Natural Ventilation Strategy in a Social Housing with Sub-humid Warm Climate Based on Thermal Comfort

Abstract

Natural ventilation was analysed in a low-income dwelling to control open or closed windows according to a dynamic simulation process in sub-humid warm climate. A selective algorithm to control natural ventilation was determined in an annual period per hour with the following findings: a) an algorithm to select open or closed windows was determined, b) comfort hours per year were evidenced with open, closed windows and selective algorithm to operate natural ventilation, and c) the schedule and periods of ventilation control were presented. Meteonorm® data were used on an hourly basis in Design Builder® simulations and the Meteorological System data based on 30 years of measurements were used to determine the comfort range. Conclusions: the potential benefits to be obtained by applying this ventilation strategy with a selective algorithm are observed in sub-humid warm climate.

Keywords

• dynamic thermal simulation
• natural ventilation
• passive systems
• social housing
• thermal comfort