1. Environmental Controls
Lecture 7
Climate
Comfort Strategies
Bioclimatic Architecture

3. Climate Typical exterior conditions as experienced over several years
BH051

4. Weather
Description of temperatures, humidity, precipitation, wind, and cloudiness
BH051

5. Climate
Regional climate and local weather affected by the…
BH013

6. (1) Revolution of Earth around Sun
… which creates seasonal effects which are further enhanced by the…
BH056

7. (2) Declination of the Earth’s axis
…which changes the solar angles.
These angle changes and atmospheric conditions affect the…
BH056
L: p. 130 F 6.8a

8. (3) Solar Radiation …reaching the earth’s surface.
As radiation reaches the surface, convection air loops are formed. These currents are altered by the…
BH050

9. (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…
BH016
Prevailing
Westerlies

10. (5) Surface Characteristics
…such as channels, mountains, hills, valleys, and canyons.
BH102

11. Climate Zones
North American climate zones were originally perceived as distinct and broad.
BH001

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

13. Bioclimatic Chart 100ºF/ 10% RH 28 grains H2O/# of air 86ºF/ 30% RH
275 fpm wind
7 grains H2O/# of air
78.3ºF MRT
48ºF/ 40% RH
295 Btuh Radiation

14. AIA Climate Zones
BH001

15. Psychrometric Profile
Zone 4

16. Psychrometric Profile
Zone 4

17. Comfort Strategies Approaches to thermal comfort Technology based
Bioclimatic based
BH092

18. Technology Based
Uses conventional mechanical systems as primary thermal comfort strategy
BH002

19. Technology Timeline Pre 1900 Vernacular/ low technology
1906 Air-conditioning
1917 Curtain wall
1934 Thermopane window
1937 Fluorescent lighting
1945 Mass production
1951 Nuclear powered electricity
1972/1978 Energy crises
~1985 Smart technology
Bioclimatics
1995+ Technology + bioclimatics
BH046

20. Low Technology & Vernacular

21. Conventional Technology

22. Comfort Ventilation

23. Evaporative Cooling

24. High Thermal Mass

25. High Thermal Mass with Night Ventilation

26. Internal Gains

27. Humidification

28. Passive and Active Solar

29. Strategy Selection 100ºF/ 10% RH Evaporative Cooling
High Mass Cooling w/ Night Ventilation
86ºF/ 30% RH
Natural Ventilation
Evaporative Cooling
High Mass Cooling
48ºF/ 40% RH
Passive Solar (~1475 Btu/ft2-day)

30. Bioclimatic Based
Uses building form and climate opportunities as initial strategy
BH008

31. Bioclimatic Architecture
Climate adaptive
takes advantage of local climate to enhance comfort
Climate rejecting
relies primarily on mechanical systems enhance thermal comfort
BH015

32. Climate Adaptive Buildings
Architectural form creates microclimates
Natural ventilation/daylight
Seasonally dynamic
Thermal mass
BH012

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

34. Bioclimatic- Residential
Small scale, low rise, personal user

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

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