We are pleased to share that EURAC Research, has officially released VentiCoolPy, a new open-source Python library and accompanying web-based tool designed to support the evaluation of ventilative cooling strategies in buildings.

As cooling demand continues to rise across Europe, ventilative cooling — the use of outdoor air to reduce or replace mechanical cooling — is becoming an increasingly important passive design strategy. However, assessing its effectiveness during the early design stages has often been complex and time-consuming.

To address this challenge, EURAC Research developed VentiCoolPy, an open-source solution that enables users to evaluate the cooling potential of ventilative cooling approaches through hourly thermal energy balance calculations. The tool helps quantify how much mechanical cooling demand can be offset through natural or mechanical ventilation, while also providing key insights into the ventilation rates required for effective operation.

The initiative is available in two complementary formats:

• For researchers and developers: a Python library that can be integrated into custom workflows and simulation environments: https://github.com/EURAC-EEBgroup/venticoolpy
  
  
• For designers and practitioners: a free web-based application accessible directly through the browser, with no coding required: https://tools.eeb.eurac.edu/vctlib/

Users can upload climate data, define project specifications, and immediately explore ventilative cooling performance indicators to support climate-responsive building design.

The development team also welcomes feedback, collaborations, and contributions from the building energy and passive cooling communities. Please contact Annamaria Belleri for further information.