Climate-friendly air conditioning inspired by termites

Lund University(Sweden) ^ | David Andreen

[DallasBiff]

The climate control used by termites in their mounds could inspire tomorrow’s climate-smart buildings. New research from Lund University in Sweden shows that future buildings inspired by the termites could achieve the same effect as traditional climate control, but with greater energy efficiency and without its carbon dioxide footprint

Termite mounds have a sophisticated ventilation system that enables air circulation throughout the structure. This helps to maintain and regulate temperature and humidity.

“The digitalisation of design and construction processes creates enormous opportunities for how we shape architecture, and natural and biological systems provide an important model for how we can best utilise these possibilities,” says David Andréen, senior lecturer at the Department of Architecture and Built Environment at Lund University, who wrote the article.

The results, published in the journal Frontiers in Materials, show a structure for buildings based on termite mounds that facilitates indoor climate control.

[Gaffer]

I built my first house in 1984. Had a full daylight basement and two sides were 12” concrete, capped block. I’d always thought that if I could have had the time and money to put a ventilation duct system that passed air through the inner cavities would be cooled significantly.

[Mean Daddy]

My son rents a condo in Arlington, VA and their heat for their furnace is the hot water heater running through the condenser coil. Works pretty well I guess.

[norwaypinesavage]

"future buildings inspired by the termites could achieve the same effect as traditional climate control"

I say BS! I built a house in SE Michigan in the 70s, thinking the same. used Hot water baseboard heating which cannot be made for cooling. The theory was that it is very rare in Michigan that it stays uncomfortably hot all night. I had a well- planned attic fan powered ventilation system to pull in the cool night air. Thad did work, but the problem was that it also pulled in the night time humidity. The house got uncomfortably humid every night and very uncomfortable. You can't be comfortable on hot humid days with just ventilation.