Natural ventilation: It's as easy as opening the windows, or is it

Abstract

This research was conducted as part of a Faculty Summer Appointment at the Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory through NORCUS and the D.O.E. The research consisted of four basic components: 1. An analysis of several national building surveys was undertaken to examine the potential for using natural ventilation as a means of cooling within the existing usage patterns and non-residential building stock of the U.S. 2. An extensive literature search was undertaken to identify nonresidential buildings that have been built and operated in recent years using natural ventilation as a cooling strategy. 3. A series of interviews were held with architects, engineers, building owners and operators to outline the perceptions of these groups as to the advantages and obstacles involved with the use of natural ventilation in buildings today. 4. More detailed case studies were conducted of two highly successful buildings (Quincy Market, Boston, Massachusetts, and the Terman Engineering Center, Stanford University, Stanford, California) to underline the potential for user acceptance of natural ventilation despite the many misconceptions that prevail at the present time in the marketplace.