Essay on Wind Catcher Systems

Wind Catchers as Ventilation Systems 1
APPLICATION OF WIND CATCHERS AS VENTILATION SYSTEMS IN MODERN
BUILDINGS
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Wind Catchers as Ventilation Systems 2
Application of wind catchers as ventilation systems in modern buildings
Ventilation is a very important factor in buildings as it helps in creating a habitable
indoor environment. Highly populated and public buildings are the ones in great need of good
ventilation systems. Ventilation is very important because of the impact it has on the temperature
and air circulation inside a building. These two factors affect the health and comfort of
occupants. Most of modern buildings use mechanically and electrically run systems to provide
the required ventilation. These systems consume a significant amount of electricity, which is
generated by burning fossil fuels. It therefore means that every building in a city or rural area
that uses energy for ventilation produces a substantial amount of carbon and other greenhouse
gas emissions (Rahman, et al., 2010). Most of the cities in Iran, Pakistan, Iraq and North
Africa are not part of this equation or they generate less carbon emissions because they are
largely ventilated by a traditional ventilation device known as wind catcher (badgir). These
buildings get ventilated naturally hence they do not require electricity. They use natural
resources, i.e. wind and vaporization, for ventilation. The aim of this essay is to investigate
features, benefits, potential, flaws and cons of wind catchers. The essay will also try to establish
the applicability of wind catcher systems in modern buildings and how the flaws of ordinary
wind catchers can be improved so as to increase the efficiency and reliability of these natural
ventilation systems.
The need for ventilation in modern buildings cannot be overemphasized and so is the
need and role that energy plays in people’s everyday life (Mahdavinejad & Sina, 2014).
Rising average temperatures due to global warming and climate change have made it mandatory
for ventilation systems to be installed in buildings so as to facilitate proper flow of air in these
buildings. Therefore ventilation systems help in maintaining indoor temperature and air quality

Wind Catchers as Ventilation Systems 3
within habitable ranges, making occupants comfortable throughout the year (Atkinson, et al.,
2009). Unfortunately, majority of modern ventilation systems are mechanically and electrically
driven meaning that they require electricity for them to function. The largest percentage of the
electricity used in buildings today is produced from fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and
oil/petroleum), creating a big ecological problem. Production of electricity from fossil fuels has
numerous effects on the environment, humans and the society as a whole (Liu, et al., 2007).
Some of these effects include: emission of greenhouse gases resulting to air pollution,
environmental degradation due to depletion of natural resources, global warming emissions
(Union of Concerned Scientists, 2013), fluctuating fuel prices, insecurity due to
overdependence between countries and political interests, water scarcity and health problems
(Perera, 2017), among others. With the escalation of climate change and rapidly growing
global population, it is expected that more ventilation systems will continue being used in
buildings to regulate indoor air temperature and quality. This translates into increased electricity
consumption. Therefore the need for alternative or ecological ventilation systems is inevitable.
In this 21st century, energy production and consumption are very important issues. This is
because of the environmental, economic and social impacts associated with energy production
and consumption. The global population is increasing rapidly, and so are industrialization and
urbanization. All these have resulted to rapid increase in energy demand. The largest percentage
of this energy is produced by burning fossil fuels – creating other problems of global warming,
climate change, air pollution, etc. When fossil fuels are burned, they produce harmful gases that
get released into air thus making it unsafe for humans, plants and animals. Other wastes and
pollutants are also generated when burning fossil fuels and they end up in landfills, water

Wind Catchers as Ventilation Systems 4
sources, etc. In general, burning of fossil fuels has created a big global problem that is
threatening the lives of current and future generations.
Buildings consume a significant amount of energy. This energy is used for heating,
cooling, cooking, air conditioning, lighting, etc. It is estimated that buildings account for
approximately 41% of total U.S. energy consumption. Also, buildings account for about 40% of
greenhouse gases produced in the U.S. (Building Green, 2013). These figures are definitely
huge meaning that buildings have significant impacts on the environment and people’s lives. The
figures show that energy consumption in buildings should be given enough attention for the
efforts to curb climate change to be successful. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
(HVAC) should be given more focus because these categories consume between 18 and 73% of
total energy consumption in buildings depending on the type and location of the building (Urge-
Vorsatz, et al., 2015). The amount of energy consumed by buildings and carbon emissions
from buildings has also continued to increase due to changing lifestyles and overlooking
traditional architectural designs such as wind catchers. For instance, ancient buildings consumed
less energy that modern buildings because the former were designed to optimize of natural
daylighting, cooling, heating and ventilation and they did not have energy-intensive electrical
appliances. Therefore any alternative design that will reduce energy consumption in buildings is
worthwhile. Wind catchers (Baadgirs) is one of these alternatives that can be used to save
electricity that is used provide the needed thermal comfort in buildings especially during warm
months (Dehghani-sanij, et al., 2015).
Most modern buildings located in hot regions largely rely on electricity to drive
mechanical systems that provide thermal comfort and ventilation. It is estimated that residential
and commercial buildings account for 40% of the total amount of electricity consumed

Wind Catchers as Ventilation Systems 5
worldwide. These buildings also contribute 40-50% of total carbon emissions across the world
(Rahman, et al., 2010). Additionally, HVAC systems consume over 60% of the total energy
consumed in buildings (Yau & Lee, 2010). With this information, it is apparent that there is
great opportunity of lowering energy consumption in buildings and greenhouse gas emissions.
As a matter of fact, global warming has become one of the most life-threatening problems in the
world (Jomehzadeh, et al., 2017). People have to work together so as to solve this problem.
One of the ways of achieving this is for people to acceptable traditional architectural systems,
and relevant stakeholders should be in the forefront to lean this mission.
Architects, engineers and building designers have a big role to play in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions. There are various ways of achieving this including adoption of green
building practices. The basic principles of these practices are to increase resource efficiency and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the lifecycle of buildings without compromising the
functionality and comfort of the buildings. Architectural designs such as wind catchers can
significantly lower carbon emissions by simplify reducing energy demand for buildings.
Wind catchers (Badgir) are traditional ventilation systems that have the potential of
playing an essential role in reducing energy consumption and related emissions in buildings
(Bahadori, et al., 2014). These systems create natural ventilation inside buildings
(Ahmadikia, et al., 2012). It is believed that wind catchers originated from Iran even though
the person who invented it remains unknown. Previously, wind catchers were very common in
the Middle East countries, especially Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran (Calautit & Hughes,
2015). Temperatures in these countries are usually high throughout the year and wind catchers
were used to cool down buildings so as to make them habitable (Wogan, 2011). The devices
were widely used in Yazd, Iran (Zareie & Izadpanah, 2015) and some buildings in the city

Wind Catchers as Ventilation Systems 6
still have the ancient wind catchers (Hedayat, et al., 2017). Years later, the use of wind
catchers spread to other arid and semi-arid countries such as Egypt, Asian countries, Iraq, Syria
and Jordan.
A wind catcher is a traditional architectural design device that was based on Persian
architecture. Originally, this architectural design was used in building traditional water
reservoirs. The reservoirs were built with wind catchers, which were able to store water close to
freezing temperature especially in summer months. Later, this architectural principle was used to
create wind catchers, which were used for creating natural ventilation inside buildings.
Development of this traditional architectural device was driven by people’s culture, local climate
and traditions (El-Shorbagy, 2010). The design of wind catchers was mainly influenced by the
environment and human needs. These devices were very common in cities such as Yazd, Bam,
Nain, Kashan, Kerman and Sirjan, among others.
The popularity and use of wind catchers started increasing during 1970s’ energy crisis.
The crisis led to development of sustainable or ecological architectural systems that would
reduce energy consumption in buildings. One of these systems was wind catchers (Zarandi,
2009). After proving to be effective in regulating indoor temperature, use of wind catchers
spread to different parts of the world. Wind catcher is known as badgir in Gulf area and Iran.
This is a multi-directional wind catcher containing openings at the top in all sides. These
openings enable the wind catcher to collect wind from all directions. The original wind catcher
had only one opening facing the direction of the wind. Modern wind catchers are designed such
that they can draw air from any direction (Calautit & Hughes, 2014).
The suitability of the type of wind catcher to be used is mainly determined by airflow
direction at that particular location. For instance, if the wind tends to flow from one direction