Rethinking HVAC systems
The possibilities of passive and bio-inspired techniques in residential buildings
A.S.A. Visser (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
M.J. Smit – Mentor (TU Delft - Building Design & Technology)
A.B.J. van Deudekom – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / AE+T)
T. Strauss – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / AE+T)
E.H.M. Geurts – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Real Estate Management)
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Abstract
This research addresses the dual environmental impact of the building sector, operational energy use and embodied carbon, by investigating passive and bio-inspired techniques as alternatives to conventional HVAC systems. Focusing on temperate climates, techniques are categorized into three layers following the Behling Diagram: architectural form, passive systems, and active systems. Each technique is analyzed through literature review and applied to a test design for a residential building in The Hague, Netherlands. A ranking system evaluates both architectural integration, based on visual comfort, spatial quality, and social value, and carbon efficiency, calculated per supplementary m2. Results show that form & orientation and sunspaces perform best across both metrics. The results are combined into a catalog, which can be used during early design phases. While the methodology highlights promising strategies for sustainable design, it is also acknowledged that limitations related to context-specific performance and material assessment are present. This study offers a comparative framework to support low energy-impact architectural decision making.