Lecture 3 EEA - SAP - Chennai

AD9022 ENERGY EFFICIENT ARCHITECTURE
SUSTAINABILITY AND ARCHITECTURE

– A climate based approach
School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

•Buildings today contribute to serious environmental problems

because of excessive consumption of natural resources.
•The close connection between energy use in buildings and environmental

damage arises because energy-intensive solutions sought to construct a building
and meet its demands for heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting cause severe
depletion of invaluable environmental resources.

• Buildings can be designed to meet

the occupant’s need for thermal and
visual comfort at reduced levels of
energy and resources consumption.
• Energy resources efficiency in new

constructions can be effected by
adopting an integrated approach to
building design.
• One of the key measures to be

adopted is to understand the climate
and suit the building in it.

• Weather and climate are not interchangeable

terms.
• Climate is the average weather conditions over

a long period of time.

• Earth is a complex mix of climates.
• Geographers identify these climate by

observing:
– Temperature
– Precipitation
– Native plant life

• With these observations we can divide Planet

Earth into fiver basic climate zones:
– Tropical
– Temperate
– Polar
– Dry
– Highland/Mountain


• Tropical
Climates
– Occur near the
equator and the
lower latitudes

• Architects can achieve energy efficiency in the buildings they design by

studying the macro and microclimate of the site, applying bioclimatic
architectural principles to combat the adverse conditions, taking advantage
of the desirable conditions, using:
• Successive modulation of ambient conditions so as to bring internal

conditions with in the comfort zone.
• Simple passive techniques can be achieved in buildings without much

additional cost

• A few common design elements that directly or indirectly affect thermal

comfort conditions and thereby the energy consumption in a building are
listed below:
• Site Conditions
• Building envelope and fenestration
• Planform
• Location of water bodies
• Ratio of built form to open spaces
• Landscaping

SITE CONDITIONS:
•It occupy important position
•Careful selection of site can help saving
•Considerable amount of energy and also provide fairly good /
satisfactory indoor environment throughout the year.
It involves the following conditions:

Macro climate
Micro climate

The macro climatic condition will mainly define the climatic zones and
requirements of the comfort for a particular place.
They include:
Solar radiation.
Air temperature.
Humidity
Precipitation
Wind etc.

The Micro climate involves:

- the condition that matter for both the transfer of energy through the building
fabric, and for determining the thermal sensation of people, are very much site
specific local ones.
- these are generally grouped under the headings of “micro climate are the
conditions of “wind, sun, radiation, and temperature”, experienced at particular
location around the building.

Micro climate of the site is affected by the following factors:
Landform
Vegetation
Water bodies
Street width and orientation
Open space and built form.

LANDFORM
HOT CLIMATE
Building in depression implies lower air temperature
In slopes, leeward side is preferable provided orientation is acceptable
COOLER CLIMATE
Buildings should be avoided in depression as well as cool air path down the
slope
Vegetation can help protection from cold wind
HUMID CLIMATE
Buildings should be located on windward slope and on the crest to
maximize air movement

LAND FORM
In northern latitudes away from equator, north slope is preferable for building
considering least radiation.
Provided slope is steep enough to shade the building

VEGETATION PATTERN
HOT CLIMATE
Trees to be used to cut off the east west sun
Deciduous trees are useful in hot dry climate
COOLER CLIMATE
Ever green can be used to cut off cold wind
HUMID CLIMATE
Vegetation can used to maximise air flow
Vegetation can increase, decrease and direct air flow

WATER BODIES
HOT CLIMATE
In hot dry climate, water bodies can be used both for evaporative cooling and
minimising heat gain
Roof pond minimizes heat gain
COOLER CLIMATE
Water body can be beneficial only if heat gain and loss can be controlled
Better to stay away from the water bodies

WATER BODIES
HUMID CLIMATE
Better to avoid water bodies. The minimum benefit of evaporative cooling

can be offset by higher humidity level

STREET PATTERNAND ORIENTATION

HOT CLIMATE
Provide north south street narrow to maximise shadows
COOLER CLIMATE
Wide east west streets allows building to receive south sun. North south streets
should be narrow
Low building heights preferred
To prevent heat loss, compact planning is essential
HUMID CLIMATE
Streets to be oriented to maximise air flow and utilise natural wind pattern
OPEN SPACES AND BUILT FORM

HOT CLIMATE
In hot dry climate compact planning with little or no open space minimise
heat gain as well as heat loss
Soft surfaces with green, less reflective are preferred
COOLER CLIMATE
Open spaces should be small. Surfaces to be hard and absorptive. Compact
planning preferred

OPEN SPACES AND BUILT FORM
HUMID CLIMATE
Spread out planning, streets and open spaces should be oriented to
wind patterns
Funnel effect can be used to maximise air flow within the complex

GROUND CHARACTER
HOT CLIMATE
Ground surfaces should be preferably green
Hard surfaces and paving should be rough
but not dark
Less reflective but not highly absorptive
COOLER CLIMATE
Hard surfaces, dark but smooth to
increase absorbtivity and reflectivity
HUMID CLIMATE
Surface should absorb moisture
BUILDING ENVELOPE
The nature of building envelope determine the amount of radiation
and wind that will enter inside the building.
It consist of the following:

•plan form
•roof form
•walls
•fenestrations
•shading devises
•external colour and texture

PLANFORM
HOT CLIMATE
P/A should be minimum to minimise
heat gain
COOLER CLIMATE
P/A should be minimum to prevent heat
loss
HUMID CLIMATE
Prime concern is plan form to maximise
air movement
P/A should be minimum to minimise heat
gain

PLAN ELEMENTS

PLAN ELEMENTS
HOT CLIMATE
Integration of plant and vegetation in to plan form. Gardens, roof gardens

and planters on windows and shades can reduce heat gain
Shaded courtyard would lead to lower air temperature
During winter operable glazing at the roof level is required for courtyards
COOLER CLIMATE
Green houses and glass boxes are very effective heat traps
HUMID CLIMATE
Courtyards and verandah aid in ventilation
Wind catchers may be effective if properly designed

BUILDING ORIENTATION
Preferred orientation is North South. Northern orientation receives little
radiation in summer, only if the latitude is far from equator. Southern faces
receive more radiation in winter.

SURFACE AREA TO VOLUME RATIO

HOT CLIMATE
In hot dry climate Surface Volume
ratio should be as low as
possible as this would minimise heat
gain
COOLER CLIMATE
In cold dry climate Surface Volume
ratio should be as as low as possible to
minimise heat losses
HUMID CLIMATE
In warm humid climate, this is not
important creation of airy spaces is
important

ROOF FORM
In general, roof can act to enhance the light levels indoors.
In overheated areas roof lighting should be shaded to prevent heat gain.
In under heated areas, roof lighting will act as a supplementary source of heat
HOT CLIMATE AND COOLER CLIMATE
The natural ventilation should be minimised and as such the building should
have a flat roof. The shorter side will face the maximum air flow

ROOF FORM
HUMID
CLIMATE
Longest side
perpendicular to the
direction of air flows to
maximise ventilation

FENESTRATION PATTERN AND CONFIGURATION

HOT CLIMATE
In hot dry climates windows require shading
Smaller openings preferred. Large openings if provided must be well protected
High openings or ventilators would be effective as heat vents


COOLER CLIMATE
Fenestration should be large, un shaded but sealed. Location of fenestration is of
no significance


WINDOW LOCATION AND QUALITY OF DAY LIGHT
High windows (ventilators) provide the best distribution of light
Low windows allow ground reflected light
Middle level windows do not effectively
distribute light
WINDOWS SHOULD BE STAGGERED

THAN ALIGNED FOR
BETTER AIR MOVEMENT

WALLS AND ROOF
HUMID CLIMATE
Walls should have low thermal
capacity
Roof should be light, having high
‘U’ value and low heat
capacities

WALLS AND ROOF

HOT CLIMATE
Wall materials and roof materials should be of low ‘U’ values
COOLER CLIMATE
Trombe, solar and water wall are effective means of heat gain
in cold
Climates
Low transmittance value ensure maximum heat gain and heat
loss

COLOURS AND TEXTURES

HOT CLIMATE
Surface colour should be light, texture should be rough
resulting in greater reflectivity, shading and reflectivity, re-
Radiation
If rough texture not possible, smooth surface would be

preferable
COOLER CLIMATECOOLER CLIMATE
Surface colour should be dark, surface flat though not smooth,

ensuring maximum absorption, minimum shading and re
radiation
COLOURS AND TEXTURES

HUMID CLIMATE
Light coloured and rough surfaces preferable to minimise heat
gain

Any Questions?

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AD9022 ENERGY EFFICIENT ARCHITECTURE

SUSTAINABILITY AND ARCHITECTURE

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

•Buildings today contribute to serious environmental problems

•The close connection between energy use in buildings and environmental

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

• Buildings can be designed to meet

• Energy resources efficiency in new

• One of the key measures to be

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

• Weather and climate are not interchangeable

• Climate is the average weather conditions over

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

• Earth is a complex mix of climates.

• Geographers identify these climate by

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

• With these observations we can divide Planet

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

• Architects can achieve energy efficiency in the buildings they design by

• Successive modulation of ambient conditions so as to bring internal

• Simple passive techniques can be achieved in buildings without much

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

• A few common design elements that directly or indirectly affect thermal

• Building envelope and fenestration

• Location of water bodies

• Ratio of built form to open spaces

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

It involves the following conditions:

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

The Micro climate involves:

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

Micro climate of the site is affected by the following factors:

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

Roof pond minimizes heat gain

Better to stay away from the water bodies

Better to avoid water bodies. The minimum benefit of evaporative cooling

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

STREET PATTERNAND ORIENTATION

Provide north south street narrow to maximise shadows

Low building heights preferred

To prevent heat loss, compact planning is essential

OPEN SPACES AND BUILT FORM

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

OPEN SPACES AND BUILT FORM

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

Less reflective but not highly absorptive

It consist of the following:

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

Integration of plant and vegetation in to plan form. Gardens, roof gardens

Shaded courtyard would lead to lower air temperature

Courtyards and verandah aid in ventilation

Wind catchers may be effective if properly designed

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

SURFACE AREA TO VOLUME RATIO