This document discusses various ancient energy conservation technologies used in heritage buildings, including natural lighting, natural ventilation, evaporative cooling, interior space cooling techniques used in structures like domes and wind towers. It provides examples of these techniques used in historic structures from India, Rome, Dubai and Saudi Arabia. The document also outlines formulas for calculating heat transfer through walls, ceilings and from internal heat sources like people. It concludes that we should adopt these ancestral technologies in modern buildings for a sustainable future.

1. Energy conservation
Technologies in heritage
buildings
By
ANIRUDH B
11MN01

2. Ancient techniques adopted by
our ancestors
Natural Lighting
Natural ventilation
Evaporative cooling
Space cooling
Solar chimney
Solar pond
Wind towers
Ancient Air-conditioners

3. Energy conservation Technologies
Natural Lighting: Solar energy was extensively used by our ancestors
for natural lighting
A typical Chettinad house
Panthaleon ,rome

4. Energy conservation Technologies
Natural ventilation: A Passive ventilation system generates an
updraft to pull air through the building

5. Energy conservation Technologies
Natural ventilation: Relies on the natural driving force, that is,
energy from the sun

6. Energy conservation Technologies
Evaporative cooling: This passive cooling technique was found by
Indians and latter followed by Romanians, Egyptians and many others.
Hawa Mahal of Jaipur

7. Energy conservation Technologies
Interior Space cooling: This space cooling technology was widely
implemented in Ancient Indian temples.

8. Energy conservation Technologies
Interior Space cooling: Massive dome structures absorb solar load
heat during the day and let out in the night
Taj mahal,India
The central dome -200ft tall,
60ft diameter
14ft thickness
The central dome -18000 ft sq. area,
144ft diameter
Gol Gumbaz,Jaipur 10ft thickness

9. Energy conservation Technologies
Interior Space cooling: ISHA is one of the modern day architectural
marvel which is built using the ancient building techniques
ISHA Dhyanalingam, coimbatore

10. Energy conservation Technologies
Interior Space cooling: Massive dome structures absorb solar load
heat during the day and let out in the night
Distance from floor to top
is equal to the diameter
of the dome 142ft.
The dome gets thinner as it
approaches the oculus
(7.8m diameter)
The thickness of the dome
Nearing the oculus is 1.2m
Panthaleon, Rome- Aerial view

11. Energy conservation Technologies
Heat gain through exterior walls
Heat conduction through Exterior walls is given by,
𝑞 𝑒,𝑡−𝑛∆
𝑞 𝑒,𝑡 = 𝑏 𝑛 𝑇 𝑠𝑜𝑙,𝑡−𝑛∆ − 𝑑𝑛 − 𝑇𝑖 𝑐𝑛 𝐴
𝐴
𝑛=0 𝑛=1 𝑛=0
Where,
T=time, h
Δ=time interval, h
𝑇 𝑠𝑜𝑙,𝑡−𝑛∆ =sol-air temperature at time t-nΔ, deg C
𝑞 𝑒,𝑡−𝑛∆ =conduction heat gain at time t-nΔ, W
𝑏 𝑛 , 𝑐 𝑛 , 𝑑 𝑛 = conduction transfer function coefficients (from
ASHRAE handbook)
A= Interior surface area of wall,m^2

12. Energy conservation Technologies
Heat gain through ceilings, floors and partition walls
Heat conduction through ceilings is given by,
𝑞 𝑐 = 𝑈𝐴(𝑇 𝑐 − 𝑇𝑖 )
Where,
U=Overall heat transfer coefficient of ceilings, floors or
partition walls, W/m^2.K
A=Surface area of ceiling, floor or partition wall,m^2
𝑇 𝑐 =Temperature of the ceiling, floor or partition walls,
deg C
𝑇𝑖 = Temperature of the indoor space, deg C

13. Energy conservation Technologies
Internal Heat gain: People
Internal heat gain due to occupants is given by,
Sensible heat load,
𝑄 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 = 𝑁 𝑝 𝑆𝐻𝐺
Latent heat load,
𝑄 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝑁 𝑝 𝐿𝐻𝐺
Where,
𝑁 𝑝 = No. of persons
𝑆𝐻𝐺= Sensible heat gain of each person, W
𝐿𝐻𝐺= Latent heat gain of each person, W

14. Energy conservation Technologies
Wind Towers: Persians introduced this method of capturing cool
air and transferring it to the building
Wind towers, Dubai

15. Energy conservation Technologies
Wind Towers: water was added via pools of collected rainwater
that further cooled the air flowing over them as they evaporated
Wind tower in a shopping complex, Saudi Arabia

16. Energy conservation Technologies
Ancient Air-Conditioner
Invented by Ding Huan of Han dynasty and improved by tang
dynasty emperor Xuanzong with water powered rotary fan wheels

17. Conclusion
Our ancestors had a better understanding of the natural
forces and its impact on human life.
They lived a life along with nature with peace and
harmony.
Therefore, we should adopt our ancestral energy
conservation technologies in modern day buildings to
ensure a better place for human dwellings.

18. References
1) Surendra H. Shah,“A combination of modern technology and
heritage techniques”, Journal of air conditioning and
refrigeration, apr-jun 2004.
2) Chinese Heritage Buildings, XTRALIS
3) Indian temples- a structural engineering marvel, A Brief
engineering report on Indian temples, Apr 2011
4) J.K.Nayak, “Passive solar architecture Basics”, Energy systems
Engineering, IIT Mumbai
5) Handbook of air-conditioning and Refrigeration
6) Cooling load calculations and principles, A.Bhatia, Continuing
Education and development, Inc.