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The present paper explores experimentally induced ventilation of a one-story detached real-size building. The building is a small well-insulated manufactured home. It is located at the Northern edge of the Negev desert in Israel.

The flow of air inside the building is induced by a hot element heated by solar radiation. This element is a horizontal metal sheet mounted above the roof of the building and forming a duct connected to the inner space of the building. Heated air flows out of the duct while fresh air is sucked into the manufactured home from the surroundings.

An extensive experimental study was based on continuous temperature monitoring performed inside and outside the building in summer. Velocity measurements inside the building were performed, as well. Typical experimental runs took from 12 h to a few days.

The results show that effective induced ventilation has been achieved, and the air temperature inside the structure typically followed the ambient temperature. In contrast, when the manufactured home had no openings, the temperature inside it was considerably higher than the ambient, especially during the afternoon hours. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.