​The conventional air conditioning system driven by refrigerant vapor compression cycle is an inefficient process – more often than not overcooling air while condensing moisture from it. Decoupling the needs, cooling and dehumidifying, is an approach promising more energy efficiency. In hot and humid climates, especially those of least developed countries, a more energy efficient and cost effective way is imperative. The goal of this work is to prove that simple experimentation can be used as a tool to translate the inherent material qualities of low-cost, everyday materials into innovative building systems for air conditioning.

The first series of experiments test the same volume of material, a desiccant, to explore the materials performance without air flow. This is an effort to understand its most basic capacity for moisture absorption – condensing moisture from the air. The second series of experiments introduces air velocity to simulate air conditioning a space. This study asks how building materials can behave autonomously based on given environmental stimuli - humidity.
 
1.1     Series 1 - Materials & Procedures
This series uses a constant volume of desiccant to study the capacity for condensation over four hours. It monitors the ambient temperature and relative humidity. These observed values are then used to calculate the mass of water vapor in the controlled space.
Dehumidifying materials tested included a sponge, salt, silica gel, bentonite clay, and activated charcoal.