PA - Climate Strategies Flashcards
What is the best overall orientation for a building in the northern hemisphere?
principal facade facing south
On which facade do you use overhangs?
South
On which facade do you use vertical sun baffles?
East & West
Where should you place outdoor activities in a hot, humid climate?
where they receive shade from the building or trees
Where should you place outdoor activities in a temperate climate?
where they receive warmth from the sun in winter, spring, fall
Are louvers more effective inside or outside of a building?
exterior, but both work
In cold climates, where should you place the entry?
the south side, where direct sun can melt the snow and ice in winter
Where is the cool region?
Northern part of middle US, mountainous regions of Wyoming and Colorado
Where is the temperate region?
most of the middle latitudes of the US, including northwest and north east
Where is the hot humid region?
southeastern part of US
Where is the hot-arid region?
from southern California across the desert southwest to portions of southern Texas
What are the design strategies for cold climates?
minimize exposed surface area to reduce heat loss (ex. compact forms, buildings with cubical shapes, partially underground)
minimize northern exposure
minimize apertures on northern facade
air locks at entries
landscape to block winter winds
large windows facing south, small windows E & W, minimal or no windows north
use interior materials with high thermal mass
include summer shading for glazed areas
dark or medium colors for building exterior
NOT passive solar heating
What size windows should be on each facade for a cold climate?
large windows facing south, small windows E & W, minimal or no windows north
What should you consider for entry areas in cold climates?
air locks at entries
avoid putting entry on north side
south side is best so the sun can melt snow
What color should the exterior be in a cold climate?
dark or medium dark
When do you maximize thermal mass vs minimize
maximize in cold climates
minimize in hot humid climates
What is a good form for a building in a cold climate?
compact with small exterior surface area
cubical shapes
partially underground
What are the design strategies for temperate climates?
minimize northern exposure
block winter winds
orient buildings to maximize southern exposure (long facade along E/W axis, angled slightly east)
shade south side of building during the summer with deciduous trees and awnings / overhangs
nighttime ventilation for the summer
active and passive solar heating
use medium colors for the exterior
How should you orient a building in a temperate climate?
orient buildings to maximize southern exposure (long facade along E/W axis, angled slightly east)
What color should the exterior be in a temperate climate?
medium values
What are the design strategies for a hot-humid climate?
maximize amount of natural ventilation by using narrow floor plans with cross ventilation, large open windows, high ceilings, porches & breezeways
shade using vegetation or double roofs
minimize thermal mass
shade all openings
light colors for the building exterior
How can you maximize ventilation in a hot humid climate?
using narrow floor plans with cross ventilation, large open windows, high ceilings, porches & breezeways
What color exterior is best for hot humid climate?
light values
What design strategies are best for hot-arid climates?
shading from direct sunlight
use materials with high thermal mass
nighttime ventilation
evaporative cooling via water features (pools, rooftop ponds)
use compact forms with smallest surface area possible
minimize opening sizes
light colored exterior
What climate can you use evaporative cooling for?
hot arid
What form should buildings in hot arid take?
use compact forms with smallest surface area possible
Which climate is most difficult to design for without mechanical cooling?
hot humid
What are some examples of passive solar heating?
long axis in the E/W direction, southern facade is within 15 degrees of south
long and narrow building form
thermal mass
deciduous trees on south facade, wither deciduous or evergreen trees on east and west facades
What are examples of natural cooling?
radiative cooling (thermal mass)
evaporative cooling,
ground coupling - heat pump
shade using landscaping
fixed shading devices
minimize glazing on east and west facades
light colored or reflective materials
limit paving
What are the different zones on a hill as far as building placement?
bottom - cool air and fog sinks here
middle - moderate
top - windy
What is the difference between high and low albedo?
If something has a high albedo, it reflects larger amounts of light energy back into the atmosphere. If something has a low albedo, it absorbs most of the light that hits it. As more light is reflected off an object, the less heat energy it holds. When more light is absorbed, the more the object takes in that heat.
high albedo: reflects back more light, holds less heat
low albedo: absorbs more light, holds more heat
