization
for Natural
Ventilation
using
Simulation
Software.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION
Air Infiltration
Air infiltration is the unintentional and uncontrolled entry of outdoor air into an
enclosed space. Infiltration occurs through cracks in the building envelope and
due to pressure differences between inside and outside. By sealing the areas and
introducing air infiltration barriers, excessive use for mechanical equipment for
cooling can be dramatically be reduced. Infiltration occurs mainly in winter
when the air outside is colder and heavier than the air inside. In the case of
high-rise buildings the stack effect also causes infiltration.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION
There are two major types of indoor air pressure:
1. Positive Air Pressure - indicates a higher pressure inside than outside,
which forces the air to escape or being pushed out.

2. Negative Air Pressure - occurs when the pressure inside the house is lower
than the outside pressure. Because the pressure is lower inside than outside,
it will create a suction effect which is useful for containing the air within.

Indoor negative air pressure can be influenced by the following devices:

1. Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and cooling devices
2. Dryers
3. Kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans
4. Large often oversized kitchen range hoods
5. Woodstoves and fireplace

Air pressure affects the sustainability of the building, our energy consumption,
and indoor air quality that directly impacts human health.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
5. WIND AND NATURAL VENTILATION

Why is there a need to acquaint ourselves to indoor air

pressure?

Keeping a balanced air pressure inside the house is crucial as too

much positive or negative pressure can adversely affect indoor air
quality. An excessive amount of positive air pressure can cause the
air inside the room to be pushed outside, eliminating all the benefits
associated with using air conditioning. A high level of negative air
pressure, on the other hand, can draw unfiltered air inside the
house, leading to the buildup of harmful pollutants. Unbalanced air
pressure could have varying impacts depending on the season,
temperature, and humidity levels.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
6. BUILDING ENVELOPE COLOR

- characterized by a high degree of

development, finish, or refinement; free
from imperfections.

- is used to describe a surface or colour

that is dull and non-shiny.

- is a glass manufactured without any

tint or additives, allowing it to be
transparent in nature.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
7. SUN SHADING (SUN SHADING DEVICES)

Shading Systems
Blocking the solar radiation from reaching the building, particularly
the glazed, but also the other opaque (including the roof) and
reflecting the solar radiation is fundamental to the prevention of heat
gain. Well-design shading systems can actually enhance natural day
lighting and ventilation. Shading systems can be either fixed or
movable and placed internally, externally or between double glazed
panels. Vegetation can also be used to provide shading.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
7. SUN SHADING (SUN SHADING DEVICES)
1. Glazing
The type of glazing used can also affect the solar heat gain of the building.
Glazing may be either clear or may have special coating or treatments to
enhance its reflecting or heat absorbing properties. Electrochromic glass allows
the radiation transmission properties to be altered by varying an electric current
that is passed through the glass panel.
2. Fixed Shading Systems
Fixed shading systems include structural elements such as balconies and
projecting fins or shelves and non-structural elements such as canopies, blinds,
louvers and screens. The orientation and shape of the opening to be shaded,
relative to the position of the sun at different time of the day and year is critical
to the design of fixed shading systems.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
7. SUN SHADING (SUN SHADING DEVICES)
3. Movable Shading Systems
Movable shading is use either internally or externally. Control can be either
manual or power assisted and may be automated to respond to changing
conditions such as current radiation levels and daylighting or thermal
requirements. Awnings can reduce heat gain by up to 65% in summer on south
facades and up to 80% on east or west façade.
4. Vegetation
Vegetation can be used effectively for shading of the building. A major
advantage of natural shading using vegetation is that plants constantly rearrange
and reposition their leaves for maximum solar exposure and therefore maximize
shading, while artificial shading is generally inflexible.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
7. SUN SHADING (SUN SHADING DEVICES)

5. Thermal Insulation
Thermal insulation may combine two physical processes; reducing the thermal
transmittance of the envelope and maximizing long wave radiation.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
7. SUN SHADING (SUN SHADING DEVICES)

HORIZONTAL TYPES

Horizontal Sun Shades

are generally used on
the North-Facing and
South-Facing Sides of a
building.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
7. SUN SHADING (SUN SHADING DEVICES)

HORIZONTAL TYPES

Horizontal Sun Shades are generally used

on the North-Facing and South-Facing
Sides of a building.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
7. SUN SHADING (SUN SHADING DEVICES)

VERTICAL TYPES

Vertical Sun Shades

are generally used
on the East-Facing
and West-Facing
Sides of a building.
 STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
7. SUN SHADING (SUN SHADING DEVICES)
EXAMPLE:
CALYX RESIDENCES (IT PARK, CEBU CITY) -
using both the vertical and horizontal type.

EAST

WEST
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
7. SUN SHADING (SUN SHADING DEVICES)
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
7. SUN SHADING (SUN SHADING DEVICES)

EGG CRATE
TYPES

Combination of
Horizontal and
Vertical Shades.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
7. SUN SHADING (SUN SHADING DEVICES)
EXAMPLE:
SHELL RESIDENCES
(PASAY, METRO MANILA) - using the
eggcrate type.
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
SUN SHADING SOLUTIONS
EXAMPLE:
TASK US BUILDING
(UPTOWN IT HUB TAGBILARAN) WEST SIDE
(AFTERNOON SUN)

EAST SIDE
(MORNING SUN)
 STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
SUN SHADING SOLUTIONS
EXAMPLE:
PREVIOUS HNU MAIN
BUILDING
(TAGBILARAN, BOHOL)

WEST SIDE
(AFTERNOON SUN)
 STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
SUN SHADING SOLUTIONS
EXAMPLE:
MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING
(CPG NORTH AVE.,
TAGBILARAN, BOHOL)
EAST SIDE
(MORNING SUN)

WEST SIDE
(AFTERNOON SUN)
STRATEGIES FOR PASSIVE COOLING
SUN SHADING SOLUTIONS
EXAMPLE:
FLODELIS BLDG., WEST SIDE
BISU MAIN
(AFTERNOON SUN)
(CPG NORTH AVE.,
TAGBILARAN,
BOHOL)
SOLAR STUDIES
Why is it important to know about Solar Geometry?

Solar geometry is the measurement of the angle of the sun to the earth and the
corresponding amount of solar energy hitting a given object or surface. Knowledge of solar
geometry is very important for architectural design and energy efficiency strategies, since
solar energy greatly influences the energy performance of buildings. When the sun is low
on the horizon, it is more difficult to control its effect and the rays can penetrate deeply
through the windows. The contribution of light could certainly be useful, but the associated
thermal loads can result in heavy energy consumption or in conditions of discomfort.

It should be noted that in tropical and equatorial regions, the sun has an altitude higher than
30° for about 75% of the year. However, the high solar altitude makes the south or north
facades, on which more inclined rays fall in the central part of the day, less critical than the
east and west ones during morning and evening, when the sun is low and can penetrate
more deeply into the buildings.
 SUN PATH DIAGRAM
Sun Path refers to the daily
and seasonal arc-like path
that the Sun appears to follow
across the sky as the Earth
rotates and orbits the Sun.
The Sun's path affects the
length of daytime
experienced and amount of
daylight received along a
certain latitude during a given
season.

The relative position of the

Sun is a major factor in the
heat gain of buildings and in
the performance of solar
energy systems.
SOLAR STUDIES
SUN PATH DIAGRAM
ALTITUDE

AZIMUTH

DATE LINES

HOUR LINES
Definition of Terms:
AZIMUTH
is the horizontal angle from a
cardinal direction, most
commonly north, in a local or
observer-centric spherical
coordinate system.
ZENITH
the high point where it
describes the highest point in
an arc traveled by a star or a
planet or another celestial
body. The sun reaches its
zenith when it is as high in the
sky as it is going to go on that
day.
ALTITUDE
the vertical elevation of an
object above a surface (such
as sea level or land) of a
planet or natural satellite.
SUN PATH DIAGRAM
PROJECTION OF SOLAR PATH ON THE POLAR CHART
SUN PATH DIAGRAM
FOR REFERENCE:
FOR REFERENCE:
FOR REFERENCE:

Latitude and Longitude:

https://www.britannica.com/science/latitude
NOTE: The exact path of the Sun
depends on what your latitude is:
whether you are at the equator (0
degrees of latitude), the North Pole
(90 degrees north), the South Pole (90
degrees south), or in-between. The
exact path also depends on the time
of year.
EXAMPLE: 1 2
How to read Sun Path Diagrams At 9am on
April 1.
1. Locate the required hour line on the diagram.
2. Locate the required date line, remembering
that solid are used for Jan-June and dotted lines
for July-Dec.
3. Find the intersection point of the hour and
date lines. Remember to intersect solid with
solid and dotted with dotted lines.
4. Draw a line from the very center of the
diagram, through the intersection point, out to
3 4
the perimeter of the diagram.
5. Read the azimuth as an angle taken
clockwise from north. In this case, the value is
about 62°.
6. Trace a concentric circle around from the
intersection point to the vertical north axis, on
which is displayed the altitude angles.
7. Interpolate between the concentric circle
lines to find the altitude. In this case the
intersection point sits exactly on the 30° line.
8. This gives the position of the sun, fully
defined as an azimuth and altitude.
The Azimuth is 62°, the Altitude is 30°.
EXAMPLE:
Manila, Philippines
September 12, 2024 @ 1:00pm
EXAMPLE: