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Bio-jaali: Reimagining vernacular passive cooling screens with mycelium-based composites

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Kumar Biswajit DebnathORCiD, Natalia PynirtziORCiD, Dr Jane ScottORCiD, Dr Colin DavieORCiD, Professor Ben BridgensORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Abstract

Climate change and severe urban heat stress in South Asian megacities are driving an amplified reliance on energy-intensive air conditioning, necessitating urgent low-carbon cooling solutions. This study addresses this challenge by reinterpreting the traditional jaali, a perforated passive-cooling screen, using mycelium-based composites (MBCs) to create a novel, climate-responsive, low-carbon façade system: bio-jaali. We assessed the performance of the bio-jaali through a holistic approach, combining historical climate data analysis (New Delhi, 1991–2019), dynamic building energy simulations, and laboratory bio-fabrication and hygrothermal testing. This integrated methodology is a key achievement, bridging materials science with dynamic simulation to improve building-scale performance. The climate analysis revealed a 60% increase in ‘danger-level’ heat-stress hours over the 28 years. Dynamic simulation results showed that replacing the conventional sandstone jaali with the bio-jaali yielded substantial thermal benefits: a 3.5 ◦ C (10%) reduction in the annual average indoor operative temperature and a drop in peak summer indoor temperatures by up to 14.8 ◦ C. Consequently, the annual cooling energy demand was lowered by 50.4%. Furthermore, laboratory cyclic humidity tests demon- strated the MBCs’ potential for evaporative cooling, confirming they remained dimensionally stable (<3% change) while absorbing up to 17.2% moisture. The bio-jaali is highlighted as a culturally rooted, bio-based solution that significantly reduces reliance on active cooling. This research contributes new knowledge on thebuilding-scale performance, climate adaptability, and cyclic hygrothermal stability of MBC facades. We position the bio-jaali as a robust prototype for integrating passive and adaptive thermal regulation, advancing circular construction practices for sustainable architecture in heat-stressed urban environments.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Debnath KB, Pynirtzi N, Scott J, Davie C, Bridgens B

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Energy & Buildings

Year: 2026

Volume: 357

Print publication date: 15/04/2026

Online publication date: 05/02/2026

Acceptance date: 31/01/2026

Date deposited: 05/03/2026

ISSN (print): 0378-7788

ISSN (electronic): 1872-6178

Publisher: Elsevier

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.117104

DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.117104

Data Access Statement: The authors do not have permission to share data.

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