Site Analysis for Net Zero Energy and Green Building
Green building site analysis
In carry our a site analysis the following considerations should be considered:
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North direction- Solar Path
The North directions should be established for the site, as this will help the analysis of the solar path. This will help to study which of the side of the building is heated up and which part of the building need special insulation.
The setting sun during summer is the part that needs treatment (insulation or louvers shading for window). It is necessary to avoid the suns heating sun to fall on the wall as the heat is thermally conducted into the building. Winter setting sun is desirable as the heat gain is necessary to keep the building warm. In fact this is the side where a Trombe wall is placed to keep the building warm during winter.
The solar path is easily studied by using software’s such as sketch up and Revit’s Vasari and Rivet’s Ecotect or Design Studio. These soft-wares will help evaluate where sun is setting, but some of these soft wares evaluates the relatively hottest part of the building and even the amount of energy required for a specific model designed. And the solar path with these soft wares combined will help make design decisions.
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Wind direction for Net Zero Energy and Green Building
The direction of the wind s and the strength of the wind and the season of the winds will help you to understand for the following design considerations.
- Direction of winds can use in the cooling of corridors and courtyards and public spaces.
- Strength of the winds if is beyond 5m/s can be used to generate renewable energy for the clean energy in place of energy from fossil fuels.
- Obstruction to the use of winds sources have to be identified.
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Thermal energy potential sources for Green Building
Sources of renewable energy should be identified, such small streams, geothermal sources or wind energy and potentials for photo voltaic sources of energy.
- a) A small stream could generate hydro- electricity through out the day.
- b) Proximity to geo thermal ground can be used as a source for energy for building through out the day.
- c) The photo voltaic energy is limited to use only when the sun is visible, without clouds in the sky and not available at night.
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The topography of site for Net Zero Energy and Green Building
The topographical features of the site is necessary such as the contours, valleys, slopes, cliffs, the locations of streams, the main roads entrances façade views and other features that may be potentially an advantage to the site. Connections of utilities such as telephone connections points, water supply connections, sewerage connections points and power connections points.
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Vistas and view for Green Building
The location of good panoramic view and potential vista creations from the drive in and main entrances should be noted for designing purposes. The setting sun, rising suns in the morning views, or view of the beach, mountains or night views of the cities are the features you may want to look out for and if available they need to be identified.
view of site analysis for Green building
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Adverse situations- smell, harsh winds for Green Building
The harsh wind during the winter season should be diverted from the building using landscapes or wall, cold wintry winds can conduct the heat away from the building and this will cause the energy bill to escalate.
If the site has poor air quality especially if the site is confronting a busy main road , that eco-green architect would consider ways for the poor air quality to be scrubbed clean so that air quality is maintained. the ecological parts of the site could be maintained for air to be processed. read on why green design can process the air by ionizing the air and removes the dust in the air and remove air pollutants such as the dirty dozens.
Prepared by Green Architect Perumal Nagapushnam
