PLUG-IN INFRA

The project is meant to improve thermal comfort through use of a solar chimney and radiant barrier, implemented in DIY procedure.

Long description

The concept of sustainable development, introduced in the Brundtland report, has little application in contemporary “architecture”. All efforts towards a “sustainable architecture” in buildings, awarded by certification, usually include the use of high technology and industrial process, that coupled with the construction ensure desirable hygrometric comfort, exclusive to a medium- high socioeconomic class.

The project is meant to improve thermal comfort and better air quality through two simple strategies, which can be implemented by householders in a DIY procedure. The strategies presented are energy grid free based and have been tested in Brazil, on a poor house in semi-arid climate, as well as in Lisbon on a test cell. Coupling a radiant barrier insulation, to be located under the roof, with a solar chimney, properly designed to be assembled easily(solar inducing natural ventilation) will improve comfort in poor houses. The solar chimney, as an induction system for natural ventilation, has presented itself as a possibility to improve air quality and introduce evaporative cooling in the climatic and economic conditions of this region. The design was reviewed, using common construction material, metallic trash for the absorser, to be assembled with simple tools. On the other side the radiant barrier, cheap and easy to fix, will lower the indoor temperature facilitating thermal comfort.

This PLUG-IN INFRA kit will allow better temperature and air quality using the solar radiation as fuel, with cheap investment.