ELEMENT:
Climate Responsive House Design
AIM:
When designing a home for a particular climate the essence of the task
is to analyse the climatic conditions of the location and then compare
these with the conditions that are required by the occupants to ensure
that the comfort living levels inside the house are not compromised. Buildings
that work with, rather than against, the climate means that the positive
elements of the climate can be utilised.
The main benefits of making a building that responds to the climate are
threefold. The building:
- Is potentially healthier and gives a life style choice
- Reduces resource consumption including energy use, water use and operating
costs
- Increases resale values
STRATEGY:
The location of the Healthy Home project next to the Pacific coast with
the Australian continent to the west and the ocean to the east determines,
to a large extent, the prevailing wind conditions. The site experiences
westerlies in the early morning. The wind swings around through the south
during the day to be easterly in the afternoon and evening. The prevailing
wind then swings back through the south to the west overnight. This is
a land breeze/sea breeze combination typical of a coastal location.
The subtropical climate is characterised by hot humid summer days and
warm nights. In winter comfortable days with cold nights are expected.
The sub tropical climate is moderated by a coast maritime microclimate.
In winter, the coastal location moderates temperatures upwards as compared
to inland areas. In summer the urban context reduces access to sea breezes
and the density of the built environment increases surface temperatures.
As a consequence the site acts as a heat sink. Some relief is provided
by an adjacent laneway which gives access to breeze.
Summer and winter strategies were used in the Healthy Home to improve
the climate response:
Summer Strategies
- Ventilation to cool internal spaces
- Solar defence through the design of the building skin
Winter Strategies
- Solar gain to heat the internal spaces
- Fast response from the light weight building structure to heat quickly
These strategies act together to slow down the solar heat gains into
the building and remove the heat generated by solar gain, activity by
the occupants, electric lighting and electric appliance loads.
REFERENCE:
Hyde, R, Climate Responsive Design. A Study of Buildings in Moderate
and Hot Humid Climates. E and FN Spon, London 2000.
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