Module 01:
Thermal Comfort
- Primary consideration in architectural design
- Solutions include passive design elements like sun shades, cavity
walls, overhangs and window placement
- The goal is to provide comfort for building users
Climate Factors
- Climate varies by geographical location : Northern Hemisphere,
Southern Hemisphere, Tropics
- Tropical regions experience constant heat as a major problem, unlike
regions with four seasons
Macro & Microclimate
- Macroclimate: Climate of a larger geographical area (eg. Philippines)
- Microclimate: Climate of a specific area within a region (eg. Baguio
City vs Lowlands)
- Local factors such as trees, water bodies and ecosystems influence
microclimate
Tropical Climate Characteristics
- Temperature range: 20-30 degrees celsius
- Humidity: 50-100%
- Wind: Slow with prevailing northeast and southwest monsoon in the
PH
Climate Zones Worldwide
- Zones include Polar, Cool, Temperate, Hot Humid, Hot Arid
- Hot Humid climates include Australia and Indonesia
- Hot Dry climates include Arizona and Dubai
Design Solutions for Thermal Comfort
- Focus on user comfort by addressing heat and humidity challenges.
- Consider building function and passive design techniques for
effective solutions
Passive Design Strategies
- Passive: Orientation, window placement, landscape elements.
- Active: Mechanical solutions like air conditioners and fans.
Solar Analysis in Design
- Key factors: Sun altitude, azimuth, and seasonal variations (Summer
Solstice, Winter Solstice, Equinox).
- Understand sun path diagrams to optimize building orientation and
shading.
Shading Devices and Solar Analysis
- Design sun shading devices based on solar analysis.
- Decide on vertical or horizontal orientations, lengths, and canopy
designs.
Module 2: Climatic Design Factors
DEFINITION OF TERMS
WEATHER - set of atmospheric conditions prevailing at a specific place
and time.
CLIMATE - defined as the long-term integration of weather conditions,
including patterns and characteristics of a specific geographical location.
CLIMATE - Global climates form due to uneven solar heating and
consistent heat loss across the Earth's surface. Air masses and moisture-
carrying clouds move due to temperature differences and are affected by
the Coriolis force. CLIMATIC DESIGN - A design approach that
incorporates climate- related factors to create comfortable and energy-
efficient buildings.
PASSIVE DESIGN - Design strategies that use natural energy sources,
such as sunlight and wind, to reduce reliance on mechanical systems.
THERMAL COMFORT- A state where occupants feel neither too hot nor
too cold, achieved through proper managment of temperature, humidity,
and airflow.
Climate
Origin: from the Ancient Greek word klima, meaning inclination
It refers to the typical weather conditions of a place over a long period,
usually at least 30 years. This includes:
1.the region's general pattern of weather conditions
2. seasons
3.weather extremes like hurricanes, droughts, or rainy periods
Two key factors that shape an area's climate:
Air temperature- It refers to the measure of how hot or cold the
atmosphere is in a particular location over time.
Precipitation - It refers to any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or
hail, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface. It is a key
factor that determines the water availability and overall climate of an
area.
Key Influences on Air Temperature:
Solar Radiation
Altitude
Proximity to Water
Seasons
Urbanization
Importance in Climate:
Air temperature affects the types of ecosystems, vegetation, and human
activities in a region.
Key Influences on Precipitation:
Atmospheric Pressure Systems
Geographical Features
Proximity to Water Bodies
Seasonal Variations
Climate Zones
Importance in Climate:
Precipitation determines the availability of water resources, affecting
agriculture, ecosystems, and human settlements.
Interconnection of Air Temperature and Precipitation:
Air temperature and precipitation are closely interconnected in
shaping an area’s climate. Warmer air can hold more moisture, often
leading to higher precipitation in certain regions. Conversely, cold air
holds less moisture, leading to drier conditions. These factors combine to
create distinct climate types, such as hot deserts, humid tropics, or snowy
polar regions.
MACROCLIMATE – climate of the entire region or country.
MICROCLIMATE – climate of the immediate environments which are
affected by site features such as hills, rivers, streams, lakes, position of
buildings, trees etc.
MONSOON – a seasonal prevailing wind which lasts for several months,
ushering in a region's rainy season.
SEASONS - As the Earth rotates on its tilted axis (23°30') around the sun,
different parts of the Earth receive higher and lower levels of radiant
energy. The sun emits rays that hit the earth's surface at different angles.
These rays transmit the highest level of energy when they strike the earth
at a right angle (90 °). Temperatures in these areas tend to be higher.
Other locations, where the sun's rays hit at lesser angles, tend to be
cooler. This creates the seasons.
Classification of Climates
TROPICAL
Characterized by hot and humid conditions, with average temperatures
exceeding 18°C (64°F) year-round and annual precipitation above 59
inches. These climates support lush vegetation and are typically found
near the equator. Example regions/countries: The Amazon Rainforest
(Brazil), Southeast Asia (Philippines, Indonesia), and Central Africa (Congo
Basin).
DRY
Defined by minimal precipitation and high rates of evaporation, leading to
arid or semi- arid conditions. These zones often feature deserts or
sparse vegetation. Example regions/countries: Sahara Desert (North
Africa), Arabian Desert (Saudi Arabia), and Mojave Desert (USA).
TEMPERATE
Experiences warm, humid summers with frequent thunderstorms
and mild winters. This climate type supports a variety of vegetation and
is common in mid- latitude regions. Example regions/countries:
Southeastern USA (e.g., Georgia), parts of Southern China, and the
Mediterranean region (e.g., Italy, Greece).
POLAR
Marked by extreme cold, where even summer temperatures remain
below 10°C (50°F). These regions are dominated by ice and snow year-
round. Example regions/countries: Greenland, Antarctica, and the Arctic
regions of Canada, Norway, and Russia.
HIGHLANDS
Unique to mountainous areas, where rapid elevation changes result in
varying climates over short distances. Temperatures decrease with
altitude, often creating cooler conditions compared to surrounding
lowlands. Example regions/countries: The Andes (South America), the
Himalayas (Nepal, Bhutan), and the Rocky Mountains (USA/Canada).
Further Classification
WARM HUMID (Tropical Islands) - High temperatures with minimal
diurnal variation, high humidity, heavy rains, and cloudy skies.
HOT DRY (Arid/Maritime Desert) - Very high daytime temperatures with
large diurnal variation, low humidity, minimal precipitation, and sparse
vegetation.
COMPOSITE (TROPICAL UPLANDS) - A mix of warm/humid and hot/dry
climates, with distinct monsoon periods.
Tropics
Origin: from the Ancient Greek word ”tropos” meaning "turn",
The tropics are the geographic region of the Earth centered on the
equator and limited in latitude by he Tropic of Cancer in the northern
hemisphere and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. This
region is also referred to as the tropical zone and the torrid zone.
Tropic of Cancer – This parallel marks the farthest point north at which
the sun can be seen directly overhead at noon; at approximately 23°30' N
latitude,
Tropic of Capricorn – This parallel marks the farthest point south at
which the sun can be seen directly overhead at noon; at 23°30' S latitude
The sun is directly overhead at lat. 23°30' N on June 21 or 22, the summer
solstice, and at lat. 23°30' S on Dec. 21 or 22, the winter solstice. Since
the entire tropical zone receives the rays of the sun more directly than
areas in higher latitudes, the average annual temperature of the tropics is
higher and the seasonal change of temperature is less than in other
zones.
Factors Affecting Climate
DISTANCE FROM THE SEA (CONTINENTALITY) - Coastal areas have
milder temperatures and higher humidity compared to inland regions.
DIRECTION OF PREVAILING WINDS - Winds influence temperature,
precipitation, and weather patterns.
TOPOGRAPHY (ALTITUDE) - Higher altitudes are cooler and often receive
more precipitation
PROXIMITY TO THE EQUATOR (LATITUDE) - Regions near the equator
receive direct sunlight, resulting in higher temperatures.
HUMAN INFLUENCE - Activities like deforestation and burning fossil fuels
contribute to climate change by increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Climatic Design
Climatic design integrates environmental factors to improve building
performance and energy efficiency.
Key objectives include:
Reducing energy consumption.
Utilizing natural energy sources over mechanical systems.
Providing a comfortable, healthy environment.
Climatic Elements in Building Design
TEMPERATURE - usually considered through Dry Bulb Temperature
(DBT), it is a measurement of air temperature taken within a shaded area
using a silvered thermometer; expressed in °F or °C
RELATIVE HUMIDITY - is the amount of water in the air usually
measured by hygrometer (in %) or sling psychrometer or Wet Bulb
Temperature (WBT) expressed in °F or °C.
PRECIPITATION - amount, frequency and intensity of rainfall (may also
include hail, snow, dew) in the locality; usually measured by rain gauge,
can be expressed in mm or inches per unit time (day, month, year).
WINDS - direction, frequency and movement of air throughout the year;
instrument vane anemometer for high speeds and kata thermometer
for low speeds
SOLAR RADIATION - amount of visible light, ultraviolet light and radiant
heat; measured by a pyranometer, on an unobstructed horizontal surface
and recorded either as the continuously varying irradiance (W/m2), or
through an electronic integrator as irradiance over the hour or day.
SKY - measured in hours of sunshine or cloud cover expressed in ratio
and percentage. The measurement of cloud cover is based on visual
observation and expressed as a fraction of the sky hemisphere (tenths, or
'octas' = eights) covered by clouds
SUNSHINE DURATION- the period of clear sunshine (when a sharp
shadow is cast), measured by a sunshine recorder which burns a trace on
a paper strip, expressed as hours per day or month.
Climatic Models
Climate models use quantitative methods to simulate interactions among
the atmosphere, oceans, land, and ice. These models are essential for
studying weather dynamics and projecting future climate scenarios.
Factors Affecting Climatic Design
The local micro-climate and site factors will affect the actual
environmental conditions of the building.
Site- Related Factors:
TOPOGRAPHY - elevation, slopes, hills and valleys, ground surface
conditions.
VEGETATION - height, mass, silhouette, texture, location, growth
patterns.
BUILT FORMS - nearby buildings, surface conditions.
Thermal Design Factors:
SOLAR HEAT GAIN - refers to the amount of heat energy that enters a
building due to sunlight.
This is influenced by several factors:
Orientation
Window Type and Size Shading
Glazing
CONDUCTION HEAT FLOW - height, mass, silhouette, texture, location,
growth patterns.
It mainly happens through the envelope where heat moves from the
warmer side to the cooler side.
Building Materials
Insulation
Thermal Mass
VENTILATION HEAT FLOW - the movement of air within a building and
its effect on temperature.
Proper ventilation can significantly reduce the need for mechanical
cooling by facilitating the removal of warm air and introducing cooler air.
Natural Ventilation
Airflow Design
Stack Ventilation
Design Variables:
SHAPE - surface-to-volume ratio; orientation; building height.
BUILDING FABRIC - materials and construction; thermal insulation;
surface qualities; shading and sun control.
FENESTRATION - the size, position and orientation of windows; window
glass materials; external and internal shading devices.
VENTILATION - air-tightness; outdoor fresh air; cross ventilation and
natural ventilation.
