Canadian Journal on Environmental, Construction and Civil Engineering Vol. 3, No. 4, May 2012 173 Energy Management in Iranian Maintainable Ancient Architecture "Introducing Ice Houses and Cisterns in Yazd City" Ghazal Soltani 1 , Ali Nazari 2 , Niloofar Ghanavati 3 1 Architectural Student (M.A) at University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran, ghazal.soltani@yahoo.com, Phone Number: +989126410681 2 Civil Engineering Student (M.A) at University of Rasht, Guilan, Iran, omrankhakzanjan@yahoo.com, Phone Number: +989122424031 3 Architectural Student (M.A) at University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran, ghanavati.arc@gmail.com, Phone Number: +989366239371 Abstract. The worth and important Iranian tradition is still unknown in most of the World and there is much humanity life style and building teqniques, according to its natural sources such as Earthen Architecture in different parts of Iran such as Yazd City, as “The World First Adobe”. Having a highly developed technology make these vernacular buildings still alive, by using an incredible use of natural resources with ought consuming extra energy. This article is going to introduce vernacular architecture of Yazd City-Ice Houses and Cisterns- in Iran, having the construction of mud break and have been built by workmanships in previous centuries. Considering the important points of cultural view in Iran traditional architecture, which unify better understanding of these earthen appearances; getting a head and learning these earthen heritage properties, studying their Characteristics in before and current condition, lead us to declare the necessity of the preservation of these buildings, as Sustainable Mud Breaks. Keywords: Vernacular Techniques, Maintainable Architecture, Ice Houses and Cisterns, Iran. Introduction In Iran, vernacular architecture is considered because of its hot and dry climate, trying to find a proper answer according to this condition has developed over many years. Scarcity of wood and stone building, extremes of temperature emphasize in response to the Iranian Plateau's arid climate (Tavassoli, 2005). The lack of natural resources make attention to preserve sun-dried bricks, thereto keeping the remains is respecting to its cultural mood and having them by the most optimum of today's technology make the pedigree of Iranian ancient people more clear. Unfortunately most parts of these buildings are ruined because of the ferocious climate (about 80% of Iran area is in hot and dry condition). Looking to many abilities of such vernacular buildings such as Cisterns (which have a cylindrical place in the depth of the earth and egg-shaped in section; storing cold and fresh water during the hot seasons); Ice-Houses (with walls behind which water in shallow channels friezes at nights); Wind-Catcher (which exhausts warm air from buildings during the day) and so forth (Bourgeois and Pelos, 1983) incorporates the real meaning and comprehending of the buildings and reveals the epochal antiquity of them. In the past time, huge inheritances of enchanting and often beautiful vernacular buildings are survived in Iran Plateau. Mainly, many took place in the villages, but others had their grand counterparts in towns. In fact, we can see some of them as prototypes buildings in such places and even elsewhere. Many researches were done during this period to investigate and categorize thorough these buildings, meanwhile many of visitors or even Iranians have cooperating to keep most of them as common places, but the fact is, having this artistic treasure shows the wealth of vernacular architecture and needs the prior attention. Although positive actions are taken, but most of them have been crumbled. This quick disappearance comes from many different reasons. An abundant building, constructed of stone in a temperate climate, may survive them as ruins in many years