Computer modelling and cooling strategies.

Comfort conditions in a warm/hot environment can be achieved by means of several cooling strategies ranging from the obvious sun shading to the less obvious radiant cooling. These strategies are identified and three selected computer models are evaluated in terms of their capability to cope with them. The result is that the most popular or sophisticated computer models available are not able to deal with passive cooling. Also the problem of is the interface between currently available computer models and their final users, the architects, is analyzed. Results are discouraging, in the sense that a bridging language between thermal analysis and design must be found (a computer model moving in this direction is briefly described: it is a model specialized in cooling issues). The following main needs are identified: i) development of new components for passive cooling; ii) development of new modeling approaches and capabilities; iii) efforts for overcoming the language misfit between analysts and architects.