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Image courtesy of SQUARE 1
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Natural ventilation is a ventilation strategy that uses wind, heat, solar gain and pressure differential to move fresh outside air through an interior space. Using operable windows as well as other façade elements to provide ventilation air is an intuitive manner of improving the atmosphere within built environments. There are several ways to provide natural ventilation and minimize the use of mechanical force, thereby conserving electrical energy. Some of these methods utilize the stack effect, thermo-syphon, wind scoops and double skin building facades. |
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Image courtesy of SQUARE 1
Click on the image to view animation |
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The stack effect induces natural air flow by using the basic tenet that hot air rises. As heated air rises into a central tower or architecturally formed opening such as an atrium, it is gradually replaced by cooler air drawn in from the openings at the perimeter of the building. The fresh air is drawn through the building and exhausted at the roof level. |
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Image courtesy of SQUARE 1
Click on the image to view animation |
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Thermo-syphon ventilation relies on solar gain to increase temperatures in a specific section of a building to create buoyant air which then escapes near openings at the top the building. This can be accomplished with a south-facing double skinned façade, a solar chimney or other sunspaces near thermal mass. |
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Image courtesy of SQUARE 1
Click on the image to view animation |
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Wind scooping is a technology used to assist natural ventilation by harnessing the pressure of wind, basically pulling air through the upper part of the building. Wind scoops rotate based on wind direction to maximize natural ventilation. Cross ventilation of a building can also be accomplished by providing operable windows on opposite sides to facilitate air currents or induce pressure differential. |