Richard Hyde

Passive House proponents consider it a universally robust solution to mitigate the climate-related environmental impacts of energy consumption in buildings. Deep systems analysis, however, reveals significant limitations to the approach for much of warm climates such as Australia: a) climatic (in)appropriateness, cold climate versus warm climate, b) addressing the flawed premise of air tightness, c) improving design phase validation arising from lack of sophistication in calculations - blunt tools limit the design palette. e) localization of high-value insulation and air tightness redirects capital, e) use high solar energy yields, which trades off lower insulation and air tightness, for high solar energy yields. Given that solar is now approximately 50c/watt installed in Australia, in specific circumstances, such as when occupants use solar for self-consumption. Yields are very high due to solar availability; in this context, the current approach to GHG benefits misdirects capital and is fundamentally bad economics. Net-zero energy is already in reach for Australian homeowners. Therefore, the value proposition in Australia rests on thermal comfort and indoor air quality, both of which are much weaker than in traditional passive solar design.

The increasing demand for sustainable climate control has spurred research into our hydronic conditioning system with a patented radiant ceiling panel (AU 2024227462) inspired by biomimetic methodologies. This study develops a framework that utilizes natural systems for heating and cooling, enhancing system performance and environmental sustainability. Biometric analysis was the primary method for testing these systems, focusing on heat transfer mechanisms modeled after human biology. Findings indicate that the proposed hydronic system excels in cooling mode, achieving an average capacity of 95 W/m² while maintaining thermal comfort levels (PMV) with solar heat gains under 1.5 kW in an 18 m² space. However, in heating mode, the system shows a capacity of 85 W/m² but struggles with vertical air-temperature stratification, especially in the radiant ceiling component. This highlights the potential of biomimetic designs to enhance energy efficiency and comfort in sustainable development. The hydronic panel system parallels the human body in energy transfer; both can emit 75–90 W/m² through radiation. Convection over the panel can increase energy transfer by 50–80%, akin to the human body’s heat loss through convection. Notably, natural perspiration facilitates latent energy transfer of 20–25%. When the conditioned panel operates below the dew point, it generates water vapor, boosting cooling capacity by 5–15% and enhancing latent energy transfer. Overall, the heat transfer processes of the hydronic panel mimic certain aspects of human physiology, distinguishing it from conventional HVAC systems.

This study investigates the architectural design factors that influence the adoption of eco-friendly solar energy technologies for the partial retrofitting of older residential buildings in densely populated urban areas in a developed country. This research study employs a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative frameworks along with comparative analysis and utilizing standard fact-finding procedures to examine the adoption of eco-friendly energy systems and their integration into existing infrastructures. The feasibility study, complemented by a detailed technical investigation, identifies several significant factors affecting the intention to undertake sustainable solar retrofitting. These factors include performance expectations, facilitating conditions, motivation, price/value perceptions, and environmental knowledge. This study highlights key constraints and tipping points that influence households’ decisions to implement light retrofitting and explores three distinct system configurations to enhance cost-effectiveness. The insights gained from this research study are valuable for a range of stakeholders, including homeowners, designers, technology developers and manufacturers, real estate developers, builders, and government entities. The findings guide effective strategies to encourage eco-friendly retrofits through both passive and active systems, contributing to future environmental sustainability goals. This research study addresses a gap in the literature regarding the environmental sustainability of solar retrofitting in densely populated urban settings in developed countries. Addressing the pressing issue of global warming contributes to advancing sustainable solar housing technologies and provides a comprehensive foundation for the early stages of the design process.

Bioclimatic design, rooted in vernacular architecture, aims to create buildings that harmonise with their local climate and context. Over the past five decades, continuous advancements have strengthened its foundation for climate-responsive architecture. However, the development of bioinspired thinking extends new opportunities to enhance ecological sustainability and innovation in bioclimatic design. This study introduces Bioinspired Climatic Design (BCD) as an advancement of bioclimatic design, integrating ecological processes, human behaviour, and high-resolution climate data to create sustainable, climate-responsive low-carbon architecture. Focusing on residential buildings in hot–humid climates, it categorises BCD strategies into primary and modifying adaptive approaches, examined through four case studies using observation and spatial analysis. Findings emphasise the importance of aligning design with climate, ecology, and occupant behaviour to achieve low-carbon, resilient architecture, especially in challenging conditions. The research calls for a paradigm shift from conventional climate-responsive design towards a holistic, ecologically integrated framework for future-oriented built environments.

Research into biomimetics has focused on science and technology, often developing the innovative parts of buildings from nature, leading to a new field of bioinspired architecture. The work of Frank Lloyd Wright is presented as an early example of bioinspired architecture and explores how buildings might be more broadly integrated into their site and environment. Integrating architecture, biomimetics and eco-mimesis as a framework to look at the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, provides a new understanding of his architecture and directions for future research into the ecological design of buildings and cities.

The final edition for this year comprises a small number of papers which revolve round the relationship of built form and the environment. The first paper called ‘The impact of building form on ove...

(2020). Editorial. Architectural Science Review: Vol. 63, No. 1, pp. 1-2.

(2019). Exploring diverse themes in architectural science. Architectural Science Review: Vol. 62, No. 6, pp. 453-454.

(2019). Conversations in architectural science. Architectural Science Review: Vol. 62, No. 3, pp. 193-194.