Course Title:

Climate, Environment and

Architecture
Code : ARCH 130

Instructor :
Arch. Mohammed Alrubayan
1
LECTURE: 6

In this presentation, we will discuss the

basic principles of:

• Solar Geometry. (Lec.6)

• Shading. (Lec.6).
 ❑ Solar Geometry
The sun is a huge fusion reactor in which light atoms are fused into heavier atoms, and in
the process energy is released.

The Perimeter Institute in Waterloo uses
the sun to daylight and add character to the
space.
Why Solar Geometry?
Understanding solar geometry is
essential in order to:
- do passive building design (for
heating and cooling)
- orient buildings properly
- understand seasonal changes in
the building and its surroundings
- design shading devices
- use the sun to animate or vivid
our architecture (making it more
livable)
Terasen Gas, Surrey, BC

Solar Geometry Path

In studying Solar Geometry we are

going to figure out how to use the
sun’s natural path in summer vs.
winter to provide FREE heat in the
Winter, and to reduce required
COOLING in the summer.

Canmore Civic Centre, Canmore, AB

Solar geometry works for us
because the sun is naturally
HIGH in the summer, making
it easy to block the sun with
shading devices.

And it is naturally LOW in

Winter, allowing the sun to
penetrate below our shading
devices and enter the
building - with FREE heat.
 Solar Transmission Through Glass

When sun strikes the glass part of the

solar radiation is transmitted through
the glass and proceeds to heat up the
interior space.

Part of the solar energy is reflected off

of the glass. The amount is dependent
on the angle of incidence.

Part of the solar energy is absorbed into

the glass, then reradiated both inwards
and outwards.

When looking to AVOID heat entering the

building it is critical to prevent it from this
initial transmission through the glass –
as once the heat is in, it is IN.
Solar Transmission through Varying Types of
Glass
The Function of the Atmosphere
 ❑ SHADING

Shading is one of the most important sustainability strategies because almost all buildings
in the world overheat in the summer and the usual response is to get energy-guzzling air
conditioners.

To be effective, shading requires a better understanding of solar geometry than any of the
other solar strategies of passive solar, active solar, PV, and daylighting.

10
 • SHADING : Positive vs Negative Cases

Note how much of the window is in shade during the coldest months of January and February, preventing
effective passive solar heating of the building.

13
▪ The Geometry of Shading Devices

When design to either allow or prevent solar

penetration to the interior spaces, shading
devices need to respond to the simple geometry
of the sun to determine the length of the shading
overhang. On low rise buildings that can be
simply achieved by the roof overhand. On taller
buildings, more elaborate devices must be
incorporated.

FIGURE : Horizontal shading device, overhang.

Here we can see how a simple roof overhang
acts as a shading device on the south side of
the building. North facing glazing will only
receive diffuse light for the majority of the year,
and so no shading devices are required.

A simple roof overhang acts as a

shading device.
 …extend device
for full shading

H= Window’s Height
This one uses ceramic
fritted glass that is
sloped, to allow some
light.

The above two use louvres or

grates that will let snow, rain and
wind through.

• Shading devices have to be designed to accommodate loads due to rain, snow and ice.

• You can either slope the shade or make it perforated to increase its ability to respond to weather loads.

• Perforated louvers also prevent the entrapment of heat in front of the windows.
▪ EXAMPLES OF FIXED EXTERIOR SHADING :

18
▪ TYPES/EXAMPLES OF MOVABLE SHADING DEVICE :

19
20
• GLAZING can also work AS THE SHADING ELEMENT:

21
• SOLAR HEAT GAIN COEFFICIENT:

The performance of shading devices can be quantified by means

of the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), which can have values from 0 to 1
where 0 indicates no solar gain (complete shading) and a value of 1 indicates
unimpeded solar gain (no shading).

22
23
• OVERHANGs and VERTICAL FINS:
▪ Most shading devices consist of either overhangs, vertical fins, or a combination of
the two.

o The overhang and its many variations are the best choice for the south facade. Because they
are directionally selective in a desirable way, they can block the sun but not the view.

o Overhangs can also be designed to block the high summer sun while allowing the lower winter sun to enter
the window. Although slightly less effective, overhangs are also the best choice for southeast, southwest,
east, and west windows.

24
Shading Strategies for East and West Orientations

OVERHANGS strategies do NOT work for East and West facades. Due to the
altitude angles of the sun are so low in the early morning and late afternoon.
 Shading Strategies for East and West Elevations

1. The best solution by far

is to limit using east and
especially west windows
(as much as possible in hot
climates).

2. Next best solution is to have windows on the east and

west façades but face north or south
 Shading Strategies for East and West Elevations

3. Use Vertical Fins. Spacing is an issue, as well as fin length. Must be

understood that if to be effective, they will severely restrict the view.
Rules for East and West Elevations

28
29
30
Shading Strategies for the North Elevation

The sun also hits the façade

from the north east and north
west during the summer. Fins
can be used to control this
oblique light as well. It is a
function of the latitude,
window size and fin
depth/frequency.
Living
Awnings
Living Awnings
such as deciduous
trees and trellises
with deciduous
vines are very
good shading
devices. They are
in phase with the
thermal year – gain
and lose leaves in
response to
temperature
changes.
 The shading from trees depends on the species, pruning, and maturity of the plants.
Transmission can be as low as 20 percent in the summer and as high as 70 percent in the
winter. Unfortunately, with some trees, winter transmission can be as low as 40 percent.

Vines can be very effective sunshading devices. Some vines grow as

much as 30 ft (9 m) in one year.

33
 • SHADING PERIODS OF THE YEAR :
Windows need shading during the overheated period of the year, which is a function of
both climate and building type. From a heating and cooling point of view, buildings can
be divided into two main types:
- Envelope dominated Building, and internally dominated Building.
The envelope-dominated building is very much affected by the climate because it has a
large surface-area-to-volume ratio and because it has only modest internal heat
sources.

34
• SHADING PERIODS OF THE YEAR :

Transition period

Over-heated period

Under-heated period

35
 • Designing SHADING DEVICES—BASIC METHOD:

- Before starting to calculate the shading device design measures, we should first
understand the polar sun path chart.

https://drajmarsh.bitbucket.io/sunpath-on- The polar sun path chart

map.html
• DESIGN OF HORIZONTAL OVERHANGS—BASIC METHOD:
Problem :
Design a shading device for a window that is facing southwest at an azimuth of 120° (30° north of
an east–west line). It is located at 36° N latitude in the city of Knoxville, Tennessee, in an envelope-
dominated school.

37
• DESIGN OF HORIZONTAL OVERHANGS—BASIC METHOD:

Solution …

39
 Lecture 6 is DONE.

Any Questions