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Climate zone are the division of the Earth’s climates into general climates zones according to
average temperature and average rainfall.
The solar radiation reaches the ground on the different parts of the earth with different angles.
On the equator, the sunlight reaches the ground almost perpendicularly, whilst at the poles the
angles of the Sun is lower or even under the horizon during the polar night .
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Classification
Tropical zone – from 0° - 23.5° (between the tropics)
Subtropics – from 23.5° - 40°
Temperate zone – from 40° - 60°
Cold zone – from 60° - 90°
Climate design
The purpose of climatic design is to facilitate an increase in the energy efficiency of
buildings. Thermal design improves the living and working environment for
occupants through ecologically sustainable means. It also seeks to reduce the effect on
public health by adverse climatic conditions.
Design for climate requires that homes be designed or modified to ensure that the
occupants remain thermally comfortable with minimal auxiliary heating or cooling in
the climate where they are built. Passive design — working with the climate, not
against it — is an important component, as are energy efficient heating and cooling
systems, and smart behaviour by the occupants.
Approximately 40% of household energy is used for heating and cooling to achieve
thermal comfort. This rate could be cut to almost zero in new housing through sound
climate responsive design and, indeed, should be our aspirational goal. Taking into
account current consumer preferences and industry practices, halving the rate to 20%
is a highly achievable in the short term.
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The 40% of household energy used for heating and cooling to achieve thermal
comfort could be cut to almost zero in new housing through sound climate responsive
design.
New homes built now will be in service in future times when we expect to see
significant changes in the climate. Designing for today’s climate is important;
ensuring that those designs can be just as efficient after 30 years of climate change
would certainly be desirable.
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The main factors influencing both physical and psychological human comfort are:
Temperature
Humidity
Air movement (breeze or draught)
Exposure to radiant heat sources
Exposure to cool surfaces to radiate, or conduct to, for cooling.
Climatic design is practiced throughout the world and has been shown to produce buildings
with low energy costs, reduced maintenance, and superior comfort. Some of the design
features are outlined below:
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Climate and Architecture
Since beginning, climate has its effects on man, surroundings and architecture
Weather elements forced man to look for shelters
A climate responsive architecture takes advantage of the free energy in the form of
heat and light.
An adaptive thermal comfort design is essential.
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