Do you think air conditioning is a modern innovation? Think again – Persians used ancient technology to keep their homes cool over 3,000 years ago.
And now that scientists are on the lookout for cooling tools that don’t impact the planet, we might just receive this old-school tool.
The windcatcher
The ancient technology of the windcatcher came from the city of Yazd in central Iran. This town is home to other antique gadgets, including underground irrigation. It was also in Yazd that below-the-ground fridges called yakhchāl were used. Also, the town had an old-school courier network system called pirradaziš that could have inspired the postal services.
Among these tools was the windcatcher, called bâdgir in Persian. These were towers rising from homes in Yazd and came in various shapes, such as square, rectangle, and octagon.
This ancient technology, believed to have rooted in ancient Egypt, made Persian homes livable despite the harsh heat.
But what makes this tool so interesting to modern-day scientists? For one, it requires no power. That said, it’s not only eco-friendly but also cost-efficient to run. After all, today’s AC systems already make up one-fifth of the global electricity consumption. And by taking a look at ancient technology, we might help save Mother Nature.
How the windcatcher works
So, how exactly does the system work? It runs on two forces that push the air through. The first force is the incoming wind. The second is the change in the buoyancy of air due to temperature. Warm air, after all, tends to rise above the denser and cooler air.
So here’s how it works: the opening of the windcatcher catches air and funnels it down to the house below. Any debris or sand is left at the tower’s foot during this process.
Once air enters the structure, the building’s pressure pushes the warm air up, allowing it to rise and exit through another window or tower.
Many factors can affect how this ancient technology does its job. These include the tower’s shape, the building’s layout, and the tower’s placement. The tower’s number of tower windows can also be a factor, as well as its canals and blades.
Weber State University researchers Chris Soelberg and Julie Rich say this type of building-cooling tool dates back 3,300 years ago in Ancient Egypt. According to their research, this ancient technology made it possible to live in hot deserts.
In fact, there’s a thing called malqaf architecture. This term pertains to building styles with thick walls and structure windows to take in air from the side of the wind direction. Also, the malqaf structures have exit vents placed on the other side. Despite this study, some still claim that the windcatcher was indeed an Iranian brainchild.
The future may be inspired by the past
What may seem like an old-fashioned tool might be the type of design we need in this day and age. In fact, UNESCO recognized Yazd in 2017 as a heritage site for its development of wind catchers.
But aside from function, the town’s windcatcher towers also offer cultural value. After all, they’ve become part of the skyline, and some still continue to function up to this day. The tool is so efficient that the design is already being used in many parts of the world. For instance, it wouldn’t surprise you to see a high-rise store building or maybe a tall vented tower in a public structure.
And though actual projects to revive the tool is yet to see the light of day, this ancient technology might just offer the answer as we look for emissions-free and efficient cooling systems that are friendlier to the Earth than conventional air-conditioning units.
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