Bioclimatic Chart Research Articles

Bioclimatic Analysis Tool: An Alternative to Facilitate and Streamline Preliminary Studies

The Bioclimatic Analysis Tool is a spreadsheet that calculates, plots and analyzes several parameters and criteria based on equations and diagrams developed by different authors around the world (Auliciems, Szokolay, Givoni, ASHRAE, Olgyay, Mahoney, etc.). This is automatically done from the climate data introduced in the spreadsheet.The main aim is focus on having different climatic analysis tools on a same simple interface such as Köppen methodology and others. Also, automatic plotting and analysis of Mahoney strategies, comfort triangles, bioclimatic chart and effective temperature nomogram is done.All this offers to bioclimatic designers a simple tool to have the climate analysis from a specific site and strategies needed for the initial conceptual design easily and shortly. One of the more important characteristics of the tool is that it was developed in a conventional spreadsheet.

Bioclimate Atlas of Jalisco State, Mexico

This work presents the bioclimate maps of Jalisco, as a result of the analysis of its climatic information as well as the climatological standard normal data reported in different localities of the state. Higrotermic comfort conditions for humans were also analyzed based on the previously mentioned information. The definition of thermal comfort was based on Auliciems’ equation (1990). As for the analysis of temperatures and relative humidity, Olgyay's Bioclimatic chart was adapted to the conditions of the various localities of the state. The maps were elaborated with Arc GIS program, and based on the bioclimate study made and presented in the requiring diagrams of air-conditioning. In those diagrams, the conditions of comfort, cool and warm were identified, in order to monthly elaborate maps. After the analysis, It was determined that the problem in the state is warm for most of the year. Reading of maps will permit designers, town planners, architects, mechanicals engineers, and etcetera, to identify the bioclimatic strategies needed to obtain urban planning and architectural results, as well as the use of eco-tecnologies featuring low environmental impact and energy optimization.

Selection and Assessment of Passive Cooling Techniques for Residential Buildings in Oman Using a Bioclimatic Approach

Passive cooling is an ancient technique used in air reconditioning and ventilation. Despite its historical use, its relevance in building design has never ceased. To be sure, with the increasing interest in saving energy and preserving the environment, passive cooling stands out as a sustainable possibility. However, this is not always a viable option, and its practicality is determined mainly by the system's functionality, the type of activities involved in the space to be cooled, and the surrounding area's bioclimatic variables (i.e. temperature, humidity, and diurnal temperature differences). In areas under consideration for passive cooling systems, bioclimatic charts are helpful. Comprehensive charts, in which yearlong hourly meteorological data are projected on a psychrometric chart, help to determine the fits required by a particular location. In this paper, psychrometric charts were developed for eight locations in Oman, and a systematic procedure on the selection and viability of using passive cooling techniques is provided through meteorological data. Givoni's passive cooling zones are used and the applicability of each technique is quantified. The eight study locations are widely scattered around and Oman, and possess great geographical diversity. The presented results can help delineate the applicability of each passive cooling technique for residential buildings at each of the study locations and their proximities.

Development of bioclimatic chart for passive building design

The selection of building passive thermal design strategies is based heavily on the local climatic conditions. Identifying the best strategy for a given location can be made using bioclimatic charts. Such charts depend on the atmospheric pressure and are commonly available at sea level. Moreover, manual usage of these charts is cumbersome and time-consuming. In this work, the development of a bioclimatic chart for Muscat, as a case study, is described using Givoni's zones in rigorous detail based on typical meteorological year (TMY) data. A generic calculation tool that generates the psychrometric chart for any altitude has been developed using MATLABTM, the procedure described herein, can be imitated on most scripting languages for any location using its atmospheric pressure and TMY data.

Bioclimatic analysis of Iranian climate for energy conservation in architecture

In order to design energy conscious buildings we need to know the climate of each country. In this study a bioclimatic analysis of Iranian climate had been done. Iran is a large country with different kinds of climate and basically includes four different climatic regions such as temperate-humid in southern shores of Caspian Sea, hot-humid in northern shores of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, very cold and long winter sessions and very hot and dry summers at the central part of Iran. At first the authors surveyed the existing climatic classifications of Iran. Afterwards by retrieving the climatic data from sixty eight Iranian Meteorological stations, and using the new bioclimatic chart a new climatic classification for architectural purposes has been made. As a result of this, five climates were identified for Iran. In order to prove that this new classification is valid, the traditional architecture of these climatic regions was compared. It was found that the traditional buildings have different features in these five regions. Key words: Climate, climatic classification, vernacular architecture of Iran, bioclimatic analysis.

Impacts of modern transitions on thermal comfort in vernacular dwellings in warm-humid climate of Sugganahalli (India)

Sugganahalli, a rural vernacular community in a warm-humid region in South India, is under transition towards adopting modern construction practices. Vernacular local building elements like rubble walls and mud roofs are given way to burnt brick walls and reinforced cement concrete (RCC)/tin roofs. Over 60% of Indian population is rural, and implications of such transitions on thermal comfort and energy in buildings are crucial to understand. Vernacular architecture evolves adopting local resources in response to the local climate adopting passive solar designs. This paper investigates the effectiveness of passive solar elements on the indoor thermal comfort by adopting modern climate-responsive design strategies. Dynamic simulation models validated by measured data have also been adopted to determine the impact of the transition from vernacular to modern material-configurations. Age-old traditional design considerations were found to concur with modern understanding into bio-climatic response and climate-responsiveness. Modern transitions were found to increase the average indoor temperatures in excess of 7℃. Such transformations tend to shift the indoor conditions to a psychrometric zone that is likely to require active air-conditioning. Also, the surveyed thermal sensation votes were found to lie outside the extended thermal comfort boundary for hot developing countries provided by Givoni in the bio-climatic chart.

The feasibility of passive downdraught evaporative cooling for high-rise office buildings in Cairo

This article reports on the initial findings of an ongoing study investigating the application of passive downdraught evaporative cooling (PDEC) to high-rise office buildings in Cairo. Two climate analysis methods are utilized to assess the suitability of PDEC to Cairo's climate. The first makes use of Givoni's building bio-climatic charts (BBCCs) while the second adapts the climate suitability analysis method (CSAM) initially developed to assess the potential of a given location for direct ventilative cooling to work with PDEC. PDEC is not a strategy that can readily be incorporated into buildings. The task is even more onerous if tall buildings are involved. The article discusses the means of configuring the high-rise office building to incorporate PDEC along with complementary passive cooling strategies such as night ventilation. A preliminary dynamic thermal simulation is performed on a developed model of the PDEC high-rise office building. The results of the dynamic thermal simulation confirm the validity of the two climate analysis methods but indicate that the effectiveness of PDEC at maintaining thermal comfort is largely dependent on the chosen definition of acceptable comfort conditions. Finally, the validity of the adaptive comfort model in predicting comfort conditions in PDEC buildings is discussed.

Climatic applicability of downdraught cooling in China

This study describes the work on the development of climatic applicability maps of downdraught cooling in China. A new approach is proposed for the map, based on three related climatic characteristics: cooling degree hours, dry bulb temperature–wet bulb temperature and 26°C-wet bulb temperature. The potential opportunity of using different types of downdraught cooling, such as passive downdraught evaporative cooling, active downdraught cooling and hybrid downdraught cooling, as an alternative to conventional air conditioning was assessed for different climate regions. Three cities representing the three major climatic regions (hot and dry, hot and moderate humid, hot and high humid) were selected for climatic analysis. The bioclimatic charts are used to test whether downdraught cooling might achieve summer thermal comfort in different climates of China. Seven climate zones were identified for downdraught cooling application in China, and appropriate design strategies suggested.

Conforto térmico propiciado por algumas espécies arbóreas: avaliação do raio de influência através de diferentes índices de conforto

As características termorreguladoras das árvores podem ser mais bem aproveitadas quando há um conhecimento sobre o conforto térmico proporcionado por um indivíduo arbóreo isolado em seu raio de influência. Vários índices de avaliação de conforto térmico têm sido utilizados, mas poucos são, de fato, adaptados à realidade brasileira. O objetivo deste trabalho é comparar os resultados de três índices de conforto térmico em ambientes externos, a Carta Bioclimática Tridimensional para clima Tropical de Altitude, o PET e o PMV, para a avaliação do comportamento de três diferentes espécies arbóreas no microclima urbano: ipê-amarelo, jambolão e mangueira. A pesquisa foi dividida em três etapas: (a) seleção dos locais de medição apropriados e os indivíduos arbóreos; (b) coleta dos parâmetros ambientais: radiação solar, temperatura do ar e de globo, velocidade do vento e umidade relativa do ar; e (c) comparação de índices por meio do parâmetro Unidade de Hora Confortável. Os resultados mostram que o conforto térmico propiciado pelas diferentes espécies ao longo do ano, independentemente dos índices utilizados na análise, dependem da arquitetura da copa. O ipê-amarelo é a espécie que proporciona melhor sensação de conforto térmico, enquanto as espécies perenes, como o jambolão e a mangueira, têm maior influência sobre a sensação térmica no entorno imediato no período de verão do que no inverno, com condições mais confortáveis encontradas à sombra da copa da árvore.

Relationship between indoor thermal comfort conditions and the Time Weighted Preservation Index (TWPI) in three Brazilian archives

There are many factors that affect paper degradation in archives, but air temperature and humidity under inadequate storage conditions are among the most important ones. Such inadequate conditions will trigger biological, chemical and physical processes that may enhance the degradation of papers. On the other hand, users of libraries and archives, where documents are stored, require adequate indoor conditions for carrying out diverse activities. In this paper we analyze the performance of archives with regard to paper and document storage conditions, also given in terms of the Time Weighted Preservation Index (TWPI), against overall comfort conditions, according to ISO 7730 and to the Building Bioclimatic Chart. For that purpose, five different settings were chosen, corresponding to indoor and outdoor conditions of three Brazilian archives, located in diverse climatic regions (Curitiba, 25°25′S 49°16′W, Belo Horizonte, 19°56′S 43°56′W and Rio de Janeiro, 22°50′S 43°10′W). The monitoring period comprehended 12 months, with a mid-term data collection. Results showed that there is a significant difference in storage conditions among different locations, even though there is a similarity in indoor thermal comfort conditions. A compromise solution should be sought between storage conditions and human thermal comfort parameters.

Unveiling Energy Saving Techniques for Cooling in Residential Buildings in Ghana

The gradual shift from the traditional approach of outdoor processes of habitation in Ghana to the indoor, coupled with an ingress of solar radiation, liberates excess heat into buildings and makes occupants feel uncomfortable. A straightforward response has been the adoption of air conditioners. This has resulted in high peak electricity demand and excess emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This paper identifies passive and low energy techniques which can improve the thermal comfort in buildings for the different climate zones of Ghana, and consequently reduce electricity demand and environmental effects due to air conditioning. The potential for various passive and low energy cooling techniques was determined by plotting climatic data comprising average monthly temperature and relative humidity over a thirty year period (1976–2005) for a total of ten towns and cities from the various climatic zones of Ghana on the Building Bioclimatic chart. This work is aimed at encouraging innovative and individual design solutions amongst building design professionals applicable to Ghana and regions elsewhere that are experiencing a growth in air conditioning. Reducing peak cooling-energy demand is of great interest to the power generating industries and policy makers. It is of interest to building investors, since it implies a possible reduction in the required installed plant capacity. This is also an essential element in Ghana’s Climate Change Mitigation Program.

Thermal performance in three different low‐cost dwellings for the tropical climate of Brazil

AbstractThe aim of this project was to analyze the thermal performance of passive low‐cost housing in half‐humid tropical climate. The houses are located in Cuiabá‐MT (15.5° southern latitude), one of the hottest cities in Brazil. The data about the typology of the houses were obtained from three representative construction systems; wood, masonry, and prefabricated. The measurements had been carried out through a year, during 20 consecutive days of each season and were evaluated by three distinct methodologies: (1) analyses of previous recommendations of the construction where the envelope materials were compared with the Brazilian standard NBR 15220‐3/ 2005, (2) frequency, through dry bulb temperature with values of 18 °C and 29 °C, and (3) performance, by analysis of comfort levels and bioclimatic strategies processed by Analysis Bio 2.1.2 program in accordance to the adapted Bioclimatic Chart of Givoni for developing countries.

Using a Bioclimatic Approach to Developing Combined Pre-design Strategies for Energy-efficient Buildings in China

This paper presents the work on development of appropriate pre-design strategies for energy-efficient buildings in different climates in China. This study is based on field thermal environment surveys of 13 cities representing the five major climatic types, namely severe cold, cold, hot summer and cold winter, hot summer and warm winter, and mild climate. The comfort zones for the residents who live in these different cities are defined as reference for analyzing outdoor climate conditions. The analyzing reference has been developed based on the thermal neutrality regression function. The Building Bio-climatic Chart method (Szokolay's CPZ) and the measured weather data (30-year average) of the analyzed cities are adopted to identify each city's outdoor climate condition and the appropriate passive design strategies. These basic climate analyses could give basic information on architectural initial design guidelines, and also offer an initial concept and data as well to develop passive design for climate zones for China in the future.

Spectators’ aerothermal comfort assessment method in stadia

Spectators’ aerothermal comfort in stadia is affected by the stadium morphology. The morphology signifies not only the global building form, but also the dimension, the position, the porosity of the different building elements, such as the roof, the façade and the spectators’ terrace. The airflow modifying effects of these architectural parameters have been investigated in a boundary layer wind tunnel using a stadium model of a variable geometry. The present article illustrates a method of spectators’ aerothermal comfort assessment based on the results of the wind tunnel tests, and a comfort zone of flexible outlines. The last blends the wind comfort assessment method used by the CSTB Nantes, the bioclimatic chart revised by Arens et al. [Thermal comfort under an extended range of environmental conditions. ASHRAE Transactions 1986;92(Part 1):18–26] and the new wind chill concept.

Climate Responsive Building Design in the Kathmandu Valley

Traditional architecture in the Kathmandu Valley is the outcome of centuries of optimization of material use, construction techniques and climate consideration. However, contemporary buildings are being built with little consideration of the climate. This study aims to explore strategies for energy efficiency and climate consciousness in modern buildings in the Kathmandu Valley. The Bioclimatic chart, Building Bioclimatic chart and Mahoney tables are used to analyse climatic parameters, and design recommendations are given based on the results of the analysis. An overview of vernacular architecture helps to understand the climatic or technological limitations of the past in order to formulate design guidelines. These guidelines provide recommendations on the orientation and layout of buildings, the size and position of openings, and the characteristics of walls and roofs.

Development of passive design zones in China using bioclimatic approach

This paper presents the work on development of passive design zones for different climates in China. A total of 18 cities representing the five major climatic types, namely severe cold, cold, hot summer and cold winter, mild and hot summer and warm winter were selected for climatic analysis. Measured weather data were gathered and analysed. A bioclimatic approach was adopted in which the comfort zone and 12 monthly climatic lines were determined and plotted on the psychrometric chart for each city. From these bioclimatic charts, the potential use of passive design strategies such as solar heating, natural ventilation, thermal mass with/without night ventilation and evaporative cooling was assessed. A total of nine passive design strategy zones were identified, and appropriate design strategies suggested for both summer and winter consideration.

Bioclimatic Building Designs for Different Climates in China

This paper presents the work on developing simple bioclimatic building design charts for five major climatic zones in mainland China. These zones include severe cold, cold, hot summer & cold winter, mild, and hot summer & warm winter. Five cities, namely Changchun, Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming and Guangzhou were selected to represent the five major climates. Six basic design strategies such as conventional heating, passive solar heating, natural ventilation, thermal mass with/without overnight ventilation, evaporative cooling and air-conditioning were considered. Their respective regions were shown on the psychrometric chart. Twelve monthly climatic lines were determined and assessed in relation to the comfort zone and the six design strategy regions. The comfort zone was based on the acceptable range of operative temperatures and humidity for spaces specified in the latest ASHRAE standard 55-2004. Using the bioclimatic charts, discomfort indices were determined and the appropriate climatic control design strategies investigated. It is hope that these basic climate analyses could give architects and engineers a feel for the appropriate design strategies during the initial conceptual design stage when different building schemes are being considered.

04/02545 Building bioclimatic charts for non-domesticbuildings and passive downdraught evaporative cooling: Lomas, K. J. et al. Building and Environment, 2004, 39, (6), 661–676

04/02545 Building bioclimatic charts for non-domesticbuildings and passive downdraught evaporative cooling: Lomas, K. J. et al. Building and Environment, 2004, 39, (6), 661–676

Building bioclimatic charts for non-domestic buildings and passive downdraught evaporative cooling

The building bioclimatic charts of Givoni are used to test whether passive downdraught evaporative cooling, in conjunction with night ventilation, might yield thermal comfort in an office building in Southern Europe. Dynamic thermal simulation indicated that the direct evaporative cooling boundary, proposed by Givoni, was an unreliable indicator of the climatic conditions for which comfort could be provided. New boundaries, defining the climatic limit of thermal comfort for direct evaporative cooling in offices, with differing levels of internal heat gain, are proposed. For each one, a band of climatic conditions, within which comfort is sometimes achieved and sometimes not, is also indicated.

Human bioclimatic atlas for Mexico

This work presents bioclimatic charts for Mexico, as a result of an analysis of climate for the period 1951–1980. The basis to define the zone of thermal comfort was the equation proposed by Auliciems combined with the bioclimatic chart of Olgyay and the diagram of Givoni for bioclimatic control in buildings. Other tools used to carry out the diagnosis were the equations of Fanger. The results obtained were validated according to the parameters established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineering (ASHRAE), for the different climates of Mexico. The climatic data were those reported by 700 climatological stations throughout the country. The charts were developed using the ArcInfo program, in which the conditions of comfort, cool and warm were identified in order to achieve better thermal comfort in buildings and the profitable use of this renewable energy.