Building Environment Flashcards
(39 cards)
Define passive buildings and provide an example.
Passive buildings are those that use building form and materials to provide shelter and comfort without relying on mechanical heating or cooling systems. An example of a passive building is the North American igloo.
How do active buildings differ from passive buildings?
Active buildings rely on heating and cooling systems to maintain comfortable interior conditions, while passive buildings utilize their design and materials to achieve comfort without such systems.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using active systems in building design?
The advantage of active systems is that they allow designers greater freedom in exploring design solutions. The disadvantage is that they consume more materials and energy compared to passive buildings.
List the three principles a designer should apply to achieve occupant comfort in passive building design.
- Exploit the natural advantages of a site, 2. Adopt appropriate building forms, 3. Use types of construction that are energy efficient.
Explain the importance of understanding site characteristics in passive building design.
Understanding site characteristics is crucial for designers to effectively exploit natural advantages and ensure that the building responds well to its climate.
Describe the general pattern of weather changes in different climate regions.
In general, weather changes cyclically; arctic regions experience annual cycles, while tropical regions see principal variations over a 24-hour period.
Describe the tilt of the Earth and its significance.
The Earth is tilted at an angle of 23.4° relative to the Ecliptic plane, which affects the distribution of sunlight and is responsible for the changing seasons.
How does the Earth’s rotation influence day and night?
The Earth rotates about its Polar axis approximately once every 24 hours, creating the cycle of day and night, referred to as ‘Diurnal’ variation.
Define macro-climate and its influencing factors.
Macro-climate refers to the climate of a large geographical area, influenced by features such as proximity to large bodies of water and continental land masses.
Explain the role of ocean currents in climate regulation.
Ocean currents, like the Gulf Stream, transport heat over large distances, moderating temperatures and affecting climate, such as making winters in the British Isles mild.
How do large continental land masses affect temperature variations?
Continental land masses respond quickly to seasonal temperature changes, leading to dry climates with significant temperature swings both diurnally and seasonally.
Describe the impact of mountain ranges on precipitation patterns.
Mountain ranges can cause precipitation by forcing air to rise and cool, leading to wet conditions on the windward side and dry conditions in the rain shadow on the leeward side.
What are the implications of high humidity and changeable weather in certain climates?
High humidity and changeable weather can create challenges for vapor transport in buildings and affect the durability of construction materials.
Describe the role of a building as a climate modifier.
A building acts as a climate modifier by being immersed in a specific climate, separated from the outside by a skin, and absorbing and distributing air and energies. It influences energy transfers across its facade and how it stores and distributes energy internally.
How does the facade of a building function in energy transfer?
The facade serves as a filter that controls various transfers of energy, managing how energy enters and exits the building. While each mechanism of energy transfer is simple, the overall operation of the facade is complex.
Define the three distinct tropical climatic zones.
The three distinct tropical climatic zones are: 1. Warm Humid Climate, 2. Hot Dry Desert Climate, and 3. Composite Climate.
What characterizes the Northern European coastal climate?
The Northern European coastal climate is characterized by cold winters with low solar radiation due to the low angle of the winter sun and short days, while summers are mild due to the moderate altitude of the summer sun and proximity to a large cool body of water.
Explain the conditions of a typical continental climate.
A typical continental climate features cold winters due to low moisture content in the air, resulting in clear skies that allow heat to radiate at night. Summers are hot because there is no nearby water to provide cooling, and the ground heats up quickly from direct sun exposure.
Identify the climate characteristics of the Mid European coastal region.
The Mid European coastal region has cool winters with low solar radiation caused by short days and cloudy skies, while summers are mild due to the influence of the nearby Atlantic Ocean.
What are the winter conditions in the Southern and Mediterranean climate region?
The Southern and Mediterranean climate region experiences mild winters, which are influenced by the relative warmth of the surrounding environment.
Describe the principal physical variables of the thermal climate.
The principal physical variables include solar radiation (duration and intensity), cloud cover (eighths of sky covered), temperature (maximum, minimum, and averages), relative humidity (maximum and minimum), and wind (direction, frequency, and speed).
How can averaged values of climate data be utilized in building design?
Averaged values can predict the energy expected to be used over a typical month or year, helping to size heating or cooling systems and assess building performance under average conditions.
Define the purpose of a Test Reference Year (TRY) in building simulations.
A Test Reference Year provides a set of weather data for each month that best matches the long-term average, used in computer simulations to estimate a building’s overall energy consumption.
What is the significance of extreme weather data in building design?
Extreme weather data helps designers understand how buildings cope with severe conditions, using metrics like the most extreme value ever recorded or average extreme values for a given month.
