Passive Ventilation

Passive Ventilation

With an ever growing concern to protect our fragile environment, many new building products are emerging to help in reducing the impact construction has on the planet. But are we overlooking the huge differences that can be made with a smart design?

With an ever growing concern to protect our fragile environment, many new building products are emerging to help in reducing the impact construction has on the planet.

But are we overlooking the huge differences that can be made with a smart design?

Before we add the solar panels from https://fireflyenergyllc.com/, the energy efficient appliances, the Eco friendly floor and wall coverings let’s start from the very beginning, the actual DESIGN of the building. The most sought after for today’s climate and financial conditions should be a PASSIVE DESIGN.

I have read many articles and studies as to what makes the best Passive Design.

The most common misconception is that the only way to passively ventiate a dwelling is by positioning the building and its windows to catch prevailing breezes.

Not only is this wrong but virtually impossible. If you are like most of us and are building on a standard size residential block in suburbia where there is not always a breeze or it’s blocked by the house next door. There is a better way!

Before I give you the answer let’s cover the actual meaning of Passive.

Passive ventilation means to create movement without the use of external mechanical or electrical appliances.

Collins Dictionary, passive definition:

not active or not participating perceptibly in an activity, organization, etc
unresisting and receptive to external forces; submissive
not working or operating
affected or acted upon by an external object or force …

So a passive house should be able to move air without the use of fans or air conditioners, right? Sure a breeze will help however what if there is none, a passive building should still be able to cool itself.

This can be achieved by incorporating high level operable windows into the design of the building. We all know hot air rises but in most houses we don’t allow for this hot air to escape. Instead we move it with fans or cool it with air conditioners.

Wouldn’t it be cheaper to get rid of the hot air and replace it with cooler air?

With high level operable windows the hot air will escape while drawing cooler air in through the lower level windows and doors. This creates a ‘breeze’ through the building and what do you know, now we have created a building that has passive ventilation. This alone is the most cost effective way of ‘air conditioning’ even if there is little or no breeze .And it’s nothing new as there is evidence this concept has been used as far back as the 1600’s.

This design will compliment any ceiling fan as most new fans have the reverse function. So instead of pushing the hot air down and around the room again it will pull it up and out the open windows.

But wait there’s more, sorry, no steak knives just more cost savings. By adding windows up high you have also created a natural light source that will create an airy and more open feel while reducing day time lighting costs for as long as the sun may shine.

The next question is how do we operate these windows. and there is a large range of Window Automation Equipment available to do this.

From the basic wall mounted manual winders that most of us have seen at school or at home through to push button switch controls and to the higher end, but not not as expensive as you might think, ‘Smart Phone’ controlled systems. These Apps give new meaning to Window Automation. With programmable logic that will monitor temperature, humidity, CO2, rain, wind and smoke so they will even open the windows when you burn the toast. The ‘Smart Phone’ system can open or close the windows from anywhere in the world.

Unique Window Services as a company has been a passive ventilation control specialist for nearly 50 years. With a great range of Window Automation Products as well as fully trained staff to provide old fashioned service from concept to completion.

We would love to be of assistance for your next project so please give us a call to arrange an appointment or visit our website www.uniquewindowservices.net to see our range.

Shane Grice

Owner

Unique Window Services

Printable Brochure: Passive Ventilation – Shane Grice