Architectural History Offers Clues to Low-Carbon Relief from the Heat

As demand for air conditioning grows in the developing world, nature-based design could provide climate-friendly alternatives.

The Hawa Mahal, a striking five-story palace in Jaipur, India, dates back to 1799, long before the invention of air conditioning.  Built for use during the hot summer months, when local temperatures can climb well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it features dozens of enclosed balconies whose diminutive window openings direct a cooling breeze into the building’s interiors – hence the building’s translated name, “Palace of the Winds.”   The balconies also minimize the amount of surface area directly exposed to the sun, preventing heat from building up indoors.

The Hawa Mahal is one of countless examples of naturally cooled spaces found in traditional Indian architecture.  Throughout history, buildings in India, as around the world, evolved to provide comfortable environments by harnessing forces like sunlight and wind – a strategy now referred to as passive design.

The invention of “active” building systems (e.g., air conditioning, artificial lighting) fundamentally changed the way buildings and neighborhoods are constructed.  Instead of prioritizing appropriateness for the local climate, builders began to rely on active systems to keep occupants comfortable.  Because these systems run mainly on fossil fuels, building operations became a major source of emissions.

This transition has happened faster in some parts of the world than in others.  Over the past century, climate-controlled buildings became the norm in wealthy nations.  In other regions, they remain largely aspirational:  In India, for example, fewer than 10% of households have air conditioning.  But things are changing, as the fast-growing middle class increasingly demands home A/C.

Given India’s massive population, experts fear that widespread A/C adoption will cause a dramatic spike in greenhouse gas emissions.  “There’s an old saying that when Paris sneezes, France catches a cold,” said Anjali Jaiswal, the director of the India Climate and Energy Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council in San Francisco.  “If [cooling] is not solved in a climate-friendly way in India, the rest of the world, in addition to India, will suffer the consequences.”

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