Title: The passive ambient comfort and design integration feasibility of vernacular devices in arid housing

Authors: Belkacem Berghout; Daniel Forgues

Addresses: Construction Engineering Department, École de Technologie Supérieure, Montreal, Canada ' Construction Engineering Department, École de Technologie Supérieure, Montreal, Canada

Abstract: The excessive energy consumption in arid climates raises the question of utilising climate's intrinsic adaptive methods which could significantly contribute to energy saving strategies. This article introduces the feasibility of incorporating vernacular device strategies to reduce energy consumption and thereby to more realistically assess the opportunities for adapting these strategies in arid areas. The objective is to develop an overall process focused on the integration of vernacular devices and to realise an effective return for both users and developers by improving energy efficiency. A complexity analysis of the integration of the energetic aspects in several vernacular cases was performed in order to propose design processes that optimise energy performance while ensuring occupants' comfort, based on the proposed building structure morphology. The results concretely illustrate both the interrelation between energy consumption and the various conception choices, and how vernacular devices can condition local energy practices.

Keywords: passive strategies; vernacular devices; design; overall process; building professionals; integration of vernacular devices; housing construction; comfort; energy performance; arid area.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2019.102778

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2019 Vol.18 No.3, pp.249 - 269

Accepted: 31 May 2019
Published online: 03 Oct 2019 *

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