HOT AND ARID CLIMATE

BUILDING ENERGY ANALYSIS STUDIO

PRASHANTHINI RAJAGOPAL
201117010 (M.ARCH)
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, TIRUCHIRAPPALLI
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
• Occurs in two belts at latitudes 15°C and 30°C north and south of the equator.

Source: http://www.essential-humanities.net/history-supplementary/climates-biomes/
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
• The following states (or parts of it)
has been identified as hot and arid:

1. Rajasthan
2. Gujarat
3. Maharashtra
4. Madhya Pradesh
5. Karnataka

• For the purpose of analyzing the

climatic data and case study
JODHPUR will be used.
CLIMATIC DATA FOR HOT AND ARID REGIONS IN INDIA:

SOURCE: INTEGRATED GREEN DESIGN for Urban & Rural Buildings in Hot-Dry Climate Zone
AIR TEMPERATURE
• Two prominent seasons: Hot and somewhat cooler period
• High diurnal temperature range
• Hottest day is around summer solstice around June 21st
• Coldest day is around winter solstice around December 21st
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES
HUMIDITY

RELATIVE HUMIDITY 20-60% (approx)

PRECIPITATION:

• Slight and variable mostly throughout the year

• July-August is a rain period
PRECIPITATION:
• Long dry period
• May have bursts of rain for a few months – June to Sept
SKY CONDITION:
• Mostly clear due to low humidity
•Dark blue sky
•LUMINANCE: 800– 950 cd/m² (Intensity of light emitted- luminance intensity-
per unit area in a given direction)
•During sand storm luminance is less than 850 cd/m²
•End of hot period, dust suspended gives a white haze – 3500-10000cd/m² resulting
in diffused light and painful glare

SOLAR RADIATION:

• Direct and strong during the day

•Absence of clouds permits easy release of the heat stored during the day time in
form of long wave radiation towards the cold night sky (Infrared Radiation).
•Diffuse radiation is only present during dust/haze period
Less than 50% cloud cover through the year and
mostly around 20%
End of hot period, dust suspended gives a white haze – 3500-10000cd/m²
resulting in diffused light and painful glare
SUN-PATH DIAGRAM- JODHPUR:

•Cut off period for

design is for the hottest
period – 1st of April to
31st of August
• Use June 21st as the
base for designing
sunshades in the west –
longest sun path
•Use of 21st April for
sunshade design the
south
•Use of December 21st
to allow sunlight and
heat inside
WINDS:
• Usually local in nature – heating of air over ground (hot) causes temperature
inversion.
•Lower warmer air breaks through higher cooler air
• Local whirlwinds are frequent .Winds are hot, carrying dust and sand – Dust Storms
WINDS:

JODHPUR WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:

• Can use SW direction winds for evaporative cooling

• But need to block out dust
VEGETATION:

• Sparse/ difficult to maintain

•Lack of rain /lack of humidity major obstruction to vegetation growth
•Soil dries quickly right after rain
•Sub-soil water table is low
•Soil is dry and dusty
•Ground Luminance: 25000 cd/m²

SPECIAL CHARACTERSTICS:
• Dust and sand storms frequent
•Materials may crack and breakup due to high daytime temperature and rapid
cooling at night
NATIVE VEGETATION:
PHYSIOLOGICAL OBJECTIVES:
• Reduction of intense radiation from the sun, ground and surrounding buildings
• Maintain inner surface temperature less than skin temperature (31-34 degrees) –
will allow body to dissipate some of its surplus heat to the surrounding surface by
radiation and cool indoor air convection.
•Temperature at night low enough to permit an increase in effective temperature by
surface temperature higher than the air temperature
• Use of water bodies -use of evaporative cooling effective due to low humidity
•Can use breeze to cool building but not until it is cooled and filtered
• Plan narrow winding streets that are shaded (cooled) and break wind
•Avoid large open spaces where heat can be gained during the day leading to dust
storms
•Shaded public spaces
•Light colors for open spaces
FORM AND PLANNING -SETTLEMENT/STREET NETWORK:
1. GRID DIAGONAL EAST-WEST AXIS: When oriented diagonally to the east-west
axis, sun’s exposure is reduced and shade is distributed in the streets. This also
helps in the ‘dynamic movement’ of air – if direction of wind supports.

2. NARROW ZIG-ZAGGING ALLEYS: This planning receives minimum radiation and

reduce effect of stormy winds. Provides shaded spaces at daytime and stay
relatively warmer during night.

3. BLOCKED STREETS AND ALLEYS: Two storied buildings with closed patios open to
sky maximize shade. Will reduce strong winds but retain ventilation.

(1) (2) (3)

FORM AND PLANNING – DENSE SETTLEMENT:

• Clustered settlement protects external and

internal spaces from:
1. Harsh solar radiation
2. Glare
3. Hot/Dusty winds

• ‘Carpet Planning’ layouts with courtyards

and high buildings
• Use of subterranean buildings/caves to
adjust to climatic stress.
FORM AND PLANNING :

• Enclosed/Compactly planned/ Inward looking building(s) best suited for this type
of climatic zone
• Surface exposed to the sun must be reduced
•Proper orientation changes according to location as incident solar radiation changes
• IN THE CONTEXT OF INDIA:
•Worst direction: WEST
•Larger dimensions of the building should face North and South
•Non-habitable rooms can be placed as effective barriers and placed on east/west
side.
FORM AND PLANNING :
SHADING FACTOR:

• Roofs, walls and outdoor spaces can be adequately shaded by the following:
 Projecting roofs
 Verandahs
 Shading devices: Sun shades/ Pergolas / Jalli
 Trees used to obstruct direct solar radiation
 Utilization of surrounding walls and buildings – east and west walls placed close
 Narrow streets/Arcades/Colonades and small enclosed courtyards
SHADING FACTOR:
 Use of jaali screens for penetration of
day light but partial shading to reduce
heat in flow

Use of vegetation as a shading device

Surface texture for small shading

mechanism

Use of architectural projections for

shading

Jharokhas – a overhanging enclosed

balcony

Use of modern materials such as double

glazed units to insulate windows
EXTERNAL SPACES:

• Adjacent buildings, pavement and dry ground heat up quickly causing painful glare
and reflected heat radiation
• There must be a close connection with public spaces and residential areas
•Dwelling units should create patio-like areas
•Paved open areas must be avoided or kept minimum
• Ratio of shaded space to open to solar radiation affects air temperature greatly
•Special attention must be paid to pedestrians, walkways and scale of environment
EXTERNAL SPACES - VEGETATION:

• Trees/Wedges/Plants have a dramatic effect on the micro-climate

• Helps tie down dust and sand
• oasis like concentration of trees and plants must be considered
•Use of local desert plants, gravel and stone garden
• Avoid using high water consuming lawns
• Vegetation in and around the city promotes and controls air movement
• Evaporation and cooling takes place in green areas
•Difference is temperature between green areas and built up land causes air cycles
EXTERNAL SPACES - VEGETATION:
BUILDING MATERIALS:

• Comfort inside the buildings largely dependant of the thermal properties of the
outer and inner walls and roofs
• Use of specific insulating and thermal storage qualities largely effects the
performance of the building
• Use of colors with high reflectivity
• Hot and arid zones are traditionally constructed with thick walls and roofs and with
very small openings
• Materials should have higher internal thermal storage capacity (thermal mass)
• Profit from the increased night time ventilation by storing cool temperature at
night until the day
• Best material – those that do not conduct heat
BUILDING MATERIALS:

• Sun dried earth bricks – one of the poorest

conductors of heat
• It has a low natural conductivity and its
structurally weak component necessitates thick
walls
• However, this material may retain heat longer
if time lag is not taken into consideration
•A big thermal mass can keep cool during the
day and not be too cold at night
• High heat capacity walls
BUILDING MATERIALS – THERMAL (TIME) LAG:

• TIME LAG: Time taken for heat to flow from one side of the envelope to the other
•Study of thermal lag is vital for building in hot and arid climatic zone
• Designer must firstly study the occupancy pattern of the building
• Eg – An office building will need a time lag of 4-6 hours, sufficient to reduce and
delay the passage of heat until the occupants leave the building
• Eg – A residence will need a time lag of 10-12 hours, that is till the cooler night
temperature where the extra heat will be welcome
BUILDING MATERIALS – THERMAL MASS & THERMAL (TIME) LAG:
THERMAL MASS Thermal Time Lag
(KJ/m3-K) (hrs)
Double Brick (220) 1360 6.2
Concrete (250) 2060 6.9
Adobe (250) 1300 9.2
Rammed Earth (250)
Compressed Earth (250) 1740 10.5
Red Sandstone (300) 1800 7.5
BUILDING MATERIALS – REFLECTANCE:
REFLECTANCE OF INTERNAL FINISHES
For better daylight distribution, the reflectance of the internal surfaces
should be higher.
BUILDING MATERIALS – REDUCING
HEAT INGRESS IN WALLS
BUILDING MATERIALS – REDUCING HEAT INGRESS IN ROOF
GROUND:

• The ground is an important material for heat absorption

•Thus, the building should have maximum contact with the ground
•Ground floor should be solid and built directly on top of it with heat absorbing
materials such as – stone, adobe or burnt clay.
•Should not be built on stilts
•Flooring material should have a high thermal conductance
• Ground near the building must be shaded during the day but exposed during the
night sky so that emission of radiant heat is not obstructed
WALLS:
• Walls of daytime living area should be made of heat storing materials
•Walls of night time use should have a light heat capacity
•East and West walls must be shaded
•High reflective qualities are desirable

• REGIONS WITH LESS DIURNAL TEMPERATURE RANGE:

 Internal walls and intermediate floors should have large thermal mass
 Outer walls need high resistive insulation and reflectivity
 Double walls with insulation in between are suitable for this climate

• REGIONS WITH HIGH DIURNAL TEMPERATURE RANGE:

 Inner and outer wall should have a large thermal mass with appropriate time lag
 Exterior and Interior insulation
 Use of heavy materials
OPENINGS AND WINDOW:

• Necessary for natural light and ventilation but must be protected from heat gain
•Absence or small openings in west side and must be shielded from direct
radiation
•Located high on the walls to avoid ground radiation (long wave radiation)
•At night: openings large enough to dissipate heat emitted by the walls and roof
•Larger openings must closed with insulated shutters and opened at night
•Glare of the direct natural light can be avoided by the use of internally reflected
light
•Use of indirect natural light
OPENINGS AND WINDOW:

• Main openings should face north and south

• South side should be shaded either with shading devices, roof overhangs or trees
• Single glazing glass sufficient – insulating, heat absorbing and reflecting
• Tight window joints to prevent dust and sand from entering
•Windows must be placed in relation to prevailing wind condition
• Use of cross ventilation wherever possible channeled by louvers in upwards position
towards ceiling
•Outlet openings at high level where hot air accumulates
ROOFS:

• Hot and arid region had three predominant types of roofs:

 Vaults
 Domes
 Flat Roofs
 Sloped Roofs (Recent)

• Need for high solar resistivity and emissivity

• Needs for thermal insulation and adequate time lag
• Domes: larger surface area dilutes solar radiation and re-radiation facilitated
• Flat Roofs: useful when it seldom rains. Good reflector and re-radiates heat
efficiently.
• Recently, borrowing from warm and humid climatic zones, pitched roofs with wall
shading overhangs or flat roofs with ventilated space used.
ROOFS:
• If using ventilated roof space:
 Material of the roof must be light
Ceiling material must be massive
 Provide ample space for the roof space to avoid high temperature inside
Opening of this space must face prevailing wind direction
• Sloped roof could proved airflow towards courtyard
•A membrane covering the courtyard in the day time allows retention of cool air
•Stretching of curtain across the courtyard in morning to trap cool air and removed in
evening to maximize night radiation potential.
VENTILATION:

• Use of high ceilings to promote air circulation and longer distance from the radiating
ceiling
• During day time openings are closed and minimum ventilation allowed
• Prevailing wind direction and cross ventilation along with stack effect
• Use of electric fans where little wind is observed
• ROOF WIND CATCHERS:
 built onto the roof and can be uni-directional or mutli-directionally oriented to
catch favorable winds.
 Square in plan and have four internal shafts
 used to catch unobstructed wind and channel it to bottom parts of the building
 Increased air velocity supports precipitation and cools the air
VENTILATION:

•  The ducts are built in a massive way to absorb the heat of the incoming air
• Equipped with evaporative cooling means, such as porous water jugs, moist
matting, wet charcoal etc., to achieve efficient cooling
VENTILATION -COURTYARDS EFFECT:
• Due to incident solar radiation, the air inside the courtyard gets warmer and rises
• Cooler air thus takes it place from the openings in the ground level
• If the roof slopes into the internal courtyard, cooler air sinks inside
• The retention of heat on the courtyards surface during the day keep the building
reasonably warm during the night despite radiation cooling at night
• If net heat exchange reduces the roof surface temperature to wet bulb
temperature of the surrounding air, condensation of atmospheric moisture takes
place and heat gain due to condensation limits further cooling at night.
VENITILATION - COURTYARDS:

• Reduces solar radiation impact on walls – High walls cut off effect of the sun
• Provides a cool area within the building – inner surfaces and courtyard floors are
shaded
•Cooler air, surfaces and earth beneath courtyard will draw heat from surrounding
areas and re-emit to open sky
• Covered terraces on 2-3 sides of the courtyard and identical covered gallery in the
first floor reduces heat gain and provides shade
•Correct ratio of height and width must be provided – Smaller courtyards excellent
thermal regulator
•Plants and water in courtyard further provides a cooler effect.
•Movable sun shades in courtyard
VENITLATION - COURTYARDS:
CASE STUDY – SOLAR PASSIVE HOSTEL, JODHPUR UNIVERSITY
ARCHITECT: VINOD GUPTA

DESIGN FEATURES:
14 double room suites for married
students
 Two-storied building: 7 suites on
the ground floor and 7 suites on the
first floor.
Each suite is has its own toilet, one
lobby, and a small courtyard
 Ground floor that has seven double
rooms is partially sunk into the
ground - use earth’s thermal storage
and insulation effect
CASE STUDY – SOLAR PASSIVE HOSTEL, JODHPUR UNIVERSITY:

MATERIALS/CONSTRUCTION:
• ROOFS: Insulated by providing small inverted terracotta pots over the stone slabs
and filling up the intervening spaces with lime concrete
•WALLS: the local material – red sandstone used - provides good thermal mass to
balance the diurnal temperature variations. Wall thickness is between 0.3-0.4 m
•The partially underground space reduce the solar heat gain on the walls and provide
cooling like a basement

THERMAL MASS Thermal Time Lag

(KJ/m3-K) (hrs)
Red Sandstone (300) 1800 7.5
CASE STUDY – SOLAR PASSIVE HOSTEL, JODHPUR UNIVERSITY:

WIND TOWER:

• Prevailing direction for cool winds in Jodhpur is the south-west.

• Least favorable orientation for windows from the point of view of solar radiation
• Tower facing the wind direction has been located over the staircase
• Cool air is provided to each room from this tower and normal windows or smaller
shafts (towers) facing the lee of the wind have been provided to distribute the cool
air throughout the building
CASE STUDY – SOLAR PASSIVE HOSTEL, JODHPUR UNIVERSITY:

WINDOW DESIGN:
• vacation during the worst summer months, winter comfort becomes more
important.
• South-facing windows have been provided in most of the rooms
•To prevent heat loss during night, solid timber shutters have been provided in
addition to glass ones.
• Deep sunshades to cut off summer sun and to let in winter sun
SOURCES:
 Koenigsberger, O. H., et al. Manual of Tropical Housing and Building. Climatic
Design. Longman, 1974
 Hyde, Richard. Bioclimatic Housing: Innovative Designs for Warm Climates.
Earthscan, 2008.
 Central Public Works Department. Integrated Green Design for Urban and Rural
Buildings in Hot-Dry Climatic Zones. CPWD, New Delhi, 2013