TEMPERATE CLIMATE

1. ORIENTATION  North and south façade should receive least amount of radiation.
 Windows on the eastern side receive substantial heat during the morning, which may be
highly appreciated in winter time.
 Landform building the structure on windward slopes is preferable for getting cool breeze.
 Buildings should be arranged so that they benefit from summer winds because this season is
usually humid and a proper cross-ventilation is required.

2. FORM AND PLANNING  Provision for reduction of direct solar gain and heat transfer to interior, and increase in heat
loss by ventilation helps in achieving thermal comfort conditions.
 To resist heat gain, decrease exposed surface area by orientation and shape of the building.
 The building should be reasonably compact.
 It would reduce heat gain during the day and heat loss during the night.
 A moderately compact internal room arrangement is of benefit for most of the year.
Courtyard buildings are suitable, terraced buildings facing south may also be appropriate.
3. BUILT FORM  Buildings may be large and grouped close together. Row houses or adjoining buildings have
the advantage of reduced heat loss.
 Settlements should be semi-compact to provide mutual shelter from wind in the cold season
but also to take advantage of the sun radiation.
4. STREET TYPE  Streets are planned in the direction of summer winds avoiding the direction of winter winds.
 The outdoor space should be planned to provide a well-balanced mix of open, sunny areas
for the cold season and shaded, well-ventilated areas for the warm period.
5. EXTERNAL SPACE  The outdoor space should also be designed as a compromise with ventilation and shade in
summer, and wind protection and solar radiation gain in winter.
 The vegetation should be planned accordingly, to provide partly sunny and partly shaded
spaces. Deciduous trees are an excellent medium with which to achieve this goal.

 Encourage ventilation by locating windows properly. Increase air exchange rate with the help
6. VENTILATION of courtyards and arrangement of openings.
 Proper cross-ventilations are necessary
 The separation of humidity-producing areas such as kitchen and bathrooms from the rest of
the building is recommended.
7. ROOM ARRANGEMENT  A moderately compact internal room arrangement is of benefit for most of the year.
Courtyard buildings are suitable, terraced buildings facing south may also be appropriate.
 The south and south-west sides are protected and northward orientation of the bedrooms is
favourable.
 In cooler areas, exposure of the main rooms to the winter sun is essential, whereas in
 warmer areas these rooms can also be placed north facing.
 Heat losses can be efficiently reduced by dividing the house into zones with higher and lower
heat demands, according to their functions.
8. FOUNDATIONS, BASEMENTS AND FLOORS  The floor may be in direct contact to the ground, with medium insulation and thermal
storage capacity.

9. WALLS  A medium heat storage capacity of internal and outer walls is appropriate to avoid
overheating in the daytime and keep the night temperature at comfort level.
 Increase thermal resistance by providing roof insulation and east and west wall insulation.
 East and especially west wall should also massive.
 North and south walls will not receive much radiation and they may be of light weight
construction.
10. WINDOWS  Windows can be larger in the north while those on the east, west and south should be
smaller.
 Maximize daytime cooling with high level vents/windows to let out the hot air and draw in
cool air.
 Windows should be of medium size with openings on opposite walls for proper cross-
ventilation during the humid period.
11. SHADING TECHNIQUES  Increase shading on east and west walls by overhangs, fins and trees.
 In the hot period, windows must be protected from solar radiation and glare. In the cold
season, however, solar heat gain through openings is desired. Hence, shading devices should
be movable.
 Walls do not need extra shading devices.
 The roof should protect the building from precipitation so carefully waterproofed.
 The roof should provide protection against heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. The
roof should, therefore, have thermal insulation properties.
 Usually a multilayer construction is required. The reflectivity and emissivity of the outer
surface is then of minor importance.
 medium heat storage capacity to balance temperature fluctuations
12. ROOFS  Insulated with reflective materials to reflect heat and retain warmth.
13. COULOUR AND TEXTURE  Pale colours are preferable; dark colours may be used only in recessed places protected from
summer sun.
 For the moderate climate a smooth and light coloured surface reflects more heat and light; a
rough textured surface causes self-shading and increases the area for re-radiation.
 White or lighter shades have high solar reflectivity and therefore are ideally used for reducing
heat gain.
 Additionally, heavy texture on these light coloured surfaces help to reduce glare.
  Surfaces should generally have medium colours.
 In warmer regions a bright surface with higher reflectivity is appropriate. Absorptive, dark
surfaces are possible in recessed areas, where the summer sun does not reach.
14. CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES  Reduction of solar heat gain: - by orientation of the bedrooms towards north - by shading of
east and west walls by neighbouring buildings. - by shading the windows and walls with
projecting stone slabs.
 Reduction of internal heat gain: - by placing the kitchen outdoors in summer (and indoor in
winter).
 Reduction of heat transfer to interior - by insulating roof.
 Increase of heat loss - by ventilation and smoke outlet through chimney.
 Passive solar gain: sun's rays enter through the windows into the rooms, the heat is stored in
the walls, floors and ceilings.
 Indirect solar gain: The sun's rays are captured by various kinds of solar collectors, where the
accumulated heat can be transferred to the room in a controlled way.
 Eg: trombe wall, water wall, roof pond, solar collector,
 Attached greenhouse: A greenhouse is built onto the south wall of a house and functions as a
solar collector.
15. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS  Floor: Lime concrete • Walls: Stone masonry with lime mortar • Roof: Stone slabs with lime
concrete screed cover for flat roof. Mangalore tiles for sloping roof.
16. LANDSCAPE  Deciduous trees are suitable for shading purposes. Such shading trees are best located on the
east and west side of a building.
 Vegetation which is too dense and too close to the building should be avoided because of
dampness effect.
 A green cover on outer walls and roof has many advantages:
 It protects the walls against driving rain.
 Glare is eliminated
 In winter time, a dense green coverage can be a disadvantage because desired the solar heat
gain may be reduced. By using deciduous plants this effect can be avoided.