DESIGN STRATEGIES IN COLD CLIMATE

•Glazing windows up to 25% floor area

•Double glazing to avoid heat losses during winter nights.

•Adopt Trombe walls.

•Sunspaces

BUILDING ENVELOPE
•Reduction in energy consumption by HVAC system.

•The thermal energy efficiency of the building Internal Heat Gain Factors:-
–Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): –solar heat that passes through the
glazing. The lower the SHGC, the lesser the direct incident heat gains from
the glazing surfaces.

STRATEGIES FOR DESIGNING BUILDING ENVELOPE

ECBC DESIGN GUIDE(2017)(PN 172)

6.6 Cold Climate
The northern hilly regions of India are covered under this climatic zone. The zone can further categorized into:
• Cold and Cloudy : The climate of this zone is characterized by chilly winters and pleasant summer conditions. During the winter
months, the maximum temperature ranges between 4 to 8 0C during the day and dips to -30C at night. The intensity of solar radiation
is low with more diffused radiation, making the ambient temperatures lower. In the absence of the solar radiation, the relative
humidity is generally high at 70 – 80%.The region experiences heavy precipitation of 1000 mm or more across the year and cold
winds during the winter period.
• Cold and Sunny : The climate of this zone is characterized by chilly winters with intense solar radiation and predominant in the high
altitude regions North India, also termed as ‘Cold Desert’. During the winter months, the maximum temperature ranges between -7
to 80C during the day and dips to -140C at night. The region is dry with relative humidity is low at 10 – 50% and very low precipitation
, less than, 200 mm per year and occasional intense winds The sky is mostly clear with less than 50% clod cover throughout the year.
Table A- 5 Maximum Allowed EPI Ratios for Building in Cold Climate
Architecture can be used as a tool to make homes better equipped to bear it. Below are some ways
architectural design can be used to accommodate cold climates.

Insulation:

Insulation is one of the most important features to consider when designing for a cold climate. Keep in
mind that not all insulation configurations are made equal, and what works for one climate doesn't
work for the other, which is why before building you must do the proper calculations. Some of the
calculations you have to make:-

 Condensation: You have to make sure your walls, roof and floors don't condensate in-between;
different configurations using the same materials can result in very different condensation
patterns. What causes condensation? Differences between the outside temperature and the
surface temperature of each of the elements in a configuration; this differences can be
calculated either by hand or using a specialized software. You must also keep in mind the
worst possible climate scenarios for the zone you're working on, such as the coldest
temperature of the year and the most humid time of the year; that way you can make sure your
configuration will do the job. You must also keep in mind the interior temperature of your
building, as vapor can condensate on the interior surfaces of the building causing problems like
fungus, mold and peeled paint.

 Thermal Transmittance: You have to make sure your walls, roof and floor configurations are
appropriate for the climate you're building for. Colder climates benefit from a very low thermal
transmittance, expressed in W/m2K; that means your configuration must transmit the lowest
quantity of heat possible. Some countries have constructive manuals that specify the minimum
allowed thermal transmittance by climate region. It can be calculated manually or using
 specialized software. The basic formula is as it follows: U=1/(rsi âˆ'e/λ rse) (rsi interior
resistance, rse exterior resistance, e material's thickness, λ material's thermal resistance )

Design Solutions:

You can also use your project's shape configurations to make it cold-climate friendly. What kind of
design decisions can you make?

 Sloped roofs: Most times, colder climates are tied to heavy rain and sometimes snow. You
have to design your project to withstand the extra weight of snow (if it's a snowy region) and/or
to make sure it won't create puddles that may result in leakage, and in worst case scenario,
collapse of the roof.
 The right windows: In colder climates, windows can be allies and foes at the same time: put too
many, and you'll lose heat, put too little and you won't receive any heat from the sun. Make
sure you strategically place your windows facing the sun (north, when you're building in the
southern hemisphere, South when you're building north of the equator). Try to use glass with
low thermal transmittances, such as hermetically sealed double glass. Skylights are also a
good option, as they bring in more light (sometimes scarce in colder regions) and are easier to
point to the sun.
 Lower ceilings: Avoid designing rooms with very high ceilings, as heat tends to go up and it'll
end up being wasted where none can feel it.
 Facade color: You can paint or coat your project, especially the roof, with darker colors;
dark colors absorb heat, and allow to passively warm the inside of the building.

Cold and cloudy region

The characteristics of this region are low precipitation and variation in temperatures between day
and night and also from summer to winter.

Design considerations for cold and cloudy region: In order to resist heat loss, exposed surface
areas are reduced by careful orientation and shape of building. Increase thermal resistance by
wall and roof insulation and double glazing and thermal capacity (time lag) by providing thicker
walls. Increase buffer spaces by providing air locks and lobbies. Decrease air exchange rate.
Increase surface heat absorption by providing darker colours inside as well as outside.

Promote heat gain: Reduce shading on walls and glazed portions. Utilise heat from appliances
and provide thermal storage mass like trombe wall, mass wall etc.

Design considerations for day-lighting in cold and cloudy region: Ensure openings to admit solar
light and retain it. Integrate active and passive solar strategies such as sunspace and solarium
with day-lighting strategies. Top lighting strategies such as skylights—domed or pyramid
shaped—with baffles to control glare are more efficient. Glazing area should be 3 to 9 per cent of
the floor area to provide adequate lighting levels. Light wells or atria with light-coloured walls
and other specifications as discussed in the respective sections on them.
(http://www.projectsmonitor.com/guest-articles/climate-responsive-design-conforming-with-nature/)

Heat Gain
There are three main techniques to capture and use passive solar energy in a house. These techniques,
characterized by the way they collect, store, and distribute heat are summarized below.

 Direct gain relies on south-facing windows.

  Indirect gain collects and stores energy in one part of the house and uses natural heat movement to
warm the rest of the house. One of the most inventive indirect gain designs is the Trombe wall – a
thermal mass placed at a small distance inside south facing glass.
 Isolated gain uses solar collection and thermal storage that are separate from the actual living space.
An example of this technique is the use of a solarium or greenhouse attached to the house. Ventilation
is essential in this method of solar heat gain to distribute heat.
 Orientation is an important parameter to optimize heat gain. The best orientation is south-facing (for
northern climates). Deviation from this orientation towards the east or west leads to increased heating
and cooling loads. A successful solar house should have the long facade with good percentage of high
performance glazing oriented within 30° east or west of south.

Storage: Thermal Mass

Thermal mass is necessary in the design of passive solar house. It allows for the storage of solar heat gain
during the day when solar radiation hits the building mass, and releases passively the heat during the night.
Thermal mass can be of advantage in both the summer and winter seasons. The mass acts in the summer in
an opposite way to the winter: it is cooled during the night and absorbs heat from the indoor air during the day.
The most effective thermal mass in a house is a solar exposed concrete slab. Reflective materials or carpets
should not cover this slab to allow an effective absorption and release of passive heat.

Conservation
The building envelope should be designed to reduce heat loss through good insulation, airtightness, elimination
of thermal bridging, and high window performance. Increased insulation levels can reduce heating load of a
house significantly. Cost-benefit of insulation is, however, characterized by a diminishing returns curve,
whereby beyond a certain level of insulation the benefit of energy saving is exceeded by the cost of increased
insulation. Additional measures should be considered, such as appropriate window design. Size and location of
windows influence the amount and timing of solar heat gain. Glazing properties is an important factor affecting
the performance of the building envelope. Low-e coated glass plays the most significant role in reducing
heating load.

Distribution
The house layout should be designed to allow distribution of heat gain from the south side through the rest of
the space. Usually “open floor plans” are a good option to facilitate the movement of passive solar heat.
Otherwise, kitchens, dining rooms, and sitting areas should be located along the south perimeter to take
advantage from direct solar heat gain during the day.

Heat Gain Control

Control of heat gain goes hand in hand with maximizing solar heat gain to avoid overheating. Appropriate
shading devices should be designed to assist in reducing solar heat gain when it is not needed. In our climate
and geographic location, overhangs are optimal shading devices for south windows. They allow for the low
winter solar
radiation to
penetrate
the space while
blocking
summer
radiation.

Building a
passive solar house
is not a complex
procedure.
However,
every energy
conservation system has pros and cons, and therefore a holistic approach needs to be considered. Many of the
decisions regarding passive solar design are made in the early stages of building construction and should be
coordinated to allow for a significant improvement in the performance of the building while reducing its negative
environmental impact.
Cold and Sunny type of Climate is experienced here
Temperature Variations
*Summer
During Day : 17 – 24 Degree C
During Night : 4 – 11 Degree c
*Winter
During Day : 7 – 9 Degree C
During Night : -14 – 0 Degree c
Relative Humidity – consistently low : 10-50%
Winds – occasionally Intense
Sky – fairly clear throughout the year
Cloud Cover – less than 50%
Resist Heat Loss
• Decrease exposed surface
area
• Increase thermal resistance
• Increase thermal capacity
• Increase buffer spaces
• Decrease air exchange
rate
• Increase absorptivity
*Promote Heat gain
• Utilize heat from
appliances
• Trapping heat
• Orientation and shape of
building
• Uses of trees as wind
barriers
• Roof insulation , wall
insulation and double
glazing
• Thicker walls
• Air locks/lobbies
• Weather strapping