Potential for free-cooling by ventilation

Natural ventilation is one of the most effective techniques for cooling. Its potential for cooling may be assessed by using a method based on the indoor-outdoor temperature difference of the free-running building, the adaptive comfort criteria and the outdoor temperature. It is demonstrated that the free-running temperature may be used instead of the balance temperature in energy estimation methods. The indoor-outdoor temperature difference of the free-running building becomes a characteristic of the thermal behavior of the building which is decoupled from comfort range and outdoor temperature. A measure related to the energy saved and the applicability of free-cooling is given by the probabilistic distribution of the degree-hours as a function of the outdoor temperature and time. Weather data for this method are available in public domain from satellite investigation. The method can be applied when buildings similar to existing ones are constructed in a new location, when existing buildings are retrofitted or when completely new buildings are designed. The method may be used to interpret the results of building simulation software or of the field measurements. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.