Addressing the problem with natural ventilation : producing a guide for designers to integrate natural ventilation into the early stages of building design

Abstract

Currently, the United States alone is responsible for approximately twenty percent of the world's total energy consumption. This consumption is equivalent to roughly 100 quadrillion Btu of energy, or in plainer terms, over $1 trillion in energy expenditures annually. This sector alone comprises nearly half of all the energy consumed in the United States. Additionally, about seventy-five percent of all electricity produced in the U.S. is consumed by building operations. This precedent has convinced me that finding an alternative is worth the investment. The purpose of my thesis project is to explore substitutes to mechanical heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) building systems. My project revisits the concept of natural ventilation and explores and evaluates its feasibility as an energy-saving and comfortable alternative to mechanical ventilation systems. Additionally, my project focuses on how buildings can be designed to naturally condition the indoor environments of our buildings. More specifically, I would like to help architects discover how they can utilize natural ventilation effectively. Using the TRNSYS simulation environment, I methodically show how a designer would use TRNSYS to make informed decisions about natural ventilation in their designs. My research is meant to be a valuable tool for other designers who are unsure or uncomfortable with utilizing this natural process to condition their buildings. The final deliverable of my thesis project is a comprehensive strategy for designers to incorporate natural ventilation in the early stages of their building design.