Optimal Building Design
If you were to build a house that effectively mitigates overheating and enhances indoor air quality, the following procedures should be adhered to
4 Ventilation & Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Enhancement
Implement natural ventilation strategies such as cross-ventilation with strategically positioned windows and passive stack ventilation.
Using wind catchers can enhance airflow during the warmer months.
Using dehumidifiers, moisture-absorbing materials and plants, maintain relative humidity between 30-60%.
5 Passive & Active Cooling Techniques
Incorporate high thermal mass materials (e.g., concrete, brick) to absorb and slowly release heat.
Ensure passive cooling by utilizing ventilation stacks and evaporative cooling techniques.
Use night cooling strategies, such as automated window openings, to flush out heat during cooler nighttime hours.
6 Comply with Regulations & Climate Resilience.
Meeting Irish Building Regulations (Part L & Part F) – energy conservation & ventilation.
For long-term climate resilience assessment, apply dynamic simulation modelling (DSM) to projected future weather files.
Implement adaptive thermal comfort strategies (e.g., flexible heating/cooling controls) that are responsive to occupant needs.
1 Site Selection & Orientation
Orient the house along a north-south axis to reduce solar radiation exposure in summer while maximising passive heating in winter.
All windows should be placed where they won’t create excessive solar gain for the interior, but south-facing windows should be oriented to provide ample winter solar heating and shaded appropriately.
2 Building Envelope Design
Use high-performance building fabrics with low U-values to reduce heat transfer.
Increase airtightness while ensuring controlled ventilation to maintain good indoor air quality.
Incorporate phase-change materials (PCMs) into walls and ceilings for thermal mass enhancement, stabilising indoor temperatures.
Use cool roofing materials with high solar reflectance to reduce heat absorption.
3 Fenestration & Shading Strategies
Use triple-glazed windows with Low-emissivity (Low-E), to allow daylighting, while minimising heat gain.
Use overhanging canopies, dynamic shading devices or louvres to reduce excess summer solar gain and allow winter sunlight in.
You should achieve a suitable Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR) of 40-50% south façade to balance the energy tightrope of daylighting, heat gain, and loss.
