Wind towers, or Windcatchers, are an ancient technology used in hot, arid environments such as in Iran or Australia to condition buildings and to store water at cold or near freezing temperatures. This technology has allowed people to survive in desert conditions prior to modern air conditioning. Still in use today, when modern air conditioning systems fail or are interrupted, buildings with this passive cooling technology remain comfortable, providing relief from desert heat. For buildings with this technology, this can be a lifesaving measure for elderly or people at risk from rising temperatures, excessive urban temperatures, and climate change. The secret to this technology is a combination of stack ventilation and geothermal cooling.
Researchers are also investigating the use of wind towers for Hot Humid Environments as well as Hot Arid environments. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/620/1/012087/pdf
A few articles on wind towers are here:
- http://earthsci.org/mineral/energy/wind_tower_iran/wind_towers.html
- https://www.solaripedia.com/13/205/2089/wind_tower_yazd_iran.html
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032114008351
- https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Windcatcher