A Jaipur-based mechanical engineer and an architect from Ahmedabad have jointly developed a fuel free passive cooling system for buildings.

Jyotirmay Mathur of Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur and Rajeev Kathpalia of the city-based Vastu Shilipa Consultants have developed the system that comprises a solar chimney and a wind tower.

The solar chimney that will be installed on the roof of a building will provide ventilation while the wind tower will provide a breeze.

Mathur told IANS that the design represented a new approach as the concept of a combined solar chimney and wind tower system can reduce the temperature inside any building by five degrees Celsius.

The system can help avoid the need for air-conditioners during summer months. During those months one could reduce the electricity bills by operating the passive cooling system, he said.

The system could be very effective in Europe where the temperature during the summer is not high, Mathur said. However, he agreed that it may not work well in very high temperature situations.

He said it took six to eight months to design the first part which is now installed at the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi. The second part of the system is yet to be installed.

According to Mathur, the system is energy efficient, environment-friendly and also cost-effective.