Passive Cooling and Vernacularism in Mughal Buildings in North India: A Source of Inspiration for Sustainable Development

In the present time, scrupulous use of energy is a challenge for the world population. The natural resources of energy are depleting day by day and the present resources seem inadequate to fulfill the need of human beings in future. Global warming and depletion of fossil fuels pose the dual crisis for sustainability. The building sector, being a major consumer of energy necessitates a critical scrutiny on this aspect. The techniques used for cooling, heating and ventilation of the buildings in the past were more harmonious with the nature. Use of locally available resources for design of historical buildings was energy efficient. The passive cooling in historical buildings provides a source of inspiration for sustainable development in contemporary world. In this paper, the author has examined various passive cooling techniques and locally available resources used in Mughal buildings in North India. The design elements of these buildings have evaluated on the basis of their suitability to the climate. The findings of this study suggest further research to explore guidelines for designing energy efficient buildings for sustainable development in the present era and future world.