With a standard staircase, there is a ton of wasted space on both floors. HOT AND HUMID CLIMATE

• In hot and humid climatic regions, high temperatures are accompanied by very high humidity levels leading to immense discomfort. - Strategically locate to avoid overheating, no direct solar gain AlbertoArriaga33 is wrestling with plans for a new home in a tropical location. In the 1950's there was a company that created a multi layer reflective barrier insulation (5 layers total). This is extremely low mass walls and specialty insulation. In order to achieve Net-Zero building design in hot and humid climates, efforts must be put to reduce the overall energy use to the maximum extent by integrating appropriate building technologies into the architectural designs. On the inside, light steel framing and stud cavities filled with R-15 mineral wool batts.Alberto wonders how the mass of the concrete-block walls will affect interior conditions, and whether the interior insulation will be enough.“My guess is it would slow down the transfer of thermal energy from the walls to the interior space as it radiates throughout the night. Outside walls will be finished with a cementitious plaster and then painted.

  In temperate climates the strategies must be combined. The source of light is the sun but it also comes from the sky and areas or materials that reflect it.Roof for the protection by the sun and rain in Vietnam Apologies to readers if this is a bit basic, but it was one of the…Last week provided an object lesson in the stack effect, which is what building science nerds call it when warm air inside a building rises. To counteract the winter wind direction, evergreen windbreakers are desirable. Cross ventilation is hence very essential here.

  In hot-dry climates, other passive strategies such as thermal mass and evaporative cooling are useful too. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Is the thermal performance of the assembly affected substantially by whether the insulation is on the exterior or interior?”The term “thermal mass” pops up frequently, as it did in Alberto’s post. For example, would clay plaster provide a significant comfort improvement in the common case where the AC has good latent removal during the day (when loads are high) and poor latent removal at night (because loads are low or even zero). One of the areas I’ve learned the most is in building tightness. Sign up for a free trial and get instant access to this article as well as GBA’s complete library of premium articles and Hot dry summer, cool winter. This will result in less energy use, without the comfort problems of room temperature variations.>"[best to have] thermal capacitance...in an ice or water tank and the rest of the building low mass (so that thermostat setback works better). b) Proper ventilation occurs throughout the day. High diurnal … "Do you mean isolate(insulate) the water/ice medium so that it becomes a sort of on-demand thermal storage system? The ventilation effect of winds can be improved by effective arrangement of vegetation.Urban pattern must insure that every building is reached by efficient daylight.

  How would you transfer the energy to and from that ice/water storage?Yes. Agreed, energy transfer will require power - typically a heat pump and a water pump.Get building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.When designing homes in a hot climate, be sure you’re looking at the right loads.

  Net Zero building is becoming a global trend as a strategy to reduce the carbon footprint. Street spaces should be long and straight to facilitate air movement and lined by high, shade-providing trees. Building Strategies in a Hot, Humid Climate Will a high-mass wall benefit a home built in the tropics, and where should the insulation go?

  construction details. C) Humidity levels are reduced as much as possible. In hot-humid climates however, enhancing air movement is (in addition to solar protection) almost the only effective passive strategy towards SITE a) Landform *For flat sites, for design consideration for the landform is immaterial. Sites that are located on a hill or rise above the ground, at a 20- 40 angle to the prevailing breezes use the wind in a more efficient way for cooling. This can be achieved by the open space proportions which are the key to daylight access. However mass wool won out in advertising and distribution.There is certainly a reasonable argument that it would be best to have all thermal mass (thermal capacitance in my world) in an ice or water tank and the rest of the building low mass (so that thermostat setback works better). 2.

  Promoting heat loss a) Appliances used are well ventilated. R.P.E.T.G.I General recommendations for building design in warm & humid climate: 1. Air movement is a key to enhancing comfort in hot climates.