Ventilative Cooling in Combination with Other Natural Cooling Solutions: Earth-to-Air Heat Exchangers—EAHX

This chapter focuses on the potential combination of ventilative cooling solutions with ventilative ground cooling systems. Horizontal low-enthalpy buried pipes which use air as heat fluid, for example, earth-to-air heat exchangers (EAHX), are focused on in particular. EAHXs may reduce energy consumption for space heating and cooling thanks to their potential to pre-heat and cool an airflow. This chapter describes this technique and includes design suggestions for the application of EAHX in buildings. This solution may be coupled with mechanical VC systems, or be used in naturally-ventilated buildings with the potential support of a fan system to ensure that sufficient airflow is passing through the buried pipes. Finally, a simulation-based approach to analyse the local potential of EAHX to reduce thermal discomfort in naturally ventilated buildings is introduced, thus providing a method for early-design purposes.