Perhaps the most famous example of the influence of termite mounds in architecture is the Eastgate Building in Harare, Zimbabwe. It is the country’s largest commercial and shopping complex, and yet it uses less than 10 percent of the energy consumed by a conventional building of its size because there is no central air conditioning and only a minimal heating system.
Interestingly, if you try to look this building up, there's a lot of information about its design but basically none about how well it works. But at least two Foursquare reviews mention it being cold in the winter and hot in the summer.
So yeah, I'm not fucking surprised that the building with little climate control uses far less energy.
"Fun" fact the article doesn't mention while praising the building:
The temperatures are highest on average in October, at around 21.8 °C | 71.2 °F. In July, the average temperature is 13.9 °C | 57.1 °F. It is the lowest average temperature of the whole year.
It's not so much a question of seasons (though it doesn't have that one). If your hottest month averages 22C/71F and your coldest month averages 14C/57F then you don't really need to have that much heating/AC at all.
Interestingly, if you try to look this building up, there's a lot of information about its design but basically none about how well it works. But at least two Foursquare reviews mention it being cold in the winter and hot in the summer.
So yeah, I'm not fucking surprised that the building with little climate control uses far less energy.
"Fun" fact the article doesn't mention while praising the building:
source
Yeah, I'm sure that has no impact at all on the energy usage of the building.
Zim is pretty much on the equator, no..? Or a bit below. So naturally, it doesn’t follow temperate climate seasons…
It's not so much a question of seasons (though it doesn't have that one). If your hottest month averages 22C/71F and your coldest month averages 14C/57F then you don't really need to have that much heating/AC at all.