22 in simple low-income buildings are required to promote the use of natural ventilation Integrated Design of Passive and Low-Energy Systems (Eduardo Gascón) The last talk by Eduardo Gascón presented how an integrated design approach can lead to building solutions that provide low-energy cooling at minimal material cost. Earthen walls, for example, can be designed for enhanced thermal mass performance while minimizing weight, thanks to an efficient distribution of their mass and interior air pockets. How to fabricate these complex geometries was explored through a prototype built in collaboration with Sandy Curth using additive manufacturing techniques. Another promising avenue is shaping concrete slabs as structural elements and thermally activated chilled ceilings. Through a multi-domain design and optimization process, it is possible to remove material where it is not required structurally (cutting the material in half) while improving its thermal performance as radiant surfaces. Finally, Gascón presented the opportunity to design new urban developments that account for the availability of the ground and the night sky as heat sinks. This approach allows for minimizing the anthropogenic heat dissipated into the urban canyon while covering the cooling needs of buildings in a low-energy and climate-specific manner. Discussion The discussion revolved around how to make the presented solutions (and, more broadly, the idea of integrated design) more accessible to designers and practitioners. Different approaches to this question were suggested. Some focused on the tools (how to make them easier to use and integrated with existing design processes) while others focused on on the solutions themselves and their manufacturability. Regarding the latter, the group discussed the opportunities to engage with the manufacturing sector to create novel building solutions that are compelling to designers and consumers aesthetically and functionally. Other questions focused on the advantages of using analytical tools within design processes (providing a fast and physics-informed response) and the importance of understanding their scope and limitations. Links to Presentations Les Norford, Panel Introduction David Warsinger, Efficient Dehumidification Forrest Meggers, Passive System Demonstration and Instrumentation Leon Glicksman, Natural Ventilation and Thermal Mass Eduardo Gascón, Integrated Design of Passive and Low-Energy Systems
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