## 1 Introduction  
Building operation accounts for approximately one-third of the world's final energy consumption and also for approximately one-third of the total energy sector CO\({}_{2}\) emissions [1]. Electricity use in buildings keeps increasing, and with an average annual growth of 4% since 2000 [2], electricity demand for space cooling is rapidly gaining importance compared to the demand for lighting, equipments or hot water production. The growth in electricity demand for space cooling is linked to the increased use of refrigeration machines--air-conditioning--which, besides increasing consumption, also affects peak electricity demand as a result of the simultaneous operation of air conditioners at full capacity during hot days. To meet the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario [3], the increase in electricity demand for space cooling needs to be stopped; technologies complementary or alternative to the prevailing refrigeration machines, allowing for a reduction in both electricity consumption and installed electric capacity for space cooling, should be researched and promoted. Earth-air heat exchangers (EAHX) is one such technology. According to [PERSON] in [4] and [PERSON] et al. [5], for the Mediterranean region, up to 100% of building cooling demand can be covered by EAHXs coupled with appropriate building passive cooling techniques. In general, cooling demand reductions of 30% to 60% are commonly associated with the use of EAHXs [6; 7; 8]. These results reveal the extent of the savings in electricity consumption for cooling that could be achieved from a broader use of EAHXs. This paper is concerned with the study of a specific type of EAHX: large-diameter EAHXs. Monitoring data from a large-diameter EAHX are used to assess standalone EAHX cooling (replacing a refrigeration machine) of an office building with hot and dry summer conditions. Despite the large number of papers dealing with EAHXs available in the scientific literature [9], the vast majority concern EAHXs with pipe diameters not exceeding 0.30 m. Smaller pipe diameters are easier to handle, are less expensive and allow for increased heat transfer coefficients [5; 7]. However, pipe diameter is only one among many parameters influencing heat transfer in EAHXs. Pipe length, pipe depth (below soil surface), pipe material, pipe layout and soil thermal properties are also crucial for EAHX performance and can compensate for the smaller heat transfer coefficients of large-diameter pipes; see [10]. Sensitivity studies by different authors conclude that the effect of pipe diameter changes in EAHX performance is lower than the effect of changes in pipe length, pipe depth (within a certain range) or airflow velocity [7; 10; 11]. Moreover, smaller pipe diameters are not free from disadvantages. For a given airflow rate, pressure losses increase significantly as diameter decreases [12], incrementing substantially fan installed capacity, fan electricity consumption and EAHX operational costs. Additionally, with increased airflow velocity, a reduction in temperature gradient between pipe inflow and outflow takes place [7], limiting EAHX use for standalone cooling. To avoid these disadvantages, especially when large ventilation rates are required--as in office building cooling--compact arrays of small diameter pipes are often used [10; 13; 14; 15; 16]. However, since compact layouts interrupt the diffusion of heat [10], thermal saturation of the soil in the immediate vicinity of the pipes takes place with the consequent reduction in heat exchange with the soil. An aspect seldom mentioned in EAHX research is related to maintenance. EAHX and the building it serves share the same life expectancy, which can reach 50 years. National and international standards ensuring hygienic condition of ventilation systems (e.g., VDI 6022 [17]) mandate regular inspections for the detection and correction of biological hazards.