Team Members:
Naghmeh Ghalamsiah – Ph.D. student in Architectural Engineering
Seyedvahid Rad – Ph.D. student in Chemical Engineering
School: Drexel University
Challenge: Building Affordability
The objective of this challenge is to reduce costs of high-performance, energy-efficient building technologies to improve affordability, equity, and accessibility.
Project Title: Rotatable Evaporative Windcatcher Integrated with Solar Chimney
Solution: Although many high-performance, energy-efficient building technologies have been developed in recent decades, their adoption among U.S. residents remains limited due to their high construction and installation costs. To make these technologies more equitable and accessible, efforts must focus on developing affordable, easy-to-install solutions that are particularly feasible and affordable for low-to-moderate income (LMI) communities. This study addresses the rising cooling costs in U.S. residential buildings, a growing concern amplified by global warming and the urban heat island effect. We propose the Rotatable Evaporative Windcatcher Integrated with Solar Chimney (REWISC) as an affordable, energy-efficient retrofit solution. REWISC leverages natural wind and solar energy to enhance indoor comfort by integrating windcatchers and solar chimneys in an innovative way. The system employs a rotatable base for optimal wind direction alignment, an aerodynamically designed shape for efficient air-flow control, a solar panel with battery backup for providing its minimal electricity needs, and evaporative cooling through a water container to boost cooling capacity. This design minimizes the structural impact on existing buildings and targets regions with dry climates and wind speeds above 4 m/s. A cost-benefit analysis estimates a payback period of about seven years, demonstrating its potential to significantly reduce cooling costs for financially constrained households. By addressing both economic and environmental challenges, REWISC offers a practical, affordable, and scalable solution for sustainable building retrofits.