ABSTRACT
Concerns over global warming and the escalating costs of fossil fuels over the last few years have put pressure on governments, professional bodies and engineers to re-examine the whole approach to building design and control. There are considerable pressures on architects to design less energy dependent buildings while maintaining or even improving thermal comfort. Low energy thermal control technologies that have been used for centuries in various parts of the world are now being re-examined and re-engineered to fit within modern building forms.
