Sustainability by Design:

A Vision for Ateneo’s SHS Classroom as a Climate-Friendly Architectural Showcase

Clark Joseph R. Berganio, Jose Antonio D. Obillo, Remigio Calvin C. Panlaqui III, Hynz Kristian T. Reotutar, Joshua Jules A. Silva, Enrique Mateo A. Vera, Summer Caitlin L. Tan, Conrado B. Zabella III

ABSTRACT

Due to rising global temperatures, students around the Ateneo Senior High School have their cognitive abilities affected by the heat. This study addresses this problem by enhancing the airflow within the classrooms of students. The main factors concerning airflow are air velocity, ventilation, window type, and furniture layout. This study employed anemometers in the classrooms to get airflow readings of the environment. Models of the classrooms were then made in AutoCad which were then imported to SOLIDWORKS, a program that conducts advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses. The data from the anemometer testing was imported into SOLIDWORKS which showed that the normal seating arrangement (NSA) modified classroom is the most optimal at regulating temperature at a lesser time and showed uniformity in air temperature distribution.

Air velocity, a factor of temperature and comfortability, is the speed of air moving around within a room set-up[1,5] . Ventilation, another factor, is the exchange of letting in cleaner air and releasing polluted indoor air to provide optimal thermal conditions. Window type and its placements largely influences room ventilation and airflow distribution. Furniture layout also affects airflow in a room set-up as it can also affect the movement of air in a room.

considering variations in ventilation and furniture layouts. Originally, seven different classrooms were modeled, but due to time constraints and limitations only 1 was produced. Simulations were conducted with varying airflow rates. Data analysis included operative temperature, air pressure, room air temperature, and airflow indices. Thermal and aerodynamic analyses were carried out to assess the impact of design flow patterns. From all of the different factors and studies that were considered by the researchers, 3 classroom set-ups were created; the original baseline classroom (OBC), Normal Seating Arrangement (NSA), and U-shaped seating arrangement (USA). The NSA and USA set-ups share the same modified windows and grills but only differ in the seating arrangement.

considering variations in ventilation and furniture layouts. Originally, seven different classrooms were modeled, but due to time constraints and limitations only 1 was produced. Simulations were conducted with varying airflow rates. Data analysis included operative temperature, air pressure, room air temperature, and airflow indices. Thermal and aerodynamic analyses were carried out to assess the impact of design flow patterns. From all of the different factors and studies that were considered by the researchers, 3 classroom set-ups were created; the original baseline classroom (OBC), Normal Seating Arrangement (NSA), and U-shaped seating arrangement (USA). The NSA and USA set-ups share the same modified windows and grills but only differ in the seating arrangement.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Based on the results that have been recorded, there has been a significant amount of evidence that remodeling is a must. With the use of SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation, the baseline classroom, without the modifications in place (refer to fig. 1), the results showed that the air temperature distribution is uneven and largely dependent on the windows where air goes in. With the increment height in the room, the indoor temperature gradually increases. The lowest temperature appears near the windows, and the highest temperature appears at the top of the room which is furthest from the windows. This indicates that the ventilation by the

windows heavily influences the indoor temperature. Furthermore, in the NSA modified

classroom (refer to fig. 2), the air temperature distribution is relatively lower compared to the baseline and shows uniformity. The trend shows a decrease in the overall internal temperature as the temperature gradually becomes even. The air distribution for the USA Modified Classroom (refer to fig. 3) showed that around the right side is lower than that around the left side. Comparing this result to the NSA modified Page 3 of 30 classroom, the air temperature distribution in the upper zone is visibly different. It indicated that converging furniture on the sides of the classroom increases the indoor temperature and affects the distribution negatively due to the higher traffic if applied to real world scenarios.

CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION

There are numerous factors affecting airflow within the classroom setup which can be improved upon. In the Philippine context, natural ventilation is a priority in room designs. According to the simulations, the USA with single casement windows using a cross ventilation setup is optimal for maximum airflow.

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Base Template: STEM C Technical Committee Editing: Samantha Abrenica & Maurice Casaje

TABLE 1. Detail of Classroom

TABLE 2. Legend

Base Template: STEM C Technical Committee Editing: Samantha Abrenica & Maurice Casaje

TABLE 3b. Realino Temperature

Base Template: STEM C Technical Committee Editing: Samantha Abrenica & Maurice Casaje

TABLE 3c. Realino Humidity

Figure 1. Flow Simulation of the Baseline Classroom at 5 and 30 minutes

Base Template: STEM C Technical Committee Editing: Samantha Abrenica & Maurice Casaje

Figure 2. Flow Simulation of the NSA Modified Classroom at 5 and 30 minutes

Figure 3. Flow Simulation of the USA Modified Classroom at 5 and 30 minutes

Base Template: STEM C Technical Committee Editing: Samantha Abrenica & Maurice Casaje

Figure 4. Heat Exchange Simulation of the Modified Classroom (NSA-left; USA-right)

Figure 5. Changes in indoor average temperature depending on the time at various classrooms

Base Template: STEM C Technical Committee Editing: Samantha Abrenica & Maurice Casaje