Newswise — A recent study conducted at Lund University in Sweden suggests that the climate control techniques employed by termites in their mounds could serve as a source of inspiration for the development of environmentally friendly buildings in the future. This innovative research demonstrates that by emulating the strategies utilized by termites, buildings can achieve effective climate control while simultaneously improving energy efficiency and eliminating carbon dioxide emissions.
Termite mounds possess a highly sophisticated ventilation system that promotes optimal airflow within the structure, thereby regulating temperature and humidity levels.
According to David Andréen, a senior lecturer at Lund University's Department of Architecture and Built Environment and author of the study, the digitalization of design and construction processes opens up tremendous opportunities for shaping architecture. By drawing insights from natural and biological systems, we can effectively harness these possibilities.
The findings, recently published in the journal Frontiers in Materials, propose a building structure inspired by termite mounds, which enables efficient indoor climate control.
The study primarily focuses on the internal structure of termite mounds, characterized by an intricate network of interconnected channels, tunnels, and air chambers. It examines how these features harness wind energy to facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with the environment. The researchers have delved into the functioning of these systems and explored the potential integration of similar structures into building walls to establish a novel approach for managing the flow of air, heat, and moisture.
The objective is to develop alternative methods for controlling airflow in buildings that surpass the energy efficiency and climate-consciousness of conventional air conditioning, which typically relies on fan-driven bulk flow principles. Instead, the researchers propose the implementation of turbulent, dynamic, and adaptable systems.
David Andréen highlights the advantage of these systems, stating, "They can be managed using compact equipment and require minimal energy input."
Through the study, the researchers illustrate how airflows interact with the geometry of the structures. They analyze the parameters that induce the flows and demonstrate the selective regulation of these processes. Notably, these advancements can be achieved without the need for mechanical components such as fans, valves, or similar elements. Electronic control alone can effectively drive these systems.
According to David Andréen, it is crucial to establish a distributed system that incorporates numerous small sensors and regulating devices within the climate-responsive building envelope. Achieving miniaturization, durability/sustainability, and cost reduction is a prerequisite for this system.
Implementing such a system allows for precise control of the indoor climate of the building, including factors like temperature and humidity, without relying on large fans or conventional heating and air conditioning systems. The success of these mechanisms relies on the ability to create intricate internal geometries at the millimeter to centimeter scale, a feat made possible through 3D printing. By leveraging 3D printing technology, the built environment can be enhanced to generate sustainable architecture that would otherwise be unattainable.
David Andréen concludes by expressing fascination at how termites manage to construct remarkably intricate and functional "engineering masterpieces" without centralized control or blueprints that human builders typically rely on.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2023.1126974/full
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