The Old buildings of Bidar were constructed mainly using Laterite, lime mortar, and basalt. Shahabad Farshi was used for flooring. These materials have high thermal mass. Materials with high thermal mass, can help keep interiors cool due to their ability to store and release heat. This is explained by the principles of heat capacity and thermal inertia in physics.

 

1. Heat Capacity: Heat capacity (C) is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a material by a certain amount. Materials with high thermal mass have a high heat capacity because they can absorb and store a significant amount of heat energy without a substantial increase in temperature. When the surrounding environment is hot, these materials absorb heat from the environment and store it, preventing rapid temperature increases in the interior.

 

2. Thermal Inertia: Thermal inertia is a measure of how slowly a material responds to changes in temperature. High thermal mass materials have high thermal inertia, which means they respond slowly to temperature fluctuations. When the exterior environment cools down, these materials release the stored heat energy gradually, helping to keep the interior temperature stable and cooler for an extended period.

 

During a hot day, the high thermal mass materials absorb heat from the sun and the surroundings, which prevents the interior from heating up quickly. Conversely, during the cooler night, when the outside temperature drops, these materials release the stored heat, helping to keep the interior warmer than the outside environment. This moderating effect reduces the need for constant heating or cooling and helps maintain a more comfortable interior temperature.