Passive cooling of buildings for climate change mitigation and adaptation

• Grant number: 23/02387-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2024
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning - Architecture and Urbanism Technology
• Principal Investigator: Karin Maria Soares Chvatal
• Grantee: Karin Maria Soares Chvatal
• Host Institution: Instituto de Arquitetura e Urbanismo de São Carlos (IAU). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ana Paula Melo ; Rosilene Regolão Brugnera
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/04892-8 - Characterization of buildings regarding infiltration rate, ventilation and impact of passive strategies in future climate scenarios, BP.TT

Abstract

The general objective of this research is to characterize the impact of passive strategies on the cooling demand and resilience of buildings throughout the 21st century. In this way, both mitigation and adaptation to climate change are considered. Buildings for private use (medium standard multi-family housing) and collective use (university classrooms) in Brazil will be studied. For the classrooms, ventilation solutions will also be studied for salubrity, in view of the importance of this aspect in spaces for collective use. Additionally, we intend to collect in situ data that characterize the rate of air exchange in classrooms with different potentials for natural ventilation and exposure to wind. As for the approach, the research is divided into two parts: (1) computer simulation and (2) experimental study. The simulations will be conducted in different Brazilian climates and future scenarios. The results will be analyzed using sensitivity analysis and optimization techniques. The experimental study will consist of the tracer gas method. It is intended that this research indicates the most suitable passive strategies for use in the buildings studied throughout this century, from the points of view of energy efficiency and resilience combined, as well as the ventilation solutions for healthiness that are most in line with these needs. Finally, it is believed that the characterization of the air exchange rate in classrooms will contribute to a better understanding and proper use of natural ventilation, which will be a growing demand in the future. (AU)