PASSIVE DESING

Part A: climate analysis

Using the weather data alone, and taking account of the proposed building type, answer the following questions. In each case justify your answer and present the weather data in a suitable form to support your argument.

(i) Is the building likely to be heating or cooling dominated? Justify your assumptions.

(ii) When will periods of overheating and underheating occur, and when will the building be in balance? Where possible specify the months of year and times of day.

(iii) Does the building need to be protected from wind in the winter and can wind be used to cool the building in summer?

(iv) How much solar radiation falls on a south facing window during the underheating period? Would solar heating be a viable passive strategy?






Part B: site analysis

Study the proposed site using maps, satellite images and Google Street View and answer the following questions.
(i) How reliable will it be to assess site conditions using the typical weather file based on measurements at the airport/ weather station?

(ii) Are there any features close to the site that will modify the local microclimate? Show their location on a map and explain their impact.

(iii) Identify potential landscaping features that would improve the passive performance of the dwelling. Indicate their location and size on a map and explain their impact.


Part C: building fabric

Study the main thermal design factors in the proposed building and discuss:
(i) What do you recommend for U-values of construction elements for this building? Justify your answers and explanation based on Passivhaus standard values.

(ii) What is the optimized glazing ratio and glazing G-value for this residential building in this climate? Substantiate your answer with simulations.










Part D: building form

Table 1 shows an adjacency matrix, developed by the architect after discussions with the client, for the proposed dwelling.

(i) Select three significant external features from your site that will influence energy consumption or comfort in the dwelling. (These may be physical, climatological or aesthetic features.) Identify and justify adjacency requirements between the chosen features and each room in the dwelling, explaining how each contributes to the passive performance.
(ii) Sketch a bubble diagram showing a spatial arrangement of the spaces meeting the adjacency requirements. Ensure that the external features are correctly geolocated.

Part E: Occupancy and Comfort

Considering the function of buildings and your suggested passive features, explain the role of occupants’ behavior in the performance of this building and its energy use. What is the most adequate comfort model, indoor condition criteria and IAQ indices for prediction of occupants’ perception in the proposed building.

propose any additional passive features or provide further analysis to improve the performance of this passive design. You can model the proposed layout of the house in IES and provide final conclusions/discussions for your design. Your answer could include 3D model of the building or other relevant research around building materials and their embodied carbon.