For the last three weeks I have been hunkered down in Western Japan in a city called Kumamoto. It gets hot down here. Really really hot, some days, and it is still the spring.
However, the air conditioning has never been turned on. Why? The home was designed before air conditioning existed to keep people cool without it.
Here are a few of the more obvious ways in which this works:
- The low roof and lack of attic space does not accumulate rising heat,
- The roof overhang extends several feet beyond the exterior walls, giving lots of shade,
- Bamboo bundles are cheap, easily purchased, and can be propped up to keep the sun off of the house,
- The exterior walls completely open to airflow when you slide open the doors. Much better than a few windows for natural airflow,
- Tatami floors always seem to feel cool.
Unlike most home in the U.S. these days, which are designed to seal up air-tight and keep everything out, the Japanese home is open and breezy. It probably doesn’t do a very good job with the air conditioning on, but it it isn’t even on then that doesn’t seem to matter as much.
Don't forget to check out the forums!
Related posts:
{ 1 trackback }
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I think that this place gets a good or steady breeze or winds.
More land locked or less windy places would not fair well from these design, but where it does work, it should be used.
Reply