(See our playlist on Climate Analysis for Building Science, one module of the Autodesk BPA Certificate)
Climate is the most important environmental factor and the first one that architects and engineers should consider when designing a building. To achieve a net zero energy building, the design must consider the building’s specific site climate.
The climate can dictate what passive design strategies are most suitable and effective for the building site. For example, strategies that are perfect for a hot dry location may be counterproductive in a cold humid climate.
A site’s climate is dictated by its latitude, altitude, and terrain. A site located at 60°N on a mountain top will require very different design strategies from a site at 7°S at sea level. Climate influences many aspects of building design such as what the indoor temperature should be, what are the factors defining human comfort, and predicting energy loads for the building.
A common misconception is that climate and weather are interchangeable terms to describe the same thing. This is not true. Climate refers to the average atmospheric conditions over a long period of time where weather refers to the daily temperatures and atmospheric conditions. For example, climate change refers to the changing daily weather patterns over a long period of time.
Climate Classification
Designers can choose passive design strategies suited for their building based on the climate type. Specific classifications of climates vary, however they can all be useful in determining appropriate design strategies.For instance, the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system is internationally used, however the US Department of Energy has a guide to US climate zones, and the state of California has its own specific guide to California climate zones.
Different climate zones around the world
Climate classification systems are useful in determining overall passive design strategies to implement, however they often do not consider microclimates. Microclimates are small areas that feature different climate characteristics from the overall climate zone they are located within. They are caused by different topographies, bodies of water, vegetation, and site surroundings. The city of San Francisco exhibits many microclimates due to the varying topographies and the different surrounding bodies of water. Also see Building Site Surroundings.
Dive Deeper
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TemperatureTemperature ranges throughout the day and throughout the year. Learn about dry bulb temperature, wet-bulb temperature, and how to read temperature charts. |
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HumidityHumidity can be just as important as temperature for human comfort. Learn how to use humidity metrics to inform your design. |
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Psychrometric ChartsPsychometric charts are the most commonly used tool for analyzing temperature and humidity. They can help you determine which passive strategies to use. |
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Solar PositionThe sun is the primary source of heat and light. When designing for it, you need to account for how it moves through the day and through the year, and when it is obscured by clouds. |
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Sky Conditions & PrecipitationAs the sun moves, it can encounter sky conditions that can intensify it or obscure it. It is important to understand these metrics and account for them when designing high performance buildings. |
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Solar Radiation MetricsSolar radiation analysis is useful for passive heating, daylighting, and PV energy generation. It’s important to know what these radiation values represent before you can effectively use them. |
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WindWind provides natural ventilation and usually cools buildings and people because it accelerates the rate of heat transfer. Wind speed and direction changes throughout the day and year, though not in as universally predictable a way as the sun's path. |
Sustainable Design
Everything in the built environment is designed, from the smallest computer chip to the largest city. With Autodesk software, users can reduce the environmental impacts of their designs. Visit the Autodesk Sustainable Design Center: autodesk.com/sustainabledesign.
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