Site anaylsis Flashcards
d:
G:
l:
○ d: vertical distance between contours ft
○ G: slope of land %
L : horizontal dist between points of a slope ft
solar altitude
azimuth
building orientation
• Solar altitude: angle above the horizon, angle between azimuth and the sun (vertical concept)
• Azimuth: angle north or south from an east west line, 2d concept, angle on a circle in reference to a celestial object like the sun (horizontal concept)
• Building orientation: direction of its length faces
Ideal balance: 5-25 degrees east of south orientation
vernal and autumnal equinox
• Vernal equinox: march 21
• Autumnal equinox: sept 21
○ Sun rises and sets directly above the equator
Summer - sun my rise and set north of the site
4 main climate regions
○ Cool region: canada and northern middle part of us, mountainous wyoming and colorado
○ Temperate: middle latitudes including the north west and north east
○ Hot humid: southeastern part of us
Hot arid: southern cali across the desert to southern texas
map of climate zones
○ Developed by department of energy adopted by various codes
○ Lays out 8 zones and 4 subzones, includes specifics about insulation thickness , air barrier location and types of exterior envelopes
Warm humid, warm dry, mixed humid, mixed dry, cool marine, cool humid, cold humid, very cold, subarctic
cold climates
○ Minimize exposed surface area to reduce heat loss
§ Build partially below grade, concept suggests cube form
○ Air lock entries / vestibule, landscape to block wind
○ Passive solar heating is not appropriate because of lack of direct sun in winter
○ Compact form with smallest surface area
○ Lg windows on south, sm on east and west, little to none on north
○ Interior materials with high thermal mass
○ Summer shading
Dark or medium colors for exterior
temperate climates
○ Minimize northern exposure to reduce heat loss
○ Solar heat gain in winter, maximize southern exposure
§ Rectangular building, awnings and deciduous trees to block in summer months
○ Nighttime ventilation for exhuast of hot air after daytime heating
○ Combo active and passive heating
○ Cooling effects of wind in summer but block wind in winter
Use medium colors for exterior
hot humid climates
○ Maximize cross ventilation with narrow floor planns and large apertures and high ceilings
○ Shading through vegetation or built elements
Minimize thermal mass, use light colors on exterior
hot arid climates
○ Shade from direct sunlight
○ Wide variation of day and night temps, use materials with high thermal mass to store heat during the day and release at night, in addition with night time ventilation
○ Use pools or local water to reduce temp
§ Evaporative coolers work well increase humidity and decrease temp
○ Compact forms with small surface area
○ Minimize openings and provide shade
Light colors for exterior
passive solar heating
○ Long and narrow form, oriented with in 15 degrees of true south
○ Thermal mass
○ Decidous trees on south side, deciduous or evergrees on east and west to block low angle morning and evening sun
Bare deciduous trees can block 20% winter solar heat gain - not ideal
natural cooling
○ Passive solar cooling
§ Utilizes shading, natural ventilation, radiative cooling, evaporative cooling and ground coupling
○ Radiative cooling
§ Thermall mass to store heat during day and release during night
○ Cround coupling
§ Stable coolnes of the earth to cool a building with ground source heat pump
○ Take advantage of existing trees, additional louvers if necessary, consider solar heating in tandem
○ Fixed shading devices: horizontal elements on south side and vertical elements on east and west
○ Mimize glazing at east and west
○ Water for evaporative cooling
○ light or reflective materials to minimize radiant heat gains
○ Limit paving use pervious materials
§ Use color with high reflectance, provide shade
○ Take advantage of prevailing winds
Form and courtyards
active solar
○ Solar collectors - consider visibility
§ Not to be in shade
§ May determine buildings location on site
□ On building or enough space to be on a different part of site
Do not reflect sunlight on to other site elements
photovoltaics
○ Large surfaces for mounting, slped roofs or flat roofs
○ Façade integrated pv
Pvs integrated with shingles or glass
plss parallels meridians checks sections
• PLSS: public land survey system outlines site boundaries
○ Parallels: east west lines that follow lines of latitude of the earth
§ Principal & standard
○ Meridians north south lines
§ Principal & guide
○ Checks: squares created by parallels and meridians - each line is 24 miles apart
§ Divided into 6x6 mi townships (16 total)
§ Township: rows running east and west
§ Range: row of townships running north and south
○ Naming convention: t.13n, r7e, 6th pm = township 13 north, range 7 east of the 6th principal meridian
Sections: townships divided into 36 1sq mile sections, further divided into four parcels
metes and bounds
Metes and bounds: long description starts at one point of prop and gives length and direction of each line until it returns to the start point
