Visit the Energy Systems Laboratory Homepage.
Energy Efficient Rondavels in the Kruger National Game Reserve, South Africa
Abstract
Unique huts are being used as guest lodges in the
South African National Kruger Game Park. These
are inspired by the rondavels (indigenous round
thatched adobe building), but have been westernized
by adding glazed window areas, higher cement block
walls and asbestos fiber cement roofs. Serious
overheating and overcooling occurs if the huts are not
air-conditioned. The summer design day indoor
temperature then remains above 27°C (81°F), while in
winter it remains below 18°C (64°F) for 20 hours per
day.
Tourist accommodation typically makes up 65%
of the power consumption of camps. Where camps
are not grid-connected this led to high costs. Various
passive design alternatives have been simulated using
the Quick program, developed by the University of
Pretoria. A combination of envelope optimization,
earth connected ventilation pipes and ceiling fans led
to thermal comfort while cost-effectively reducing
peak demand by 30% and consumption by 33%
without impairing the architecture.
This paper shows that indigenous designs are a
good starting point throughout the world (no matter if
it is Africa, Mexico,. . .). They are a "window" to
designing low embodied energy to passive solar
design for their particular region!
Citation
Holm, D. (2000). Energy Efficient Rondavels in the Kruger National Game Reserve, South Africa. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu); Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /6818.