Evaluation of passive cooling strategies for Israel

The potential of the different passive cooling strategies for popular residential buildings in Israel is evaluated using a simplified simulation program. The program, which can be run on a regular PC computer, is based on a similar one developed by the European community, but takes into account the internal mass of the building more explicitly. The passive cooling strategies considered are: natural ventilation, night cooling, ground cooling using underground pipes and combinations thereof Both air conditioned buildings and free-floating temperature buildings are considered. The basis of the study is a reference building, characteristic of popular residential homes in the coastal area of Israel. Two typical days are analyzed an average summer day and a particularly hot day in the spring (Sharav conditions). The relative merits of each strategy as well as their energy savings potential are discussed.