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Buildings constructed according to bioclimatic architectural principles in amenable climates have often experienced posterior interventions that have closed ventilation openings for the installation of air conditioning units.

The present work sought to investigate the reasons for installing air conditioning equipment in buildings even under adverse economic conditions and with the awareness of their negative environmental implications. The Faculty of Architecture building at the Federal University of Bahia, located in the city of Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil, was the focus of the present investigation. It was determined that the lack of maintenance of the windows and window frames, and the closing of projected openings compromised natural ventilation.

The study confirmed the adequacy of the architectural project in relation to the local climate, and in loco measurements likewise confirmed the efficiency of natural …