National Institute of Building Sciences

Provider Number: G168

Design Considerations for Climate Change

Session TU1A

Paul Totten, PE, LEED APVice President, National Practice Leader, Building Enclosures

January 10, 2017

Credit(s) earned on completion of this course will be reported to

AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA

members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

This course is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional

education. As such, it does not include content that may be

deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA

of any material of construction or any method or manner of

handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.___________________________________________

Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the

conclusion of this presentation.

The environment around us is always changing, and the impacts of climate change are

becoming more noticeable. Many of us have an increased awareness of climate change

due to reports like the UN Intergovernmental Panel's Report on Climate Change, and

government initiatives striving to better identify human beings' continued impact on

the world that we inhabit. Although humans have made many positive changes to the

world we live in, we have not always realized the consequences of our actions. It has

been proven that the building industry is a major contributor to climate change due to

processes like material production and energy consumption. Therefore, as a part of

those working on the built environment, we have the opportunity to make a greater

impact on the immediate environment and global climate by changing how we design,

build and operate buildings. The speaker will discuss what portions of the building

enclosure may be most impacted by climate changes and how the layout of interior

spaces may need to adjust accordingly. He will provide considerations for enhanced

roofing and waterproofing; recommendations for improved fenestration performance;

and will discuss work in progress in the United States that addresses the built

environment's impact on climate.

Course

Description

Learning

Objectives

1. Be able to better assess short term and long term building enclosure

performance objectives related to climate change.

2. Examine the impact on design decisions for fenestration, and roofing

and waterproofing.

3. Better coordinate HVAC system layout and the enclosure design on

new construction and impacts on existing infrastructure.

4. Understand various strategies to future proof buildings, and innovative

design systems such as reactive exterior screens and solar chimneys.

At the end of the this course, participants will be able to:

Presentation Outline• Overview of design

considerations• Climate change

• Durability and redundancy

• HVAC and pressure interaction

with enclosure

• Examples of enclosure

considerations

Building Examples6

Climate Change

World Map of Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification

1901-1925 2076-2100

DC: Cfa Climate

Warm Temperate, Fully Humid, Hot Summer

Importance of Climate Variation

• Review of macro and micro climate• Understand the climate zone

• Rain fall volume considerations

• Micro climate specific to your site• Review of site topography

• Development density

• Neighboring existing buildings and planned

future development

• Existing building versus new

construction

• Orientation of building and

considerations by elevation

1

22

2 33

4

4

55

66

7

Marine (C)Dry (B) Moist (A)

All of Alaska in Zone 7except for the followingBoroughs in Zone 8:

BethelDellinghamFairbanks N. StarNomeNorth Slope

Northwest ArcticSoutheast FairbanksWade HamptonYukon−Koyukuk

Zone 1 includesHawaii, Guam,Puerto Rico,and the Virgin Islands

Warm−HumidBelow White Line

Warm-Humid

Below White Line

Climate Zone

= 1

= 2

= 3

= 4

= 5

= 6

= 7

Climate Zones

* DOE Climate Map

Impact of Climate Change

• Change in type of precipitation events• Increased volume/shorter duration

• More severe storms/higher winds

• Flooding

• Solar considerations• Increased radiation

• Examine SHGC and window films

• Need for improved durability and

redundancy

Seasonal Evaluation

Need to understand seasonal

variations:• Short winter

• Mold count and pollen count

• Heavy rain in spring and summer

• Similar heights of buildings in certain

cities (Metro DC) and affect on wind flow

• Wind flow variations

• Heat gains

• Exterior humidity levels

Winter

Summer

Building Design Considerations

• Orientation

• Floor plate – shape, depth

• Layout and type of mechanical

systems

• Occupant comfort expectations

– stretching the comfort zone

SOURCE: http://sustainabilityworkshop.autodesk.com/

buildings/building-massing-orientation

SOURCE: http://sustainabilityworkshop.autodesk.com/

buildings/building-massing-orientation

Initial Analysis• Perform initial hygrothermal and

thermal analysis during schematic

design based on options for systems,

orientation, etc.

• Conceptual energy analysis

• Not just present and historic climate

data, but examine future prediction

• Design for adaptability

• System interaction• Mechanical with enclosure

• Daylighting/lighting

• Mechanical can drive the loads - ventilation

Temperature Considerations

• Solar angle

• Solar radiation

• Interior conditionsSOURCE: http://sustainabilityworkshop.autodesk.com/buildings/solar-position

Heat Transfer in Architecture

Source: http://sustainabilityworkshop.autodesk.com/buildings/building-energy-fundamentals

Convection

Radiation

Conduction

Rainfall Zones

Designing and building in a moderate to high rain fall zone** Map and Zone Description per EEBA Builder’s Guide

Wind Rose Diagram

Rain Rose Diagram

Wind

• Orientation

• Transport of Pollutants

• Orientation/location of fresh air

intake

Building Occupancy

• Building type and use• Office space

• Residential

• Mixed use

• Hospital/medical

• Specialty building

• Full time versus partial day

occupancy

Climate Responsive Building

Design

• Responsiveness of systems

• Controls

• How it reacts to the

environment

19Source: http://sustainabilityworkshop.autodesk.com/buildings/controls-lighting-and-daylighting

Glazing Systems

• Double versus triple glazed

• Heat mirror systems

• Low-e coatings

• Tint

• Glass type

• Low iron glass

Fenestration

• Thermal performance of fenestration

product• Thermal breaks, glazing type, framing material

• Transition to adjacent structural

components

• Transition to adjacent building enclosure

components

• Location of mechanical heat/air supply

relative to fenestration location

• Air leakage at the window perimeter

• Interior humidity levels

Natural Ventilation• Natural ventilation

• Considerations for natural ventilation

• Stagnation of air and fresh air considerations

• Ventilation offset

• Solar chimneys

Natural Ventilation

• Ventilation loads are some of the most energy

intensive and thus costly

• Need to understand wind speed and interior

layout

• Stack effect

• Occupant comfort considerations

• Pollutant evaluation

• Stagnation of air evaluation

• Solar chimneys

Natural Ventilation• Does not always translate into fresh air

• Don’t rely on the magic/smart arrows

• Understand prevailing winds and wind flow

• Orientation

• Manual operation versus automation

• Effect on overall pressures

• Stack effect

• Natural combined with mechanical

This concludes The American Institute of Architects

Continuing Education Systems Course

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