Window Size, Door Proportions and Orientation as Carbon-Smart Design Tools in Indian Residential Architecture

Operational energy use and carbon emissions are significant issues for many residential buildings throughout India because early planning and designs often did not include considerations for climate- responsive design principles. While many low-carbon strategies utilize technology as their focus, fundamental basic design principles such as the size of windows, ratio of doors, and orientation of the building play equally important roles but have not yet received attention. This paper will examine how these fundamental architectural characteristics are essentially being used as carbon smart design elements within Indian residential architecture. This paper investigates the interaction between opening ratios, solar gain, daylighting and natural ventilation and the combined effects of these characteristics for cooling and lighting energy loads. By reviewing the literature and climate-responsive design principles related to both, this paper finds that both improperly sized windows and solar gain can greatly increase thermal discomfort and operational carbon emissions. Conversely, however, if climate-responsive window-to-wall ratios, properly sized door openings and buildings orientated to take advantage of the climate are utilized, the need for air conditioning can be significantly diminished. Ultimately the results of this paper illustrate the importance of architectural fundamentals as cost effective means of reducing operational carbon emissions for residential buildings in India.