According to one embodiment, an equipment enclosure (102a) includes a plurality of equipment elements (104a and 104b), each element having one or more heat generating sources. A heat exchanger (108a) is mounted towards the top of the equipment enclosure (102a). The heat exchanger (108a) is thermally coupled to at least some of the heat generating sources. The enclosure (102a) includes an exhaust vent (112) through which air heated by the heat exchanger (108a) may be evacuated, and an inlet vent (114) through which air from outside the equipment enclosure (102a) may be drawn into the equipment enclosure (102a) to cool the heat exchanger (108a) by stack effect ventilation.