Sustainable housing design in the context of traditional passive cooling systems in hot-dry climate regions / Case of Jordan

People in Jordan are facing a growing problem of indoor climatic conditions due to the high outdoor temperature during the months-long dry season. In the dry season of summer and at low indoor air speed, the daytime temperature can reach up to 46 degrees. This research aims to adapt passive cooling systems found in Jordanian local architecture to contemporary housing designs to reduce energy consumption in buildings in Jordan. Thus, it is foreseen that the indoor temperature can be optimized, and energy dependence can be reduced to some extent in the residences. Utilizing DesignBuilder simulation software, the study examines the effects of glazing, window shading, window orientation, window-to-wall ratio, building plan size, and building type on indoor temperatures, with a particular focus on peak heat conditions at 2:00 pm when external temperatures reach 39.8°C. The simulations were conducted across various traditional and modern building designs. The results demonstrate that the best-case scenario for passive cooling features Double Low-E glazing, a north-south window orientation, a 5% window-to-wall ratio, and shading on both south and north facades. This combination achieved an indoor temperature reduction of up to 21.38% in courtyard houses. In contrast, the worst-case scenarios-characterized by single glazing, multiple-sided window orientations, and a 90% window-to-wall ratio without shading-led to indoor temperatures exceeding outdoor conditions, with performance degradation of up to -30.42% in typical house types. This research provides a comprehensive evaluation of how design elements impact passive cooling performance, offering evidence-based recommendations for optimizing residential buildings to achieve better thermal regulation and energy efficiency in hot climates. The findings highlight the importance of integrating these parameters into sustainable building designs to enhance passive cooling and reduce energy dependence.