Building Environment Flashcards
Define passive buildings and provide an example.
Passive buildings are those that use building form and materials to provide shelter and comfort without relying on mechanical heating or cooling systems. An example of a passive building is the North American igloo.
How do active buildings differ from passive buildings?
Active buildings rely on heating and cooling systems to maintain comfortable interior conditions, while passive buildings utilize their design and materials to achieve comfort without such systems.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using active systems in building design?
The advantage of active systems is that they allow designers greater freedom in exploring design solutions. The disadvantage is that they consume more materials and energy compared to passive buildings.
List the three principles a designer should apply to achieve occupant comfort in passive building design.
- Exploit the natural advantages of a site, 2. Adopt appropriate building forms, 3. Use types of construction that are energy efficient.
Explain the importance of understanding site characteristics in passive building design.
Understanding site characteristics is crucial for designers to effectively exploit natural advantages and ensure that the building responds well to its climate.
Describe the general pattern of weather changes in different climate regions.
In general, weather changes cyclically; arctic regions experience annual cycles, while tropical regions see principal variations over a 24-hour period.
Describe the tilt of the Earth and its significance.
The Earth is tilted at an angle of 23.4° relative to the Ecliptic plane, which affects the distribution of sunlight and is responsible for the changing seasons.
How does the Earth’s rotation influence day and night?
The Earth rotates about its Polar axis approximately once every 24 hours, creating the cycle of day and night, referred to as ‘Diurnal’ variation.
Define macro-climate and its influencing factors.
Macro-climate refers to the climate of a large geographical area, influenced by features such as proximity to large bodies of water and continental land masses.
Explain the role of ocean currents in climate regulation.
Ocean currents, like the Gulf Stream, transport heat over large distances, moderating temperatures and affecting climate, such as making winters in the British Isles mild.
How do large continental land masses affect temperature variations?
Continental land masses respond quickly to seasonal temperature changes, leading to dry climates with significant temperature swings both diurnally and seasonally.
Describe the impact of mountain ranges on precipitation patterns.
Mountain ranges can cause precipitation by forcing air to rise and cool, leading to wet conditions on the windward side and dry conditions in the rain shadow on the leeward side.
What are the implications of high humidity and changeable weather in certain climates?
High humidity and changeable weather can create challenges for vapor transport in buildings and affect the durability of construction materials.
Describe the role of a building as a climate modifier.
A building acts as a climate modifier by being immersed in a specific climate, separated from the outside by a skin, and absorbing and distributing air and energies. It influences energy transfers across its facade and how it stores and distributes energy internally.
How does the facade of a building function in energy transfer?
The facade serves as a filter that controls various transfers of energy, managing how energy enters and exits the building. While each mechanism of energy transfer is simple, the overall operation of the facade is complex.
