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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Low energy cooling in multi-storey buildings for hot, arid climates

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This thesis discusses passive and low energy cooling strategies and systems in hot arid climates. The choice of a certain strategy, as well as determining the appropriate cooling schemes for such a context becomes of prime importance in developing the optimum energy conscious building design. The motivation for working in this area of research stems for the need facing architects to start developing a serious sense for energy considerations in their architectural design, especially in existing and multi-storey buildings. Here, in this research, the different factors that govern the control of heat gain through the envelope of the building will be analyzed. Also, solutions to minimize the cooling load for dwellings will be suggested/provided; by means of selecting the adequate cooling systems (evaporative, convective, and radiative) that promote the optimum desired thermal comfort. This research concludes its technical analysis with an architectural design for two schemes; The first is a cooling system that can be applied to new buildings, or retrofitted to existing ones. It uses evaporative coolers and solar chimney systems at daytime. It also uses night-time forced ventilation to cool the ordinary slab. The second can be applied in new buildings. It uses evaporative coolers and solar chimney systems at day-time. It also uses night-time forced ventilation through cored slabs. This design, and these schemes, are perceived as a starting point for further development and more research.

Degree

thesis:*
Department dc:contributor.department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture.
Grantor dc:publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Year dc:date.issued
1989

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Mostafa, Amira M
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Timothy Johnson.

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/76013
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/76013

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
MIT
Base URL
dspace.mit.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Mostafa, Amira M. Low energy cooling in multi-storey buildings for hot, arid climates. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/76013