Volume 5- Issue 4: 2018 6337 ISSN: 2574-1241 DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.08.001610 Golden Makaka. Biomed J Sci & Tech Res Research Article Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research (BJSTR) Open Access Introduction Ventilation is usually reduced during the winter period due to cold weather and the indoor environment is starved of fresh air. There is need to have efficient heating system to guarantee good air quality. Many rural communities in South Africa use coal as an energy heat source and this result in the contamination of the indoor air in addition to high indoor temperature swings resulting in thermally uncomfortable environment, the low-cost housing in South Africa have poor indoor air quality and natural light distribution. The poor ventilation efficiency of these houses is due to poorhouse design. Quality of indoor environment depends significantly on several aspects, which include ventilation rate and lighting [1]. Site factors such as temperature, wind speed and direction, orientation of the house, and construction type have significant varying impacts on the natural infiltration [2]. House operation plays a key role in controlling a comfortable indoor environment. A low-cost energy efficient passive solar house was constructed on a site that experience westerly prevailing winds and the house was designed to make use of these winds to control the indoor environment thermal conditions. Passive solar design uses solar radiation to heat and light homes without mechanical or electrical devices. It is usually part of the design of the building itself, and by using certain materials and the correct placement of windows, the thermal performance of the house can be improved. A successful passive solar building needs to be well insulated to make best use of the sun’s energy [3] and all stake holders need to be involved from design stage through the construction process. The result is a quiet and comfortable space, free of drafts and cold spots. Passive solar design can also achieve summer cooling through the correct management of the ventilation components. This is enhanced by convective air currents, which are created by the natural tendency of hot air to rise [4]. In winter when heating is required, the sun is low in the sky, and the north facing windows allow the solar radiation to penetrate indoor, heating the thermal mass which later at night radiate thermal radiation thus heating the indoor environment. In summer, north-facing windows can be shaded by roof overhangs or awning keeping out the high hot summer sun. Much of a building’s heat is lost through its windows. Majority of the windows in a passive solar building are located on the north wall to maximise solar heat gain in winter. Applying low solar absorptive paint to the outer roof surface and using aluminum foil on the inside lowers emissivity and helps to create better thermal performance. A good house design must safeguard health and safety by providing enough airspace, ventilation, insulation, etc. and most importantly to involve the end users in the design process. The low-cost energy efficient passive solar house was designed to rely on natural ventilation and building ventilation components were positioned to capture the prevailing winds. In South Africa night air temperature can be lower than the comfort temperature (< 16°C) and can be used to dissipate the heat accumulated during the day. Human activities such as cooking, bathing, breathing, and maintaining houseplants introduce indoor pollutants [5]. Pollutants can build up to levels that may negatively impact human health unless they are removed or diluted with fresh outside air. It is therefore necessary to evaluate the indoor air quality and improve the daily management of the ventilation components. On Impact of the Ventilation Components on the Ventilation Rate in a Passive Solar Energy Efficient House Golden Makaka*, V Xuza, E Meyer and P Mukumba University of fort Hare, South Africa Received: August 11, 2018; Published: August 20, 2018 *Corresponding author: Golden Makaka, University of fort Hare Private Bag X1314 Alice, 57000, South Africa Abstract One of the deficiencies of the low-cost housing in South Africa is poor ventilation efficiency. These houses are characterized by poor indoor air quality, and this is mainly attributed to poorhouse design with no regard to orientation and prevailing winds. This paper evaluates the impact of the ventilation components on the ventilation rate in a passive solar energy efficient house. Windows were found to have a higher impact on the ventilation rates than doors. Results also indicate that the house meets the South African residential ventilation rates specifications. The indoor carbon dioxide concentration monitored over night was found to be 0.248%, which is less than the maximum range limit of 0.500%