ENERGY RESPONSIVENESS IN TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS OF LUCKNOW

Abstract

Architecture developed in this industrial age is highly dependant on mechanical controls resulting in high level of energy consumption. Buildings consume a lot of energy, which is primarily used for heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting. Of the present total global energy consumption, 45% is used in heating cooling and lighting of buildings and a further 5% in building construction. Diminishing reserves of fossil fuels warrant the exhaustive review of the methodologies adopted for design of buildings. The energy crisis has regenerated interest in those aspects of building design, which maintain not only comfort inside but also consume less amount of energy. Around one-half of the energy could be saved by proper building design, construction and use. Conserving energy means reducing the amount of fuel and electricity used by a space. It is quite possible to achieve reductions of 50-70% (of developed world building consumption levels), and with a little extra effort by 75- 85%, by using known and tested concepts of technologically sophisticated passive, climatically adapted buildingdesign for new buildings. Energy Responsive design involves the conscious use of climatic elements and natural process in the design of spaces. Buildings are designed to react favorably with the environment to produce balanced comfort conditions. The thermal capacity and resistance of the building material, surface characteristics, colour, texture, orientation, planning and shape of the building are a few elements important for energy conservation through building design. Passive solar building design utilizes this concept to heat or cool a building by natural means. In this approach, building components and spaces are articulated to make maximum use of solar radiation and climatic elements producing energy responsive spaces. The concept of energy responsive design is rooted in ancient civilizations. Many traditional cultures have used energy conserving features in their architecture, which used solar energy beneficially. The traditional buildings give us many examples ofa sensitive approach to energy conscious designs for indoor comfort conditions. The use of natural and passive means in traditional houses was very effective in providing a thermally comfortable space, which was warm in winter and cool in summer. This approach has renewed our interest in our long forgotten aspects of our rich energy conscious architectural heritage. The present study hypotheses 'that the traditionally constructed and designed houses are considered to be more energy responsive as compared to the houses designed to modem constructional designs.' It is with this background that the author has studied the three traditional residential buildings and two modem houses of Lucknow, their building features and their thermal performance in terms of temperature and relative humidity. A review of the existing literature on the subject has been undertaken to find out their appropriateness in context to climatic responsiveness and energy consumption. The simultaneous monitoring of outdoor and indoor thermal conditions of three traditional house types together with that of two 'modem houses' in Lucknow has shown that the thermal capacity of the traditional houses has many advantages in limiting day 11 time internal temperature rise during the hot seasons. The factors benefiting the thermal performance of the traditional houses are the various natural and passive cooling techniques such as self shading, orientation, thick walls, heavy roofs, courtyards and surface color and texture. During the winters the thermal capacity of the traditional houses play a major part in maintaining near comfort conditions internally during the night, even when the external temperature drops as low as 7°C. The comparative analysis of thermal performance of traditional houses and modem houses has shown that the traditionally constructed and designed houses are more energy responsive as compared to the houses designed to modem constructional designs. After going through the principles of energy conservation and the factors responsible for such a design, which have been followed, knowingly or unknowingly, in the traditional residential buildings, a process almost in the form of algorithm can be developed, which will help find the optimal solution for a given set of requirements and constraints. A mathematical model through balancing of thermal load has been formulated with the help of modified admittance procedure. The analysis and quantification of various passive cooling concepts such as orientation, overhangs, surface color, cavity walls and cavity roof and insulation in roof and walls in conditioned and non-conditioned buildings through a mathematical model has also been presented in this thesis. Finally broad guidelines are also summarized with respect to spatial planning, daylighting, air movement, thermal comfort, material and construction techniques and landscaping.