Tropical Design Lesson 2 ● Thus, climate zone boundaries
have been selected with
CLIMATE BASICS vegetation distribution in mind.
● The Köppen climate classification
Climate scheme divides climates into five
● A measure of the average main groups, each having several
pattern of variation in types and subtypes:
temperature, humidity, ▪ Type A: Tropical climates
atmospheric pressure, wind, ▪ Type B: Dry (arid and semiarid)
precipitation, atmospheric particle climates
count and other meteorological ▪ Type C: Temperate climates
variables in a given region over ▪ Type D: Continental climates
long periods of time ▪ Type E: Polar and alpine
climates
Climate vs. Weather
● Climate is different from weather, Tropical Climate (A)
in that weather only describes the ● Found in a nearly unbroken belt
short-term conditions of these around the Earth at low latitudes,
variables in a given region mostly within 15° N and S.
● Their location within a region in
Climatic Elements which available solar radiation is
● Solar radiation or sunlight large and relatively constant from
● Air temperature month to month ensures both
● Atmospheric humidity high temperatures (generally in
● Precipitation excess of 18 °C) and a virtual
● Wind absence of thermal seasons.
● the terms “winter” and “summer”
Koppen System have little meaning, but in many
● One of the most widely-used locations, annual rhythm is
climate classification systems. provided by the occurrence of
● It was first published by Russian wet and dry seasons
German climatologist Wladimir ● Type A climates are controlled
Köppen in 1884, with several mainly by the seasonal
later modifications by Köppen fluctuations of the trade winds
himself, notably in 1918 and and monsoons.
1936. ● ▪ Köppen specifies three A
● The system is based on the climates:
concept that native vegetation is ▪ Tropical rainforest climate (Af)
the best expression of climate. ▪ Tropical monsoon climate (Am)
▪ Tropical wet-dry climate (Aw
● Cebu, Philippines ● Buillding forms should enclose
Hot-Humid Regions courtyard spaces
● Building from elongated along the ● Reduce solar and conductive
east-west axis minimizes east heat gain
and west exposures ● Promote cooling by evaporation
● Reduce solar heat gain using water features and
● Utilize wind to promote cooling by plantings
evaporation ● Provide solar shading for
● Provide solar for windows and windows and outdoor spaces
outdoor spaces
Temperate Climates (c)
Dry Climates (B) ● These climates have an average
● Arid and semiarid climates cover monthly temperature above 10 °C
about a quarter of Earth’s land (50 °F) in their warmest months,
surface, mostly between 50° N and an average monthly
and 50° S, but they are mainly Temperature above −3 ° C (27 F)
found in the 15– 30° latitude belt in their coldest months.
in both hemispheres ● In Europe this includes areas
● Arid - A land or a climate having from coastal Norway south to
little or no rain and is typically too southern France.
dry or barren to support lush ● In Asia, this includes areas from
vegetation South Korea, to east- China from
● They exhibit low precipitation, Beijing southward, to northern
great variability in precipitation Japan
from year to year, low relative
humidity, high evaporation rates Temperate Regions
(when water is available), clear ● Elongating the form of a building
skies, and intense solar radiation. along the east-west axis
● Köppen’s classification maximizes south-facing walls
recognizes three B climates: ○ Minimize east and west
▪ Tropical and subtropical desert exposures, which are
(BWh) generally warmer in
▪ Mid-latitude steppe and desert summer and cooler in
climate (BSh) winter than southern
▪ Tropical and subtropical steppe exposures
climate (BSk ○ Balance solar heat gain
● Ex. Phoenix, Arizona with shade protection on a
seasonal basis
Hot-Arid Regions
○ Encourage air movement Climate of the Philippines
in hot weather: protect ● tropical and maritime
against wind in cold winter ● characterized by relatively high
● Ex. Haus, Norway temperature, high humidity and
Continental Climates (D) abundant rainfall
● These climates have an average ● It is similar in many respects to
temperature above 10 °C (50 °F) the climate of the countries of
in their warmest months, and a Central America
coldest month average below −3
°C The most important elements of the
● These usually occur in the country's
interiors of continents and on weather and climate are the following:
their upper east coasts, normally ▪ Temperature
north of 40°N ▪ Humidity
▪ Rainfall
Cold Regions
● Minimizing the surface area of a Temperature
building reduces exposure to low ● Excluding Baguio, the mean
temperatures annual temperature in the
○ Maximize absorption of Philippines is 26.6 °C.
solar radiation ● The coolest months fall in
○ Reduce radiant January with a mean temperature
conductive, and of 25.5 °C while the warmest
evaporative heat loss month occurs in May with a mean
○ Provide wind protection temperature of 28.3 °C
● Ex. Alberta,Canada ● Latitude is an insignificant factor
in the variation of temperature
Polar Climates (E) while altitude shows greater
● These climates are characterized contrast in temperature.
by average temperatures below ● Thus, the mean annual
10 °C in all 12 months of the temperature of Baguio with an
year. elevation of 1,500 meters is
▪ This includes the following 18.3°C. This makes the
subtypes: temperature of Baguio
▪ Tundra climate (ET) comparable with those in the
▪ Snow and ice climate (EF) temperate climate
▪ Highland climate (H) ● The difference between the mean
● Ex. Northern parts of Alaska annual temperature of the
southernmost station in
Zamboanga and that of the
northernmost station in Laoag is ● The mean annual rainfall of the
insignificant. Philippines varies from 965 to
● In other words, there is 4,064 millimeters annually.
essentially no difference in the ● Baguio City, eastern Samar, and
mean annual temperature of eastern Surigao receive the
places in Luzon, Visayas or greatest amount of rainfall while
Mindanao measured at or near the southern portion of Cotabato
sea level receives the least amount of rain.
At General Santos City in
Humidity Cotabato, the average annual
● Humidity refers to the moisture rainfall is only 978 millimeters
content of the atmosphere.
● Due to high temperature and the Seasons
surrounding bodies of water, the ● Using temperature and rainfall as
Philippines has a high relative bases, the climate of the country
humidity. can be divided into two major
● The average monthly relative seasons: rainy and dry
humidity varies between 71% in ● The rainy season, from June to
March and 85% in September. November
● The combination of warm ● The dry season, from December
temperature and high relative to May, which may be subdivided
humidity gives rise to high further into:
perceived temperature ▪ The cool dry season, from
throughout the archipelago. December to February
● It is especially uncomfortable ▪ The hot dry season, from
during March to May, when March to May
temperature and humidity attain
their maximum levels. Climate Types:
● There are four recognized climate
Rainfall types in the Philippines, and they
● Rainfall is the most important are based on the distribution of
climatic element in the rainfall
Philippines. ○ Type I. Two pronounced
● Rainfall distribution throughout seasons: dry from
the country varies from one November to April and wet
region to another, depending during the rest of the year.
upon the direction of the ○ Type II. No dry season
moisture-bearing winds and the with a pronounced rainfall
location of the mountain systems. from November to
January.
○ Type III. Seasons are not agriculture and industrial
very pronounced, relatively development
dry from November to
April, and wet during the Basics of Passive Design
rest of the year.
○ Type IV. Rainfall is more or Goals for various climates
less evenly distributed
throughout the year ● Cool Climates
○ Maximum thermal
Prevailing Winds retention
● Hanging amihan (northeast), ○ Maximum heat gain
November-April ○ Maximum wind resistance
● Hanging habagat (southwest), ● Temperate Climates
MayOctober ○ Moderate thermal
retention
Monsoon ○ Moderate heat gain
● A monsoon is a seasonal shift in ○ Slight wind exposure
the prevailing wind direction, that (humidity control)
usually brings with it a different ● Hot-humid Climates
kind of weather ○ Maximum wind exposure
○ Maximum internal airflow
Typhoons ○ Minimum heat gain
● Typhoons have a great influence ● Hot-dry Climates
on the climate and weather ○ Minimum heat gain
conditions of the Philippines. ○ Moderate wind resistance
● A great portion of the rainfall, ○ Moderate internal airflow
humidity and cloudiness are due
to the influence of typhoons. Passive Design
● They generally originate in the ● Design that works with the
region of the Marianas and environment to exclude unwanted
Caroline Islands of the Pacific heat or cold and take advantage
Ocean which have the same of sun and breezes (inducing
latitudinal location as Mindanao. comfort conditions in the building
● Their movements follow a interiors), therefore avoiding or
northwesterly direction, sparing minimizing the need for
Mindanao from being directly hit mechanical heating or cooling.
by majority of the typhoons that
cross the country. Passive Cooling
● This makes the southern ● The use of passive cooling
Philippines very desirable for principles in the tropics results in
a building that is comfortable, Avoid Heat Gain
energy efficient and results in ● 1. Orient the building to reduce
substantial savings in running exposure to midday sun,
costs of both cooling and lighting. particularly summer sun.
● 2. Use materials with low thermal
Pros/Cons of Passive Cooling mass as a general rule.
● Typically, initial costs for passive ● 3. Shade walls and windows,
cooling systems will be higher particularly any walls with high
because these systems are thermal mass.
typically integral to the building ● 4. Use glazing on windows that
envelope cannot be effectively shaded.
● However, this is often offset by ● 5. Use insulation, light colors,
the minimal operating costs and heat-reflective surfaces
required, as well as the
minimized impact on the Encourage Natural Ventilation
environment ● 1. Orient the building and
windows towards prevailing
Active Cooling winds.
● A building design approach that ● 2. Include operable windows and
addresses the problem of ceiling vents that enable the
inducing comfort by means of building to naturally ventilate
equipment that consume energy
Make use of Natural Light
Pros/Cons ● 1. Install shaded windows.
● In active systems, the initial cost ● 2. Install shaded skylights, light
of the building envelope will be tubes, and other natural lighting
low. devices.
● But this will soon be recouped by
the costs for equipment, Create Cool Outdoor Areas
maintenance, and energy ● 1. Use verandas and deep
consumption. balconies to shade and cool
incoming air.
Principles of Design ● 2. Use landscaping to provide
● Avoid heat gain shade without blocking cooling
● Encourage natural ventilation breezes and use planting to
● Make use of natural light reduce ground temperature and
● Create cool outdoor areas minimize reflected heat.
Passive Design Considerations ● Hour Lines/Analemma -
Hour lines are shown as
Main Considerations figure-eight-type lines that
1. Orientation intersect the date lines and
2. Ventilation represent the position of
3. Landscaping the sun at a specific hour
4. Thermal Mass of the day
5. Insulation
6. Windows
7. Natural lighting VENTILATION
● Ventilation, circulation of air or to
ORIENTATION replace stale air with fresh air.
● Orientation concerns the position
of the building on the site as well STACK VENTILATION
as the arrangement of the rooms ○ Uses the principle of
within it. convection to induce air
● There are two main goals to flow.
consider when considering the
building orientation: PASSIVE VENTILATION
▪ Orientation for minimal solar ● Designing a building in a
heat gain. way that maximizes
▪ Orientation for maximum air natural ventilation will
flow. greatly reduce the need for
air-conditioning
SUN PATH DIAGRAMS ● Air movement over the
● Azimuth Lines - Azimuth body, even if the air not
angles run around the much cooler, creates a
edge of the diagram. feeling of cool due to the
● Altitude Lines - Altitude evaporation of moisture
angles are represented as from the skin
concentric circular dotted
lines that run from the PASSIVE VENTILATION
center of the diagram out. METHODS
● Date Lines - Date lines ● Maximizing Breezes
start on the eastern side ● Removing Hot Air
of. the graph and run to ● Designing for
the western side and “mixed-mode” use
represent the path of the ● Roof Ventilation
sun on one particular day
of the year.
Landscaping Types of Insulation
● Reducing the extent of paving ● bulk insulation - acts as
and other hard surfaces with thermal mass and resists
vegetation the transfer of heat. Bulk
▪ The hard surfaces of pavement insulation includes
around buildings absorb and materials such as mineral
re-radiate heat, creating a hotter wool, cellulose fiber,
microclimate polyester and polystyrene
▪ Thus, it is smart to minimize the ● reflective insulation. -
extent of paving and replace mainly resists heat flow
them with vegetation due to its high reflectivity
and low ability to re-radiate
Thermal Mass heat and is more effective
● Thermal mass is the ability of when installed with an air
building materials to absorb, layer next to the shiny
store, and release heat surface.
Trombe Wall R-VALUE
● A trombe wall is a system ● Insulation materials are given an
for indirect solar heat gain. R-value, which rates the
It consists of a dark material’s resistance to heat flow
colored wall of high and therefore indicates its
thermal mass facing the effectiveness.
sun, with glazing spaced in ● The higher the R-value, the
front to leave a small air greater the insulating effect.
space. The glazing traps
solar radiation like a small U-VALUE
greenhouse ● The U-value is the heat transfer
coefficient, which simply means
Insulation that is a measure of an
● Insulation controls the rate at assembly's capacity to transfer
which a building loses or gains thermal energy across its
heat, keeping warmer air in thickness.
during winter and excluding ● The U-value of an assembly is
external heat in summer. the reciprocal of the total R-value
● Insulation is one of the most of the assembly
effective ways to reduce heat
input to a building and can be
installed in the roof, ceiling and
walls of the building
WINDOWS glare and excessive solar heat
● Windows are an important way to gain in warm weather.
encourage and direct air flow into
a building. NATURAL LIGHTING
● Louvers and casement style ● Maximizing the amount of natural
windows allow building users to light that enters the building can
control how much natural air lead to significant energy savings
enters the building. by reducing the need for artificial
● In a tropical climate, windows lighting
should ideally be shaded from
direct sunlight all year round and MAXIMIZING NATURAL LIGHT
should open to allow air flow ● Skylights
● Atria
TINTED GLASS ● Light shelves
● Tinted glass has a tint ● Clerestory windows
applied to the glass during ● Light tubes
manufacture, to reduce
the amount of heat
transmitted through it
REFLECTIVE
COATINGS
● Reflective coatings are
thin films of metal or metal
oxide that are applied to
standard glass.
● They stop greater amounts
of heat gain than some
toned glass, however, they
have the potential to
create glare problems for
neighbouring properties,
and can significantly
reduce the quantity of light
admitted through the
glass.
SOLAR SHADING
● Shading devices shield windows
and other glazed areas from
direct sunlight in order to reduce
