A Study on the Effectiveness of Passive Solar Housing in Ladakh

Abstract: Energy use in buildings account for 32% of total global final energy consumption, and consequently, a large portion of energy - related greenhouse gas emissions. Passive Solar Designs are sustainable building techniques that use solar energy to heat or coo l living spaces without the aid of mechanical or electrical devices. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Passive Solar Housing as a possible solution to the heating challenges currently faced in Ladakh, India, from the environmental, social, and economic sustainability perspectives. Two types of Passive Solar Techniques are studied: Trombe Walls and Direct Gain. This is to be achieved by a dualistic approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data to gain a holistic view of the situation. Quantitative data were collected from rooms built with the two different approaches. This information was used to determine the energy efficiency of each Passive Solar Design, and as a basis for building a numerical model that simulates the behaviour of Trombe Walls in conditions not observed during the data collection. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews with the residents of Passive Solar Houses in the villages of Palam and Khardong. The results show that Trombe Walls are significantly more effective at keeping a stable temperature than the Direct Gain technology. The interview responses verify and validate these findings whilst describing many positive effects of living in houses with Trombe Walls. Using the numerical model, it becomes apparent that increasing room size reduces the effectiveness of the Trombe Wall room. In conclusion, Passive Solar Housing can be, both from a social and economic perspective, a very effective method to maintain comfortable living conditions while reducing the environmental impact compared to traditional construction methods.