A Methodology to Optimize Thermal Conditions of Built Forms for Humans and Birds in a Birds Sanctuary

Ecological sustainability should be a holistic approach, where we consider all the biotic and abiotic factors of an ecosystem. Due to climate change, changes in vegetation patterns, a rapid increase of urbanization, depletion of resources, etc., in many ecological cases, we have crossed the line of conservation and now we face the phase of rejuvenation or revival of an eco-sensitive space. For the benefit of flora and fauna, environment much research is done, but the consideration of other species is very less. Sanctuaries being home to 80% of the migratory and native birds has to be rejuvenated by making them a vital space for avian habitat. This paper deals with the impact of buildings in a bird sanctuary on the indoor thermal performance of humans and the impact on birds (breeding temperature) due to human intervention. The site chosen for this study is the Chitrangudi Birds Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, India. To achieve the optimal thermal conditions for the birds in and around a bird sanctuary, many stages of analysis and strategies benefiting both humans and birds have to be considered. The strategies derived after analysis for the site considering human adaptive thermal comfort and bird breeding temperature of each species are—roof, WWR%, shading device, the shape of the building, and jaali. Quantification of different passive strategies that balance both indoor comfort for humans and outdoor comfort for birds is carried out. The various conditions for which iterations are carried out are Orientation and form—10 conditions, aspect ratio:11 ratio each for two perimeter conditions (22 conditions of aspect ratio), roof structure and material—15 conditions of various pitch angles and overhang, WWR and Height—20 Opening condition of WWR, building height—7 height conditions, 5 Sill Heights and 5 Window heights, level of openings—8 conditions, perforated screens—6 configurations, and shading devices—8 conditions for optimizing indoor air temperature as well as lighting levels. Future studies can include noise. This study establishes a methodology for optimizing indoor comfort for humans with minimum disturbance to the requirement of avian microclimate in a bird sanctuary. This methodology can be followed in other sanctuaries to ensure safe human interventions to assist flora and fauna.