SOLAR

SHADING,SHADOW
ANGLES
UNIT 2
 shading
 Shading of the building and outdoor spaces reduces
summer temperatures, improves comfort and saves
energy. Shading can block up to 90% of heat from
the sun. The most common method of shading walls in
our houses is the use of eaves. Summer sun access must
be prevented or controlled in summer with maximum
access in winter. Understanding the changes in vertical
angles of the sun during the summer and winter months
will assist in the design of minimum energy load on
buildings.
 General guidelines for all climates
 use external shading
 use plants to shade building
 north orientation
SHADING
 deep verandahs or pergolas
 protect skylights
 advanced glazing solutions such as solar films
and tinted glass
 Glasshouse Effect
 Radiant heat (short wave radiation) from the
sun passes through the glass and
is absorbed by building elements and contents.
 This heat is re-radiated as long wave
radiation that isn't transmitted through glass
and is trapped inside.
 If solar access is maximised in winter the interior
of the house is warmed during the day and the
requirement for heating at night is reduced.

SHADING
 Fixed shading devices can regulate solar
access on northern elevations throughout the
year.
 Rule of thumb for calculating eaves width for
latitudes south of and including 27.5S (Brisbane)
eg if H = 1200mm eaves needs to be 540, if H =
2100 eaves = 945mm

SHADING
SHADING
 Awnings and
pergolas need to
extend beyond
the width of the
north facing
window opening
by the same
distance as the
projection
SHADING
 Fixed horizontal
louvres set to the
midwinter sun angle and
spaced correctly allow
full winter heating and
total summer shading
 Midwinter angle for
Brisbane is 38 deg.
 Adjustable shading for
the east and west
elevations is useful as
the low sun angle makes
fixed shading
SHADING
impractical.
 Passive solar heating is the least
expensive way to heat your home. It is also
free when designed into a new building
achievable using all types of construction
appropriate for all climates where heating is
required

PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING

Passive solar heating requires application of the
following passive design principles
 northerly orientation of daytime living areas
 appropriate areas of glass on northern
facades
 passive shading of glass
 thermal mass for storing heat
 insulation and draught sealing
 floor plan zoning based on heating needs
 advanced glazing solutions

PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING

 passive design relies on greenhouse
principles to trap solar radiation
 heat is gained when short wave radiation
passes through glass
 heat is absorbed by building elements
and furniture
 heat is re-radiated as longwave radiation

PASSIVE SOLAR PRINCIPLES

PASSIVE SOLAR HEAT
 solar access control with louvres
 Sun and breeze control using louvred pergola
on north elevation.
SOLAR ACCESS CONTROL
 With
correct angle and offset
of blades in the solar
pergola winter sun at a
lower angle can
penetrate into the
building.
 Fixed horizontal louvres
set to the midwinter sun
angle and spaced
correctly allow full winter
heating. Midwinter
angle for Brisbane is
FIXED LOUVRES
38 deg.
 Aim of passive design is to
 minimize heat load in summer
 optimize sun trapping in winter
 You need to evaluate your building in terms of:
 extent to which the building is self shading
 penetration of sunlight into rooms through windows / doors on N,
E, W walls
 influence of shadows cast by adjacent buildings
 effect of shading devices to windows and doors
 To find the angle at which the sun affects a building you need
 latitude of city or town (Brisbane 27.5deg S)
 the day of the year (23 Sept)
 time of day
 orientation of building

SUN ANGLES
 horizontal sun angle
Is the angle, in plan,
between the suns rays
and the normal (rt angle)
to the wall. It is defined
by the radial line on the
protractor
that intersects the lines
denoting date and
time of day

SUN ANGLE
 vertical sun angle
Is the angle in
section or elevation
between the suns rays
and the horizontal. It is
defined by the curved
line on the protractor
that intersects the date
and time of day

SUN ANGLE