International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 08 | Aug 2025 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
Climate-Responsive Design Strategies for Energy-Efficient School Building Envelopes in Moderate Climatic Zones: A Case of Kolhapur City
Ar. Chinmayi Dilipkumar Patil 1 , Prof. Dr. Gayatri Patil-Kinikar
2
, Prof. Dr. Anjali Jadhav 3
1 Post Graduate Student, M.Arch., S.P.S.M.B.H.’s College of Architecture, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.
2 Professor, M.Arch., S.P.S.M.B.H.’s College of Architecture, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
3 Professor, M.Arch., S.P.S.M.B.H.’s College of Architecture, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India ***
Abstract - This study addresses the urgent need for sustainable solutions in the built environment, particularly focusing on energy-efficient school buildings in Kolhapur’s moderate climate. It highlights the growing energy demands and environmental challenges associated with traditional construction practices and emphasizes that educational buildings due to their high energy use and need for thermal comfort require innovative envelope design strategies. The research aims to develop climate-responsive envelope strategies that integrate both passive and active techniques. It stresses the importance of revisiting traditional, climatesensitive design methods which are often overlooked in favor of modern but energy-intensive approaches. Through a mixed-method approach including literature review, field surveys, case studies, and questionnaires the study identifies key envelope elements such as roof and wall insulation, window-to-wall ratios, shading, and ventilation. Findings reveal that combining traditional wisdom with modern technology can substantially reduce energy consumption and improve indoor comfort. The study also explores retrofit strategies for existing schools, showing potential energy savings of 40–50% with moderate investment. The final outcome is a set of adaptable and context-specific design guidelines that can be used not only for new constructions but also for retrofitting older buildings. These guidelines aim to support architects, planners, and policymakers in enhancing energy efficiency in school infrastructure while maintaining comfort and sustainability.
Key Words: EnergyEfficiency,BuildingEnvelope,SchoolBuildings,ModerateClimateZone,Kolhapur
I. INTRODUCTION
ThisInthewakeofescalatingenvironmentalconcernsandrisingenergydemands,energyefficiencyinthebuiltenvironment hasemergedasacriticalareaoffocus.Educationalinstitutions,especiallyschoolbuildings,arehigh-energy-demandstructures duetolongoperationalhoursandtheneedforthermalcomfort.InIndia,buildingsaccountfornearly33%oftotalenergy consumption,afigureprojectedtoriseannually.Theadoptionofenergy-efficientdesignprinciples,particularlyinthedomain ofschoolinfrastructure,canleadtosignificantlong-termbenefitsintermsofbothenvironmentalsustainabilityandeconomic viability.
Thebuildingenvelope,comprisingtheroof,walls,windows,anddoors,actsastheinterfacebetweenindoorandoutdoor environments. A well-designed envelope plays a crucial role in controlling heat transfer, natural lighting, air quality, and ventilation,ultimatelyinfluencingthebuilding'senergyconsumption.Climate-responsivearchitecturethatisattunedtolocal weatherpatternsisessentialinoptimizingenvelopeperformance.Kolhapur,withitsmoderateclimaticprofile,offersaunique contexttoexplorethesestrategies.
II. RELEVANCE OF THE STUDY
Kolhapur lies within the moderate climatic zone of India, characterized by warm summers, mild winters, and significant monsoonalrainfall.Temperaturefluctuationsrangefrom16°Cto33°C,withrelativelylowhumiditylevelsduringmostofthe year except during the monsoon season. The climatic stability of Kolhapur allows for effective implementation of passive strategiessuchasthermalmassing,shading,naturalventilation,anddaylightharvesting.
Designsolutionstailoredtothisregionshouldfocusonminimizingsolarheatgain,enhancingnaturalventilation,andensuring effectiveinsulation.Orientation,window-to-wallratio(WWR),shadingmechanisms,androofdesignshouldbestrategically plannedtorespondtolocalclimaticparameters.Theadoptionoftraditionaldesignwisdom,suchasdeepoverhangs,courtyards, andverandahs,inconjunctionwithmoderntechnologies,cansignificantlyenhanceenergyperformance.
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 08 | Aug 2025 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
III. AIM:
Todevelopclimate-responsivedesignstrategiesforenergy-efficientschoolbuildingenvelopesinmoderateclimaticzoneof Kolhapurcity.
IV. OBJECTIVES:
1.Toreviewliteraturetounderstandenergy-efficientbuildingenvelopeconcepts.
2.Togatherdatafromselectedcasestudyschoolsregardingtheirbuildingenvelopes.
3.Toanalyzethecollecteddatafromthesecasestudysites.
4.TodrawconclusionsfromtheanalysistoinformstrategydevelopmentforKolhapur’sschoolbuildings.
5.Toformulatestrategiesforenergy-efficientbuildingenvelopesinschool buildingswithinthemoderateclimatic zoneof Kolhapur.
V. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
1.Toreviewliterature,casestudies,andresearchpaperstounderstandenergy-efficientbuildingenvelopes.
2.Tocollectdatafromselectedcasestudyschoolsusingliveandnetcasestudymethods.
3.Toanalyzethecollecteddatathroughcomparativecasestudyanalysis.
4.Toconcludefindingsfordevelopingstrategiesforenergy-efficientschoolbuildingenvelopesinthemoderateclimaticzoneof Kolhapur.
5.Todevelopstrategiesusingbothquantitative(questionnairesurvey)andqualitativemethods(questionnaires,photographs, interviews,casestudies,libraryresearch,literaturereview,andrelevantguidelines).
VI. LITURATURE REVIEW
A] Key Climate-Responsive Strategies for School Building Envelope in Moderate Climates:
Passivedesignstrategiesarebuildingdesignapproachesthatmakeuseofnaturalelements suchassunlight,wind,shade,and thermalmass tomaintaincomfortableindoorconditionswithoutrelyingheavilyonmechanicalsystemslikeairconditioners orheaters.Suchpassivestrategiesareasfollows:
Orientation:
Positionthebuildingalongthenorth–southaxistoreduceheatandglarefromthesouth.Placeless-usedspaces(toilets,storage, servicerooms)onthesouthsidewithminimalopeningstoblockheatandmakeuseofsouthwestbreezes.
NaturalLight&Fenestrations:
Use north-facing windows with solar-control glass and light reflectors for glare-free daylight. Enhance daylighting with clerestorywindows,skylights,courtyards,south-facingwindowswithshading,andlight-coloredinteriorstoreflectlight.
NaturalVentilation:
Improveairflowusingcrossventilation,stackeffect,ventilationshafts/towers,opencourtyards,andMangaloretileslopedroofs withventilationgapstoreleasehotairanddrawincoolair.
Insulation:
Though uncommon in moderate climates, options include green roofs, cool roof coatings, ceiling insulation, cavity wall insulation.
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 08 | Aug 2025 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
SolarShading:
Usehorizontaloverhangs,chajjas,andlouversforsouth-facingwindows,plusverticalfins,bambooscreens,blinds,vegetation,or decorativeperforatedpanelstoblockexcesssunlight.
ThermalMass:
Incorporatehigh-massmaterialslikeclaybricks,flyashbricks,concrete,andlocalstones(laterite,basalt)tostoreandrelease heat,stabilizingindoortemperatures.
Vegetation:
Plantshadetrees(especiallysouth/westsides),shrubsnearwalls,vines/climbersonwalls,andground-coverplantstolower heatgainandencourageairflow.
B] Case Studies:
Energy-PlusPrimarySchool,HohenNeuendorf,Germany.
ThebuildingisdesignedtoPassiveHousestandards,meaningithasverygoodinsulationandistightlysealedtopreventheat loss.Itusesamixofnaturalandmechanicalventilationandreliesonrenewableenergylikesolarpanels.Itdemonstratesthat achievingaplus-energybuilding onethatgeneratesmoreenergythanitconsumes ispossiblewithoutincurringhighercosts comparedtoconventionalschoolbuildings.
AvasaraAcademy,Lavale,Pune,Maharashtra,India.
Integratesbambooblinds,solarchimneys,andearthductstoregulatethermalconditions.Optimizedforairflowanddaylight,it recordshighusersatisfaction.Itshowcasesthebenefitsoflocallysourcedmaterialscombinedwithpassiveheatingandcooling techniques.Thesemeasuresreducedtheinitialconstructioncostbyapproximately7%andcutannualenergyexpensesby nearly80%.
ShahuDayanandHighschool,Kolhapur,Maharashtra,India.
AheritagebuildingemployingMangaloretileroofs,stonemasonry,andlatticescreens.Despiteitsage,theschoolintegrates energy-efficientenvelopefeaturesthatalignwithmodernsustainabilitygoals.Featuringlargeopeningswithoutwindowordoor shutters,classroomsremainopentothenaturalsurroundings,allowingfreshairtocirculatefreely.Thisopendesignfostersa strongconnectiontonature,whichenhancesstudentengagement,comfort,andoverallwell-being.
VII. DISCUSSION:
Thecasestudiesrevealthatintegratingpassiveenvelopemeasureswithmodernenhancementssignificantlyimprovesenergy performanceandcomfort ineducational spaces. Traditional techniques suchastile roofingandstone walls remain highly effectivewhencombinedwithmoderninsulationandglazingsolutions.Moreover,theadaptabilityofthesestrategiestoboth newandexistingstructuresincreasestheirscalability.
Animportantobservationisthatclimate-appropriateenvelopesnotonlyreduceoperationalenergybutalsopositivelyinfluence studentconcentration,attendance,andoverallwell-being.Schoolsdesignedwithsuchmeasuresreportreducedrelianceon artificialcooling,betterdaylightquality,andhealthierindoorenvironments.
VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS:
1.MandateClimate-ResponsiveDesign:Localbuildingcodesshouldintegrateenvelopeperformancerequirementsspecificto moderateclimaticzones.
2.EncourageMixed-MethodApproaches:Combinetraditionalpassivemethodswithselectiveactivetechnologiesforoptimal results.
3. Incorporate Performance Audits: Conduct regular post-occupancy evaluations to ensure envelope systems perform as intended.
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 08 | Aug 2025 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
4.PromoteLocalMaterialUse:Prioritizeregionallysourced,low-embodied-energymaterialstoreduceenvironmentalimpact.
5.IntegrateDesignAwarenessinEducation:Includeclimate-responsivearchitectureprinciplesinschoolcurriculaforfuturereadyprofessionals.
IX. CONCLUSIONS
Climate-responsivebuildingenvelopesrepresentacrucialpathwaytowardsustainableeducationalinfrastructureinmoderate climateslikeKolhapur.Thispaperdemonstratesthatthoughtfulintegrationoforientation,shading,insulation,andventilation canleadtosubstantialenergysavings,improvedindoorcomfort,andenhancedlearningenvironments.Widespreadadoptionof these principles will require policy support, design innovation, and a cultural shift towards sustainability in educational architecture.
X. REFERENCES
[1] Nayak,J.K.(2006).ManualonSolarPassiveArchitecture
[2] Chandramathy,R.(2023).ThermalComfortinSchools
[3] Dengel,A.(2012).BuildingEnergyPerformanceStandards
[4] Bano,F.(2016).BuildingEnvelopeasaClimateModerator
[5] Givoni,B.(1998).ClimateConsiderationsinBuildingandUrbanDesign