Environmental Controls I/IG Lecture 7 Climate Comfort Strategies Bioclimatic Architecture

Typical exterior conditions as experienced over several years Climate

Description of temperatures, humidity, precipitation, wind, and cloudiness Weather

Regional climate and local weather affected by the… Climate

… which creates seasonal effects which are further enhanced by the… (1) Revolution of Earth around Sun

…which changes the solar angles. These angle changes and atmospheric conditions affect the… (2) Declination of the Earth’s axis L: p. 130 F 6.8a

…reaching the earth’s surface. As radiation reaches the surface, convection air loops are formed. These currents are altered by the… (3) Solar Radiation

(4) Rotation of the Earth … that forms air currents known as the “prevailing westerlies” and various sea currents. These flow patterns in turn are altered by… Prevailing Westerlies

…such as channels, mountains, hills, valleys, and canyons. (5) Surface Characteristics

Climate Zones North American climate zones were originally perceived as distinct and broad.

Olgyay Bioclimatic Chart Developed to quantify shifts to comfort zone Adding moisture Adding ventilation Adjust MRT Adjust solar radiation

Bioclimatic Chart 86ºF/ 30% RH 275 fpm wind 7 grains H 2 O/# of air 78.3ºF MRT 100ºF/ 10% RH 28 grains H 2 O/# of air 48ºF/ 40% RH 295 Btuh Radiation

AIA Climate Zones

Psychrometric Profile Zone 4

Psychrometric Profile Zone 4

Comfort Strategies Approaches to thermal comfort Technology based Bioclimatic based

Technology Based Uses conventional mechanical systems as primary thermal comfort strategy

Pre 1900Vernacular/ low technology 1906Air-conditioning 1917Curtain wall 1934Thermopane window 1937Fluorescent lighting 1945Mass production 1951Nuclear powered electricity 1972/1978Energy crises ~1985Smart technology Bioclimatics 1995+Technology + bioclimatics Technology Timeline

Low Technology & Vernacular

Conventional Technology

Comfort Ventilation

Evaporative Cooling

High Thermal Mass

High Thermal Mass with Night Ventilation

Internal Gains

Humidification

Passive and Active Solar

Strategy Selection 86ºF/ 30% RH Natural Ventilation Evaporative Cooling High Mass Cooling 100ºF/ 10% RH Evaporative Cooling High Mass Cooling w/ Night Ventilation 48ºF/ 40% RH Passive Solar (~1475 Btu/ft 2 -day)

Bioclimatic Based Uses building form and climate opportunities as initial strategy

Bioclimatic Architecture Climate adaptive takes advantage of local climate to enhance comfort Climate rejecting relies primarily on mechanical systems enhance thermal comfort

Climate Adaptive Buildings Architectural form creates microclimates Natural ventilation/daylight Seasonally dynamic Thermal mass

Climate Rejecting Buildings Ignore local climate Primarily use HVAC Seasonally static Light weight material

Bioclimatic- Residential Small scale, low rise, personal user

Bioclimatic-Commercial Large scale, low, mid and high rise, public user

Bioclimatic-Institutional High density, low and mid rise, public and personal user