Réunion airport terminal runs without air conditioning, using roof-driven wind instead
Roland Garros airport on Réunion island opened an arrivals terminal in 2024 with no air conditioning. The roof curves up from each long side and stops short of the middle, leaving a "canyon" where low pressure draws wind in through vents. In humid 30C (86F) heat, the breeze cuts the perceived temperature by four to five degrees. "It was a risky bet, but the further we went with our studies, the more we realised that we were right," said Marc Delanoë, the airport's sustainable development director.
The terminal grew out of an airport effort to cut its carbon dioxide emissions, and it is built to stay comfortable in a tropical climate without air conditioning.
Source: ‘We wanted to prove we didn’t need air conditioning’: the airport cooled by natural ventilation (theguardian.com).
Written by the HappyGood desk from the primary source linked above and checked against it. Every story links its source. Corrections: hello@happygood.news.
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