The Hillside Clinic is a prime example where architect and client had sustainability in mind from the start of a project.

Greenplan’s services included input on daylight levels and passive design, particularly with respect to building orientation and layout to improve occupant thermal comfort.

The process of improving thermal comfort involves simulating a variety of building design inputs to find a combination that moderates the number of hot and cold hours experienced by occupants, as illustrated in Fig 1.
Rock stores can help to improve indoor temperatures further. In summer, cool night temperatures are “stored” in the rocks by blowing night air over them and the stored “cool” is used during the day to temper fresh air blown into the building. Fig 2 shows how outdoor temperatures can be tempered by a rock store so that fresh air at 18-22°C, instead of between 12-28°C, is supplied to the building.

The stores at Hillside Clinic can provide air as much as 10°C below the outdoor air temperature in very hot weather. Rock stores have significant cost and comfort benefits – they reduce electricity consumption and the need for air-conditioning.