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Bioclimatic Architecture: Futureproofing with Simple and Advanced Passive Strategies

By Prof. Iyer Vijayalaxmi Kasinath   |   School of Planning and Architecture
Learners enrolled: 1278   |  Exam registration: 553
ABOUT THE COURSE: Since the Built environment generates 40% of GHG Emissions, there is a need to understand sustainable strategies that would make buildings less reliant on active means. This is possible through use of Simple passive strategies and advanced Passive Strategies along with an appropriate understanding of climate characteristic. This will ensure the application of the correct strategies wrt to the climate type. This NPTEL course discusses the need for Bioclimatic architecture in the context of the Nation’s commitment to go Carbon Neutral by 2070. This course discusses how to find out the appropriate strategy for any climate type. The various strategies for Bioclimatic architecture is also discussed. Further the Simple passive strategies that will enhance indoor comfort and Advanced Passive strategies (which need early design incorporating the ways to trap, collect, store and release energy) are discussed. The lectures introduce the strategy and explain the working principle along with vernacular and contemporary case study applications of each of the strategy. The course culminates by exposing the students to
1. Understand which strategy is suitable for which climate (in scientific manner)
2. Have a comprehensive understanding the impact of the strategies on buildings-thus enhancing Sustainablity.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: U.G and P.G. students in the Domain of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Town Planning

PREREQUISITES: Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering 

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Any of the Construction companies which focus on Net-Zero or Green Building rating system
Summary
Course Status : Ongoing
Course Type : Core
Language for course content : English
Duration : 12 weeks
Category :
  • Architecture and Planning
  • Civil Engineering
  • Sustainable Architecture
  • Environment
Credit Points : 3
Level : Undergraduate
Start Date : 19 Jan 2026
End Date : 10 Apr 2026
Enrollment Ends : 02 Feb 2026
Exam Registration Ends : 20 Feb 2026
Exam Date : 17 Apr 2026 IST
NCrF Level   : 4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits



Course layout

Week 1: 
  • Introduction – Bioclimatic Architecture
  • Strategies for Bioclimatic Architecture
  • Simple Passive Strategies- Introduction
  • Simple Passive Strategies-Principles 
Week 2: 
  • Advanced Passive Strategies – Passive Heating, Principles and techniques - Part 1
  • Advanced Passive Strategies – Passive Cooling, Principles and techniques - Part 2
  • Climate Classification – Koppen and Candolle- Genetic and Empirical
  • Climate Zones of India – Classification  
Week 3: 
  • Hot and Dry- Arid and Warm-Humid Climate Characteristics
  • Composite climate Characteristics
  • Cold Climate and Temperate Characteristics
  • Thermal Comfort and Thermal Comfort Models
Week 4: 
  • Mahoney’s Tables
  • Psychrometric Chart and Bioclimatic Chart
  • Use of simple graphic based tool to understand climate - Climate Consultant
  • Building Orientation and Form
Week 5: 
  • Openings- Size, Position, Criteria for various Climate types
  • Openings- Shading Devices, Design and Criteria for various climate types
  • Urban Heat Island Effect, Passive strategies to combat
  • Earth Sheltering – Types, Working Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Examples
Week 6: 
  • Solar Chimney - Working Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Examples
  • Roof Pond System- Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies/ Examples
  • High Performance Glazing- Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies/ Examples
  • Double Roof- Working Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies/ Examples
Week 7: 
  • Cool Roofs- Working Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies
  • Thermal Mass and Night Flushing - Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies/ Examples
  • Double Skin Green Façade - Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies/ Examples
  • Solar Air Collectors - Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies/ Examples
Week 8: 
  • Passive Down Draft Evaporative Cooling- Working Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies
  • Direct Evaporative Cooling - Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies/ Examples
  • Root Zone Treatment - Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies/ Examples
  • Trombe Wall and Water Wall- Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies/ Examples
Week 9: 
  • Thermosiphon Solar Air Heater- Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies/ Examples
  • Wind Towers -Working Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Examples
  • Cavity Walls- Working Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies
  • Sun Space- Working Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Examples
Week 10: 
  • Green Roof - Working Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies
  • PCM Integrated Glazing - Working Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Examples
  • Earth Air Heat Exchanger, Working Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies
  • Radiant Cooling System- Working Principles, Advantages, Limitations, Empirical Studies
Week 11: 
  • Passive design strategies in Moderate climate with Case Study
  • Passive design strategies in Warm-humid climate with Case Study
  • Passive design strategies in Hot-Dry climate with Case Study
  • Passive design strategies in Composite climate
Week 12: 
  • Passive design Case Study in Composite climate
  • Passive design strategies in Cold climate
  • Passive design Case Study in Cold climate
  • Recap and Conclusion

Books and references

  • James O'Connor, 201, Architecture & Passive Design, Design Media Publishing (UK) Limited
  • Max Terman , 2012, Earth Sheltered HousingPrinciples in Practice, Springer.
  • Óscar Mira Vázquez , 2009, Bioclimatic Architecture, Monsa
  • David Lloyd Jones , 1998, Architecture and the Environment- Bioclimatic Building Design, Overlook Press.

Instructor bio

Prof. Iyer Vijayalaxmi Kasinath

School of Planning and Architecture
Prof. Iyer Vijayalaxmi Kasinath is an architect who has completed her Ph.D. as an AICTE QIP Scholar and her Higher Research as an Erasmus Mundus Fellow for Academic Profile, from the Politechnico di Milano in the area of ‘Smart Materials and Nano technology in the Construction Industry’. She has over 28 years of experience in teaching architecture and specializes in Sustainable Built Environment and Climate Responsive Architecture. She is currently the Professor in the Department of Architecture at the School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada and the former Head of the Dept. and Dean (Research) there. She has completed funded research projects sponsored by the Government of India, and has published many technical papers in peer-reviewed blind refereed International journals and Scopus indexed books by reputed publishers. She has authored two scopus indexed books titled ‘Building Thermal Performance and Sustainability’ and ‘Embodied and Operational Carbon in Buildings’, Springer Publications, Singapore. She has also edited three Scopus indexed book by Springer Publications, Singapore. She has a Patent Published awaiting examination. She has received the award as faculty lead in the Solar Decathlon Competition from the Shri. Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences in 2022 and also in 2024. She is the recipient of the National Award for Teachers 2025 at the hand of the Honbl. President of India.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.
The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).
Date and Time of Exams: : April 17, 2026 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.
Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.
The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.
Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Madras .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team
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