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Natural Ventilation
SUSTAINABILITY & URBAN DESIGNbeginner
Definition
The movement of fresh air through a building without mechanical fans, driven by pressure differences from wind or by the buoyancy of warm air (the stack effect). Well-designed natural ventilation improves indoor air quality, reduces energy consumption, and can replace air conditioning in mild climates.
Example
The BedZED housing development in London by Bill Dunster Architects (2002) uses distinctive coloured wind cowls on its rooftop that rotate to capture prevailing winds and draw fresh air through the apartments below.