Nature solves problems we think are ours alone

Hey there! How are you coping up with the heat?

What if I told you that your house wouldn't have felt like an oven had you designed it better!

Well, If you ask an architect about how you could passively cool your house without the use of air conditioners, he would probably suggest ventilation systems like tunnels, chimneys and vents.

But do you know where these structures were inspired from?

From Skyscraper building blind creatures of the jungle- TERMITES!

 

In the savannas of Africa and parts of Asia, these blind termites can make their mounds up to 9 meters or 30 feet high (The size of a 3 story building)! That too without any centralized command. But what’s even more fascinating than their size is how these mounds stay cool inside, even under the scorching sun.

These tiny insects have successfully managed to plan and build their homes in such a way that the internal temperature of their mound stays constant at around 30°C (86°F) even when external temperatures swing from 15°C to over 40°C (59°F to 104°F). Their mounds have such a rich network of tunnels, vents and chimneys that they act like natural air conditioning systems, allowing hot air to escape while drawing in cooler air from below. Not just that, they manage the humidity level, just enough to preserve their food for a longer amount of time.

This level of architectural efficiency, created without blueprints or machines lead to biomimicry and hence gave rise of our urban planning. According to scientists and architects, such a building will reduce the need for air conditioning by up to 90%. It’s sustainable, cost-effective, and energy-efficient.

Nature solves problems we think are ours alone. If only we choose to look closely and adapt accordingly!