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:: Green Buildings - The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy - Explore ::

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C omposite C limate

Introduction

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Read the Design Considaration Based on climatic zones, India is divided into five climatic zones: Hot and Dry Climate Hot and Humid Climate Moderate Climate Cold Climate Composite Climate Explore 3D Models

Composite Climate
Regions having a composite climate display characteristics of hot and dry, warm and humid as well as cold climates. Design of buildings here should be guided by longer prevailing climatic conditions. Uncomfortable periods in each season need to be prioritised to generate the necessary guidelines for design. The objectives of building design should be: (A) Resisting heat gain Unwanted heat gain can be reduced by Decreasing the surface area of the building exposed to the outside. Using materials that absorb heat slowly. Providing buffer spaces. Providing adequate shading devices. (B) Promoting heat loss To promote heat loss, the following measures need to be undertaken: Ventilating appliances used. Providing evaporative cooling systems like roof surface evaporative cooling. Using earth coupling systems like earth air pipe system. (C) Promoting ventilation Increasing the rate of ventilation during cooler parts of the day or night-time and during the humid periods is a necessity in composite climatic areas. General recommendations for the climate are:

(1) Site
(a) Landform Regions in this zone are generally flat and heat up uniformly. (b) Waterbodies

Waterbodies like ponds and lakes act as heat sinks and can also be used for evaporative cooling.

Source: Handbook on Energy Conscious Buildings

Fountains and water cascades in the vicinity of a building also aid in cooling.

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:: Green Buildings - The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy - Explore ::

Source: Handbook on Energy Conscious Buildings

However, it has to be ensured that these water bodies do not increase the relative humidity during the humid seasons. (c) Street width and orientation Streets must be narrow so that buildings mutually shade each other. They need to be oriented in the north-south direction to block solar radiation.

Source: Handbook on Energy Conscious Buildings (d) Open spaces and built form Open spaces such as courtyards and atria promote ventilation. They can be provided with ponds and fountains for evaporative cooling. Courtyards act as heat sinks during the day and radiate the heat back at night. Grass can be used as ground cover to absorb solar radiation and aid evaporative cooling. Earth berming can help lower the temperature and also deflect hot summer winds.

Source: Handbook on Energy Conscious Buildings

(2) Orientation and Planform

An east-west orientation is preferred as northern and southern walls are easier to shade.

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:: Green Buildings - The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy - Explore ::

Source: Handbook on Energy Conscious Buildings

During summer, the south wall which gets significant exposure to solar radiation in most parts of India, leads to very high temperatures in south-west rooms. Hence, shading of the south wall is imperative. The surface to volume ratio should be kept as minimum as possible to reduce heat gains.

Source: Handbook on Energy Conscious Buildings

Cross-ventilation must be ensured at night as ambient temperatures during this period are low.

(3) Building Envelope

(a) Roof Flat roofs may be used in this climate. A massive roof structure like a reinforced cement concrete RCC slab is preferrable over an asbestos cement AC sheet roof. External insulation in the form of mud phuska with inverted earthen pots is quite suitable. A false ceiling in rooms having exposed roofs can help in reducing the discomfort level. Provision of roof insulation yields greater lifecycle savings compared to walls in this climate. Evaporative cooling of the roof surface and night-time radiative cooling are measures that can also be employed to improve comfort levels. Incase the former is used, it is better to have a roof that will cool down fast. (b) Walls In multi-storeyed buildings, walls and glazing account for most of the heat gain. So, the control of heat gain through the walls by shading is an important consideration in building design. A wall that takes a longer time to heat up reduces the heat gain. (c) Fenestration

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:: Green Buildings - The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy - Explore ::

Minimising the window area leads to lower indoor temperatures. More windows should be provided in the north facade of the building as compared to the east, west and south as it receives lesser radiation during the year. All openings should be protected from the sun by using external shading devices such as chhajjas and fins.

Source: Handbook on Energy Conscious Buildings

Moveable shading devices such as curtains and venetian blinds can also be used. Since daytime temperatures are high during summer, the windows should be kept closed to keep the hot air out and opened during night time to admit cooler air. The use of 'jaalis'(lattice work) made of wood, stone or RCC may be considered as they allow ventilation while blocking solar radiation. Measures to control ventilation of the building as and when required makes it more comfortable indoors. The heat gain through windows can be reduced by using glass with low transmissivity. (d) Colour and texture

Change of colour is a cheap and effective technique for lowering indoor temperatures. Colours having low absorptivity should be used to paint the external surface. Darker shades should be avoided for surfaces exposed to direct solar radiation. The surface of the roof can be of white broken glazed tiles. Top The surface of the wall should preferably be textured to facilitate self shading. Remarks As the winters in this region are uncomfortably cold, windows should be designed such that they encourage direct gain of solar heat during this period. Deciduous trees can be used to shade the building during summer and admit sunlight during winter. Well-insulated and very thick walls give a good thermal performance if the glazing is kept to a minimum and windows are well shaded. In case of non-conditioned buildings, a combination of insulated walls and high percentage of glazing will lead to very uncomfortable indoor conditions. Indoor plants can be provided near the window, as they help in evaporative cooling and in absorbing solar radiation. Evaporative cooling and earth air pipe systems can be used effectively in this climate. Desert coolers are extensively used in this climate, and if properly sized, they can help in achieving comfort levels. Contact Us | Site Map | Disclaimer
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