Ecological Architecture & Urbanism
Wolkite University
College of Engineering and Technology -Department of Architecture
Year IV/ Semester I
Lecture II
Prepared by: Betelhem seifu
Ecology Elements
Vs
Architecture
EARTH
• Earth is unique among the planets of our solar system
in offering all the basic necessities of life.
• The sun is the single most important factor in the lives of
people and their buildings.
• The earth loops around the sun in a slightly elliptical orbit
Factors sustaining life on earth
High quality energy flow from
the sun= heat and light
Cycling of matter or nutrients
Gravity, proportion to our mass
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CLIMATE
• Weather is the set of atmospheric conditions prevailing
at a given place and time.
Climate= can be defined as the integration in time of
weather conditions, characteristic of a certain
geographical location.
• The climate of earth is driven by the energy input from
the sun.
HUMAN RESPONSE
• Shade from trees and caves
• Shelter
• Buildings
For designers there are two essential aspects
to understand:
he energy flows from the sun and
how to handle it (exclude it or make use of it)
the apparent movement of the sun
(the solar geometry)
Energy flow
Light Heat
Visible light Latent heat
Infrared light Sensible heat
Energy transfer through Electromagnetic wave /
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radiation
HEAT
• Heat is form of energy contained in substances as molecular
motion or appearing as electromagnetic radiation in space.
• Can be transferred between mediums
• Major climatic element
• Radiation is the primary way that heat travels' in the space
Temperature (T) is the symptom of the presence of
heat in a substance.
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HEAT con...
The four HEAT transfer methods are ...
, Conduction , convection and radiation
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HEAT CAPACITY
Thermal Storage Property HEAT CAPACITY: Of Different
Materials
Same mass of different materials can • Water……………………4190
hold different quantities of heat J/Kgk
Specific heat capacity of a material • Concrete and brick….3300
• Wood…………………….1700
is the quantity of heat energy • Aluminum………………910
required to raise the temperature of • Steel……………………..450
1kg of that material by one degree • Composite materials ?
Kelvin (1 degree Celsius)
Thermal Insulator
Material which opposes/resists the transfer of
heat between areas at different temperatures
Their atoms are spaced well apart, porous and
low density
Achieved through:
-Nature of materials -Air space
(molecular property) -Detail of construction
-Thickness
• -Surface characteristics
Thermal Transmittance, (U-Value)
Measure of the overall heat transfer by all mechanisms under particular
section of material (structure)
Example
• If the outside temperature is To = 10◦C and the inside is Ti =22◦C, thus
• T = 10 − 22 = −12K (the negative indicating a heat loss) over a 10m2 brick
wall (U = 1.5W/m2K) the heat flow rate will be
• Q = A ×U ×T
• Q = 10 ×1.5 ×(−12) = −180W
Thermal mass
• The ability of material to absorb, store and releases heat
• High thermal mass and long time lag describe material with heat
resistance
11/18/2024 Wolkite University, College of Engineering and Technology, Depart
ment of Architecture, Landscape Urbanism, Year 5, Sem. I- By Adin
Light
• Light is that part of the electromagnetic
spectrum that is perceived by our eyes.
The wavelength range is between 380 and
780 nm.
• Experience comes from vision, vision
comes from light
• Light is an extremely efficient way of
altering perception
• natural lighting results perfect Visual
Comfort and absolut colour rendering
copacity.
11/18/2024 Wolkite University, College of Engineering and Technology, Depart
ment of Architecture, Landscape Urbanism, Year 5, Sem. I- By Adin
Light has a triple effect
• Light for visual functions
– Illumination of task area in conformity
with relevant standards
– Glare-free and convenient
• Light for emotional perception
– Lighting enhancing architecture
– Creating scenes and effects
• Light creating biological effects
– Supporting people’s circadian rhythm
– Stimulating or relaxing
Energy balance in buildings
1. Reduce Heating, Cooling, And Lighting Loads
Through Climate-Responsive Design And
Conservation Practices
a)Use passive solar design; orient, size, and
specify windows to balance daylighting versus
heat loss;
11/18/2024 Wolkite University, College of Engineering and Technology, Depart
ment of Architecture, Landscape Urbanism, Year 5, Sem. I- By Adin
b)Use high-performance Building envelop
• The exterior or shell of abuilding that
repels the element
• Physical separation from condition
and un conditioned environment
• Including heat light air water and
noise
Elements..
facade ;roof , floor , wall , openings
11/18/2024 Wolkite University, College of Engineering and Technology, Depart
ment of Architecture, Landscape Urbanism, Year 5, Sem. I- By Adin
Considerations...
passive solar design
thermal insulation/ thermal mass level of
building material(wall, floor, roof window...)
natural day light and shading
Allow controllable Natural ventilation
Noise control
Material color
solar geometry ;Determining.... Heat gain,
Shading , Potential day light
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New insulation materials: thinner and able to
store energy Effective treatment of thermal bridges
• nano porous silica (junctions between walls, metallic structures,
• phase change materials aluminium frames) : this can yield up to 30%
reduction of thermal losses
wall
balls of paraffin
support
coating
Highly insulating and active glazing :
• Vacuum double glazing :
energy loss = 0,5 W/m2/°C –
wall equivalent
• Thermo chromium : variable
heat flow between 20 to 60 %
11/18/2024 Wolkite University, College of Engineering and Technology, Depart
ment of Architecture, Landscape Urbanism, Year 5, Sem. I- By Adin
2. Employ Renewable Or High-Efficiency Energy Sources
a)Renewable energy sources include solar water heating, photovoltaic (PV), wind,
biomass, and geothermal Renewable, green energy sources are largely used
Photovoltaic cells are integrated Multi-source systems
to architecture. combine different energy
They provide 15% of 1000 sources
W/m2 Co-generation (heat &
Global prices are less than electricity production)
2€/W (target 2020) increase their efficiency
Yet 1000 MW installed in Japan
Associated to seasonal storage
(ex : summer storage in earth),
thermal solar systems for
heating, cooling & hot
water cover a large part of
thermal needs
Building climatolgy
Interaction between urban climate and building = climatological
continuum
• urban climate a set of climatic condition that prevail in large metropolitan
area differ from the climatic condition of the rural.
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CON..
• The environmental condition abuilding faces differ with its
urban/regional climate
• urban local microclimate is modified by the structure of the city
forming the immediate of individual building affecting indoor comfort,
and energy use
• Every man made element had the capacity to manipulate the climate
11/18/2024 Wolkite University, College of Engineering and Technology, Depart
ment of Architecture, Landscape Urbanism, Year 5, Sem. I- By Adin
Macro and Micro Climate
• Macro: Global, Regional Scale – larger scale
• Micro: Local, Site Scale- small scale
» Modified by local factors
» Referred for the immediate application on design
» Site planning, Building design
• Local climate can be quite different from the climatic region in
which it is found
• So if buildings are to relate to their environment they must be
designed for the microclimate in which they exist.
Man-made Structure:
. Buildings, streets and parking lots
because of their number, size, mass
and color have a very significant effect
. Dark Asphalt roads
Urban Heat Island
•Is a city area that is significantly warmer than its
surrounding due to human activities.
cause of urban heat island
•reduction of landscape area
•hard and dry surface, roof side walk, road
provide less shade and moisture than natural landscape
so Temperature increase
•RH will be about 6 % less due to reduced amount of
evapotranspiration.
•Wind speed is about 25 % lower, very high local
wind speeds often occur in the urban canyons.
• Activity increasing urban heat island
• Tall buildings and narrow road heated air trapped reduce air flow
• Heated gases from vehicles factories and air conditioners
Surface temperature= Temperature at or near surface
human S/T 33.5- 36.9 0C
urban permeability
the extent to which the urban form permit/ restrict the movement of
people in different direction.
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Seminar title ....
building climatology
urban/ regional climate
Thermal mass
urban heat island
surface temperature
urban permeability
solar geometry
Thermal bridge
Natural lighting in building
Thank you
