Solar Building Design

The course starts with an overview of different ways to design buildings so they can use the available solar radiation and microclimate for reducing the needs of energy for heating, cooling and ventilation. The physics of windows, like U value and g value, and the heat balance of a building are discussed, and the student will learn how to calculate with internal generation of heat and solar gain through windows . These skills are used in Excel calculations of heat balance in buildings as well as in the use of simpler simulation programmes for the energy balance in buildings. The course focuses on buildings in Europe where the demand for heat is greater than the demand for cooling; however, examples and methods will be provided so that the student can use his/her acquired knowledge to analyse buildings in warm climates as well. The microclimate on a site, like wind, humidity and local temperature, shading from other buildings, or the topography and the way these affect the energy demands of a building are examined. One special focus is large towns and their microclimate and how heat island effects can be avoided or reduced by methods such as the choice of colour or vegetation. The course will give an overview of the different tools and working methods used by architects and engineers to facilitate the use of solar energy in buildings