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Aljawabra, Faisal. "Thermal comfort in outdoor urban spaces : the hot arid climate." Thesis, University of Bath, 2014. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.655719.
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The thermal environment in outdoor spaces can significantly influence users’ thermal perception and thus their use of these spaces. Improving microclimatic conditions in urban spaces will most likely encourage people to spend more time outdoors, with the potential to improve their health and wellbeing, as well as boosting social cohesion. As well as enhancing the environmental quality of cities it should also eventually improve the quality of life of its citizens. This thesis is one of the first attempts to investigate the outdoor thermal comfort and the effect of cultural differences in hot arid climates. Case studies were carefully selected in two different parts of the world (Marrakech in North Africa and Phoenix-Arizona in North America) to represent a variety of users in similar climatic context. Field surveys, carried out during winter and summer, included: structured interviews with a standard questionnaire; observations of the human activities; and microclimatic monitoring. The results revealed that the solely physiological approach is insufficient to assess the outdoor thermal comfort conditions in hot arid climates. Environmental variables such as air temperature and solar radiation, could have a great impact on the use of the outdoor spaces in the hot arid climate, and may determine the number of people and activities in them. The study also shows that participants who usually spend more time outdoors due to their life style, “outdoors individuals”, tend to stay longer in the studied sites compared with the “indoors individuals” who spend more time indoors. This is probably because the “outdoor individuals” have better experience of the outdoor conditions and respective thermal conditions. Experience has a strong link with expectations so that according to their past experience, people prepare themselves for the expected weather by taking adaptive measures. People from different cultures in the hot arid climate are likely to evaluate their thermal conditions differently, have diverse thermal comfort requirements, and use urban public spaces differently as well. Further work needs to be done to cover more geographical areas within the hot arid climate. Such an expansion may generalise the findings of this study or explain any particularity associated with the sites of the current study. More research is also needed to investigate he thermal requirements and use of outdoor spaces by different social groups by using robust classification methods. Emphasis should be on investigating the influence of thermal comfort on the use of outdoor public spaces by young and older people, and how that may affect their health and will being in such climates.
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Mahyari, Ali. "The wind catcher : a passive cooling device for hot arid climate." Phd thesis, Department of Architectural and Design Science, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/6425.
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Ramadan, Mohamad Fahmy A. "Interactive urban form design of local climate scale in hot semi-arid zone." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2011. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/15120/.
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Elnabawy, Mahgoub Mohamed Hussein Kamel Mohamed. "Assessment of thermal and visual micro-climate of a traditional commercial street in a hot arid climate." Thesis, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10443/3194.
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In the hot arid contexts, the impact of urban climate is often associated with negative effects on outdoor thermal comfort and an increase in the urban heat island (UHI) effect. The primary aim of this research is to investigate the outdoor thermal performance of traditional commercial urban streets located in the hot arid context of Cairo in Egypt. A number of methods were used including field measurements and social surveys. Consequently, urban air flows, temperature and daylight simulations to assess existing and possible improvement scenarios to extend pedestrian thermal and visual comfort were tested. The field measurements were conducted in order to first assess the UHI intensity in the urban street, and to investigate the effectiveness of the traditional design solutions in ensuring comfortable outdoor conditions based on human-biometeorological assessment methods. Validation of results was carried out by comparing measured and simulated results of thermal conditions in the commercial spine ENVI-met is a three dimensional microclimatic model based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models and is designed to simulate surface-air interactions in urban environments. It was used to calculate the mean radiant temperature and obtaining the microclimatic maps with problematic areas concerning the pedestrian's thermal comfort for the existing urban configurations. Outdoor thermal comfort was assessed based on a thermal sensation survey and the physiological equivalent temperature (PET), with a comfort range of (24oC - 32oC). To improve outdoor thermal conditions at pedestrian level seven different shading scenarios addressing the form and the opening of shading devices were simulated using CFD Fluent, based on two dependant variables including air temperature distribution and wind velocity. The daylight analysis software (DIVA) was used to evaluate the solar access for the tested cases. The findings show that typology and the opening locations are one of the paramount factors in providing a temperature reduction in the urban scale. As the air temperature was reduced by (2.3oC) for the best case compared to the base leading to a lower PET for the best case recording 32.9oC against 35oC for the base case.
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Bakir, N. M. W. "Environmental house planning in hot arid countries." Thesis, Cardiff University, 1987. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.376562.
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AL-JABER, KHALED J. "COURTYARD HOUSES: URBAN DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION IN HOT/HUMID AND HOT/ARID CLIMATES." The University of Arizona, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/555269.
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GLAIIM, MURTADHA KAREEM. "OPTIMAL BEE HIVE DESIGN FOR HOT ARID CLIMATES (THERMOREGULATION)." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/188049.
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Effect of shading, ventilation, and a combination of these for cooling honey bee, Apis mellifera L., hives during summer months were studied under field conditions at Tucson, Arizona. Mean brood nest temperatures during day hours, 0800 to 2000 hrs., were significantly lower in shaded and ventilated colonies than those of all other treatments. Neither shading alone nor ventilation alone had a significant effect on brood nest temperatures compared with control treatment. Nectar and pollen carrier proportions were significantly larger in shaded colonies than those of unshaded colonies at 1400 hrs. Ventilation had insignificant effect on nectar carrier proportions in both locations, whereas it significantly decreased and increased pollen carrier proportions in shaded and unshaded colonies, respectively. Mean volumes of nectar, however, were not significantly different from each other in all treatments. Proportions of water carriers and water volumes were significantly smaller in shaded colonies without significant difference between means of ventilation and no ventilation than those of unshaded colonies with ventilation had significantly smaller means. All treatments were not significantly different from each other regarding mean numbers of departing bees at 0900, 1100, and 1400 hrs and mean sealed brook areas. Mean colony weight of control colonies differed insignificantly from those of all other treatments. In another study, empty bee hives made of pine wood, perlite concrete, and sun-dried adobe and subjected to different combinations of shading and painting were tested to determine the effect of these materials thermal properties in cooling and heating the hives during summer and winter, respectively. The walls of the wooden hive were 1.9 cm-thick while those of the other two hives were 5.0 cm-thick. Under all treatment conditions, the areas under the curves for inside air temperatures of the wooden hive were larger than those of the other two hives for a 10-hour period, from 0700 to 1700 hrs. The calculated "temperature areas" for the other two hives were very close to each other. Shading was more effective than white paint in reducing hive temperatures in summer. Hives painted black during winter had remarkably higher temperatures than white-painted hives.
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Chatterjee, Arunima. "Glass Dominated Institutional Buildings in Hot & Arid Climates." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/190627.
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While the concept of global design has liberated the aesthetic genus of contemporary institutional architecture, it has brought with it a far greater set of problems in energy consumption. In order to build ‘intelligent’ buildings to counter these problems, we often design the problems and then engage into an expensive endeavour of finding possible solutions. This research aims to focus on the recent trends of building institutional geometries for the hot and dry climatic regions and analyse the case study of the east expansion of the College of Architecture in the University of Arizona, located in Tucson. The advent of mechanical cooling has encouraged the practice of building for any place disregarding the regional or climatalogical context. The ‘glass box’ is a common design solution for a day lit, aesthetically appealing post international style approach to commercial architecture. It is the view of the author that buildings born of such ideology has little empathy towards the macro and micro climate considerations. Using the case study of the new architectural expansion building is an attempt to analyze a glass dominated prototype in the desert. The research focuses on the integrity of such designs in terms of energy consumptions, thermal efficiency and comfort. Energy modelling of parametric retrofits suitable to the climate is conducted to study changes incurred from the building’s original state. The objective of this research is to investigate possibilities of globalised architectural solutions but still hold roots to climatological responses. Reference examples of similar structures built in the desert have been observed during the course of the research to benefit the parametric runs. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. LEED 2.2 Energy and Atmosphere credit runs has been a part of the project goal to gain a perspective from the USGBC LEED certification criteria to determine what can be achieved for optimal energy efficiency in this particular constitution. In particular, the study illustrates the functioning of the case study building in terms of energy consumption for space cooling. eQuest runs when compared to the utility data of similar sized buildings on campus shows an astonishing increase in the chilled water usage. Similarly, the per-square foot usage electricity for space cooling was found to be remarkably higher than the old architecture building. Energy usage pattern reflects a moderate decrease with optimization strategies on the building envelope. The results clearly show a great improvement in the building energy performance for space cooling with glazing changes and shading strategies.
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Young, Soo Kim. "Study of Thermal Comfort Determinants in the Urban Street Design in Hot and Arid Climate." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/190235.
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Preliminary bioclimatic design principles that are related to thermal comfort level of the urban street environment in hot and arid climate region were searched in this research. As methods of investigation included: literature reviews, empirical studies and case studies. In hot and arid climate region, most of physically unpleasant conditions in the street environment are found during summer time. However, street design standards and typologies on the basis of mere dichotomy of access and movement don’t refl ect diversity of existing streets and their bioclimatic requirements to provide physical comfort within them. Thermal comfort was used as a criterion to evaluate the physical condition of the street environment in the research and determinants of thermal comfort inthe street environment were researched. The preliminary literaturereviews conclude that the refl ectivity and the emissivity of materials are two main determinants of thermal performance. Field research were conducted for the numerical comparison of the ambient and the surface temperature by surrounding materials in the street environment. Paseo del Prado in Madrid Spain and Univeristy boulevard in Tucson, Arizona, United States are the measured streets. It is found that there is clear diff erence in the ambient temperature by surrounding material. Simultaneously, critical role of shades was revealed to decrease both ambient and surface temperature in the street environment. The ambient temperature measured in the shade maintained 20.0 F lower than nonshaded environments. Further investigations on urban climatology show crucial relationship of the street geometry, e.g. street orientation and building height to street width ratio (H/W) with thermal comfort in the street environment. Street case studies provide supplementary solutions for the street design such as vegetations and shading devices. Material uses, geometry, vegetation and shading devices are organized as a preliminary design recommendations in conclusion.
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Imbarek, Mohamed Omran. "Premature surface cracking of bituminous pavements in hot arid climates." Thesis, University of Bristol, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.361098.
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Aboul, Naga Mohsen M. "Natural ventilation and cooling by evaporation in hot-arid climates." Thesis, University of Leeds, 1990. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/4043/.
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In hot climates, outside air is too hot during the day. In hot arid climates, low humidity increases discomfort. For comfort, hot air should be cooled before flowing into dwellings and moisture in the moving air increased. For the poor, comfort must be sought cheaply. In places without electricity only 'natural' ventilation is feasible. The air temperature difference between the sunny and the shaded side of a building can be exploited to promote ventilation. Ventilation cooling can be enhanced with an 'evaporative cooling cavity' attached to a dwelling on its shaded side. The cavity has a top external inlet and a bottom internal outlet, and incorporates one or two wet partitions. The air within the cavity, being moist. descends. drawing the outside warm and dry air into the cavity. Evaporation cools the air and raises its humidity. The cool incoming air will reduce inside air temperature and improve comfort. The performance of a typical cavity to induce cooling ventilation by evaporation was investigated theoretically and experimentally with a full scale model. The temperature drop. velocity and relative humidity of the air were measured. The pattern of the air flow in the cavity was observed. The optimum dimensions of the cavity were established. Buoyancy air flow and fan-assisted air flow were analysed in the steady state. Since a convective heat transfer coefficient for air flowing between two parallel vertical surfaces was not found in the literature, appropriate convective heat and surface mass transfer coefficients were derived from measurements. The results show the convective heat transfer coefficient to be independent of the separation of the wet surfaces, and that with separation greater than 3Omm, each wet surface behaves as a 'free' surface. The optimum separation between wet surfaces was assessed, and the water removed by evaporation was determined, and found to be small. The Admittance Method was used to assess comfort. Ventilation and evaporation effectiveness were evaluated. An outlet air velocity of O.3m/s accompanied with a temperature drop of about 6K was achieved. Design proposals for hot arid climates are offered.
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Deshpande, Amruta. "Investigation of Energy Efficiency of Multifamily Housing Development in Hot and Arid Climate of Tucson, Arizona." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/190626.
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A building is not just a shell but a complex system, a controlled environment which is affected by climatic factors such as temperature, heat, light, air movement, humidity etc. And how you deal with all these factors affects the energy consumption, durability and comfort within. The first step towards energy efficient building design lies in climate design. Building designs sensitive to climate around them perform well with regards to energy. The natural elements such as sunlight, solar heat, wind etc when interact with the building in a desired way reduce the use of other forms of energy for creating the desired thermal comfort levels within the building. This study aims to investigate all the factors which usually affect the energy efficiency of a multi-family residential scheme such as the climate, geometry, orientation, proximity of structures to each other, their shading qualities, planning of internal spaces etc with regards to the climate it is being built in. The project will particularly focus on design and development of 12 residential units as a part of a multi-family residential development in hot and arid climatic zone and devise strategies to optimize their energy efficiency. The investigation will be furthered by use of computer simulation software to optimize the thermal performance of the cluster as a whole and the comparative results will be later verified to draw out conclusions regarding the effectiveness of these strategies.
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Mostafa, Amira M. "Low energy cooling in multi-storey buildings for hot, arid climates." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/76013.
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Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1989.<br>Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-125).<br>This thesis discusses passive and low energy cooling strategies and systems in hot arid climates. The choice of a certain strategy, as well as determining the appropriate cooling schemes for such a context becomes of prime importance in developing the optimum energy conscious building design. The motivation for working in this area of research stems for the need facing architects to start developing a serious sense for energy considerations in their architectural design, especially in existing and multi-storey buildings. Here, in this research, the different factors that govern the control of heat gain through the envelope of the building will be analyzed. Also, solutions to minimize the cooling load for dwellings will be suggested/provided; by means of selecting the adequate cooling systems (evaporative, convective, and radiative) that promote the optimum desired thermal comfort. This research concludes its technical analysis with an architectural design for two schemes; The first is a cooling system that can be applied to new buildings, or retrofitted to existing ones. It uses evaporative coolers and solar chimney systems at daytime. It also uses night-time forced ventilation to cool the ordinary slab. The second can be applied in new buildings. It uses evaporative coolers and solar chimney systems at day-time. It also uses night-time forced ventilation through cored slabs. This design, and these schemes, are perceived as a starting point for further development and more research.<br>by Amira M. Mostafa.<br>M.S.
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Khalfan, May. "An assessment of the Passivhaus standard for a hot and arid climate : a case study in Qatar." Thesis, University of Liverpool, 2017. http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3007752/.
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Residential and commercial buildings have been identified as major contributors to global energy consumption. This has resulted in integrating energy efficiency measures into most, if not all, new builds in developed countries. Additionally, with the alarming warnings of climate change, buildings are expected to consume even more energy in the future to sustain living standards. In future, buildings need to be designed to achieve energy savings and integrate diverse energy sources. This can be achieved by constructing low energy or zero energy buildings. The German Passivhaus standard has gained ground in this area, with Passivhaus buildings spreading widely worldwide. The Passivhaus's reputation and success have reached the coasts of the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf), persuading a green building council and a real estate developer to examine the feasibility of the standard in the hot and arid climate of Qatar. The experimental project, completed in 2013, was composed of a Passivhaus building and a conventional building. This thesis investigates the feasibility of the standard in the context of Qatar by comparing the performance of the two buildings in terms of (1) energy savings, (2) thermal comfort and (3) the thermal envelope performance, using dynamic thermal simulations and real-time monitored data. The assessment process was carried out for the present time and for future climate scenarios. The lack of energy efficiency measures in the residential sector in Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, in general, was the main motivator of this research. In conducting the research, the challenges of building to the Passivhaus standard in Qatar, based on the specific Qatari experience and a review of the relevant literature, were considered. The findings highlighted the potential of building to the Passivhaus standard. The Qatari Passivhaus building required half the total energy to operate and almost one-third of the energy required to cool the conventional building, and this was evident for both the current and the future scenarios. The highly insulated envelope was responsible for maintaining a consistent indoor temperature and even contributed to achieving temperatures lower than the extreme outdoor dry bulb temperature whilst active cooling was deactivated. The research concludes with a number of key features that could possibly be applicable in the context of Qatar, and which highlight the possibility of a promising transition towards low energy buildings that are ready to face the region's future challenges.
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Sharag-Eldin, Adil M. K. (Adil Mustafa Kamal). "The architectural implications of passive solar cooling systems in hot-arid climates." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/79946.
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Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1988.<br>Includes bibliographical references (leaves 245-250).<br>Residential architectural design should fulfill both the comfort and the social requirements of the occupants. Khartoum, the capital of the Sudan was chosen for this study because of two reasons; The first is its unusually hot-arid climate (thus cooling interior spaces becomes a crucial design consideration). and the second is its multi-dimensional urban identity. The city is a mixture of African, Arab, and European influences and resembles at the same time an oasis in the middle of the desert. The research follows two distinct but closely related paths. The first is the study and analysis of the passive and hybrid cooling systems and strategies under which the climatic conditions of Khartoum determines the type and size of each approach. The second stage of the research will focus on the architectural implications of these systems. Both directions lead to better understanding of the built environment and its interactions with man. Two moves were taken into account, when considering the cooling potentials in this climate. First, the solar control strategies which were found to be most appropriate in Khartoum climatic conditions. These include the use of eggcrate shading devices on all openings except for southern exposures which can be shaded effectively by vertical fins to reduce the solar transmission through glazed surfaces. The study showed also that reducing the glazed area reduces the total heat gain but this affects negatively both daylighting and the freedom of design to incorporate the exterior spaces. This can be solved by using the Low-E glass which has better thermal properties in terms of reducing both solar transmission and heat conduction. The results of the study showed that using single Light-Green Low-E glass allows one and half times larger glass area with the same amount of heat gain. For the same area, the Double Low-E glass can reduce heat gain form these surfaces by a factor of two. Economically, their use is hard to justify because of their projected high prices as compared to the DS single pane clear glass. Another effective way of controlling the heat gain through buildingskin is to use thermal insulation on the walls and roof. Roof insulation which Is commonly specified in Khartoum was found to be thermally satisfactory and additional insulation will not reduce heat gain appreciably since the roof share is already reduced with basic insulation. The wall insulation strategy proved to be economically feasible and does not require skilled labor to install or to maintain since it is protected from the weather. Landscaping is another move that will improve the environmental quality through shading and evaporatively cooling the surrounding spaces and at the same time add to the visual quality of the space, but it is not cost effective. The second move was to promote heat losses through ventilation, convection, radiation, and evaporation. Because of the environmental condition of Khartoum, the first three moves are restricted to certain parts of the day or the year. Nevertheless, combination of either one with evaporative cooling increases the thermal comfort. The desert-type evaporative coolers reduce the indoor temperature and increase the relative humidity which is required in the dry periods of the year. Two-stage coolers which combines both evaporative (adiabatic) and sensible cooling concepts increases the rate of heat removal and thus reduces obtained indoor temperature. The air scoops or wind catchers are convective and evaporative cooling systems that admit high winds at high elevations to be circulated inside living spaces for ventilation. This air can be further cooled be passing the air stream over wet Clay jars or through wetted pads.<br>by Adil M.K. Sharag-Eldin.<br>M.S.
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Almazam, Khaled Ali, and Khaled Ali Almazam. "Analyzing and Designing an Off-Grid Commercial Library Building at Najran University in the Hot Arid Climate of Najran, Saudi Arabia." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/625312.
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This master's thesis analyzes and redesigns the current performance design of the Main Library in Najran University campus, Najran, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to achieve a completely energy independent and off-grid building. The research demonstrates the energy development in KSA, investigates and analyzes the project, and studies the energy systems. Climate data for Najran city was generated and analyzed in Climate Consultant 6.0. The research examines case studies from hot-arid climates that are responsive climatically. In addition, the energy generation and storage systems are calculated and specified to the building and its site; Quick Energy Simulation Tool (eQUEST) was used to analyze and simulate the energy use in the existing building. Furthermore, Revit software was utilized to develop the project design and simulate daylight intensity for indoor and outdoor spaces. Additionally, Cool Vent simulated the natural ventilation for the building for the low-energy performance case and the high-energy performance case, and direct passive evaporative cool towers were simulated in COOLT software. Appropriate building envelopes, passive cooling strategies, and native landscapes are applied to the off-grid case. Solar power generation outcomes, wind turbines output, batteries size are optimized in HOMER energy simulation software; thus, this off-grid building generates electricity more than its use, then, stores the extra energy in batteries banks. Through this research energy independency was accomplished with a reduction in total energy consumption by 64%, and human thermal comfort levels were attained in the proposed design.
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Al-Ajlan, Saleh Abdulrahman. "Thermal mass and stabilized soil blocks for achieving energy savings in hot dry arid climate of Ar-Riyadh region." Thesis, University of Reading, 1994. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.239144.
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Mirhosseiniardakani, Homeiraalsadat, and Homeiraalsadat Mirhosseiniardakani. "Socio-environmental Framework for Integration of Thermal Mass Windcatchers with Lightweight Tensile Structures in Contemporary Hot-Arid Urban Context of Tehran." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/623085.
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The integration of windcatchers in the urban context of hot-arid context of Tehran needs to address two changes in the current utilization: 1) high density context which makes it harder to access to sufficient airflow in the urban context, and 2) sociocultural shifts towards dependencies on modern mechanical air-conditioning systems. Windcatchers are unique tools existing in the hot-arid regions in the Middle East. Windcatcher uses thermal mass, evaporation techniques, and stack effect to deliver human comfort to the residents of the building. Vernacular windcatchers are useful for moderating the indoor air temperature. Yet, using natural ventilation techniques as passive strategies are outdated in recent decades and there are a couple of reasons for that such as maintenance difficulties, lack of urban air filtration methods, decline of cooling efficiency due to modified airflow patterns, habitable space utilization modifications, and dependencies on mechanical cooling systems. On the other hand, tensile structures have the potential to be considered as a tool to upgrade the windcatchers and use them in the modern urban context which will also help reducing energy and reviving local textile industry. This research tries to propose a method that emphasizes on the adaptability of windcatchers and tensile structures, inhabitant control, airflow control and reuse of heavy thermal mass. Also, the proposed model offers improvements for environmental performance of lightweight textiles, such as particulate matter filtration, kinetic energy transformation, and photoresponse for passive shading or natural daylighting strategies. The main goal of this research is to define the parameters required to enhance inhabitant adaptability with the windcatcher and also natural ventilation cooling system. In this research, important characteristics of Sangelaj neighborhood in Tehran are considered such as existing windcatcher dimensions, micro-climate conditions, and urban morphology. Then, different methods are proposed to develop the heat transfer and airflow analysis of the integration between windcatchers and tensile structures. The research suggests methods for adaptation of windcatchers in existing buildings of Tehran using tensile structures. It also proposes methods for the new buildings in the urban context of Sangelaj neighborhood in Tehran.
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Sanchez, Monica Mercedes, and Monica Mercedes Sanchez. "Kinetic Green Wall System Applications on Reducing Carbon Emissions in Hot-Arid Climates." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/626722.
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The goal of this work was to apply an operable green façade wall system in order to analyze
the benefits of vegetative surfaces in relation to hot arid urban climates. A second layer of
information was also analyzed to provide an alternative to electricity. This method was
used to actuate the operable green façade passively to enhance sustainable environmental
strategies. Carbon emissions, temperature and relative humidity were evaluated in a hot
arid climate on a kinetic green wall system physical scale model. Computer simulation
provided insight to daylight, shading and solar irradiance within a mock up building. The
results of these factors may be a useful tool to implement in building design for these
climatic zones.
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Youssef, Omar. "Development of a Human-centered Climatic Design Methodology for Transitional Spaces in Hot-arid Regions." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10792744.
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<p> The anthropogenic influences on our climate system has caused an unprecedented increase of carbon emissions amongst other greenhouse gases into our atmosphere resulting in energy imbalances and observed positive feedbacks. The American Southwest is witnessing major urban transformation as its cities are becoming centers for urban growth. Without adopting climatic design, this continued sprawl will greatly compromise the natural environment and, human health and wellbeing. Intensive urbanization has the greatest risk for increasing the carbon footprint, environmental pollution, urban heat island phenomenon, and infrastructure overextension. Increasing ground surface temperatures; the outdoor environment is observing record breaking temperature highs, while the artificial indoor set points stay the same to counter that effect.</p><p> Buildings placed in areas of excessive heat and glaring sun are in need of a comprehensive approach to address their environments. With the advancements in technology, trends have shown that architects and designers are shifting towards engineering solutions to artificially control their environments to a static state. While spaces steer away from passive designs, their operation demand high energy consumption and their occupants are deprived of a sense of nature.</p><p> Climatic design is a key ingredient to the success of an optimized environment, or to its failure. Human Health is one component that is most challenged and could be most responsive to that environment and its built parameters. The important role that these components play are greater when immersed in hot-arid regions where resources are scarce, and the built environment finds itself in a hostile environment where it struggles to survive, relying heavily on the consumption of fossil fuels.</p><p> The goal of this research is to develop a methodology in which the human physiological responses are centered in the role of design. Through examination of this phenomenon and recommendations based on the findings, developers will be informed of the importance of human-centered climatic design. Data driven to optimize both human health and the environmental footprint. Utilization of this method will not only decrease the contribution of the built environment but will also decrease the chronic exposure of humans to these high contrasts and pave the way to cautious practices optimizing health of the environment. The long-term goal is to develop indices based on human-centered climatic design to inform our design decisions and represent a flagship to a sustainable way of living. The objective of this research is to validate the dialogue between climatic design and human physiological comfort. The hypothesis is that a specific list of elements in man-made built environment trigger responses in both the atmosphere and humans. The rationale behind this methodology is based on the role of architecture as a primary instrument that could cause imbalances in both the climate and the human body.</p><p> To accomplish our objective and test our central hypothesis the authors outlined three broad environments; (climate, architecture, and human) to further investigate the relationship centered around the human body and its multisensory experience. Results of this study will allow the identification of an articulate common solution focused on transitional spaces.</p><p> The contribution of knowledge in this research is outlined in three sequential publications. The first adopts a comprehensive approach that redefines space and the elements in three environments that have an impact on it. The second leads with the previous developed relationship (from paper 1) to develop a human physiological comfort index applicable within a broader architecture foundation, and the third utilizes this index to demonstrate techniques developed in this research to measure climatic and human attributes objectively, and non-obtrusively. At the final stage these disciplines will be overlaid to create architecture unity in a sequence of variables which this document will follow. The conclusion outlines a series of concepts that represent human-centered climatic design applications.</p><p> This dissertation graphically articulates the interactive network of dialogue between humans and space to serve as a balanced approach to architectural design. The genesis of this investigation is supported by the development of a protocol that utilizes interdisciplinary research methodology that couples theoretical and empirical based discoveries to inform the fundamentals of the built environment, standards, and operations optimizing occupant health and wellbeing in extreme environments. By combining spatial design with health parameters, architects will be able to make decisions that will reduce energy consumption, decrease the impact on climate change; ultimately protect the natural world and optimally support future life. The actions taken in response to this study will not only decrease the direct impact of large temperature differences that trigger human stress responses, but will also reduce the emission of anthropogenic greenhouse gases.</p><p>
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Alsalih, Hussein Ali Naser, and Hussein Ali Naser Alsalih. "Methodology for Daylight Optimization towards Net Zero Buildings in Hot Arid Climate Case Studies the Visitor Center at the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monuments, Ajo, Arizona." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/626727.
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World energy consumption attends to increase in all sectors, which leads to more CO2 emissions and air pollution. In 2016, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that world energy consumption will increase up to 48% by 2040. The building sector is the largest consumer of the energy. Consequently, the global needs a universal proposal to mitigate and reduce the impacts on the environment and the natural resources. The energy consumption is accumulative of different aspects, such as buildings, transportation, industrial and other sectors. The building sector is the largest consumer of the energy.
The energy consumption in the building is accumulative of different aspects of the annual usage, such as cooling, heating, lighting, and others. For instance, lighting consumes up to 22 % in the commercial buildings and 14% in the residential buildings in the hot-arid climate (Arizona). Therefore, this study focuses on proposing a method of daylight optimization that leads to Net-zero energy buildings in the hot-arid climate. Achieving Net Zero buildings needs high efficient buildings at the first step to make the task more affordable. By exploring and applying the daylight optimization strategies, energy consumption will be reduced in the way that cut down the CO2 emissions and the air pollution. These strategies attempt to turn off the artificial lighting during the useful daylight illuminance and provides a comfortable level for the occupancies. The Daylight passive technique usually categories under three main topics, which are the Sidelighting, Toplighting, and Corelighting. Furthermore, the daylight performance is assessed through different methods, such as daylight factor, daylight autonomy, glare index and the useful daylight illuminance. The method in this study is proposing passive daylight strategies and, testing how the new strategy would contribute to achieving the net-zero status, and validate the results (physical and digital experiments have been conducted to achieve the optimum proposal) to maintain the daylight through the building envelope (shading device, and fenestrations orientation sizes and materials).
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Salman, Nagham. "Towards optimal design strategies in hot-arid climate : a comparative study of environmental and socio-cultural performance of the traditional and modern housing in Baghdad, Iraq." Thesis, Cardiff University, 2017. http://orca.cf.ac.uk/104555/.
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The main aim of the research is to identify and evaluate the environmental and socio-cultural performance of traditional and modern houses in Iraq in order to establish optimal design strategies that enable occupant comfort in a context of reduced energy use and socio-cultural responsiveness. Through literature review and primary investigation this research has identified and evaluated important factors relating to traditional and modern houses in Baghdad. These are socio-cultural, economic, neighbourhood, architectural, services and environmental factors and the research has compared these characteristics in existing traditional and modern houses. The study has included a physical survey of fourteen case study houses in Baghdad, seven traditional and seven modern, to establish their current architectural characteristics, as well as occupant observation and a questionnaire survey of the occupants of these houses in order to establish their perspective on the socio-cultural and environmental responsiveness of their current houses. Further, occupants’ comfort diaries were analysed and thermal monitoring undertaken of two selected traditional houses and two selected modern houses during representative summer and winter periods. The thesis presents analysis of these findings together with analytical comparison of the thermal performance of the two traditional houses and of all four monitored houses for the summer and winter in order to establish the current occupant comfort, satisfaction and thermal performance of these houses. Finally, the research has sought to combine the findings of these investigations to inform a set of design considerations responding to the socio-cultural, economic, neighbourhood, architectural, services and environmental factors found to be relevant in the current context. These proposals respond to the negative performance found in both traditional and modern houses, as well as draw on positive performance identified in each, in order to propose future design strategies that are intended to inform a modern vernacular style for housing in Baghdad.
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Mousa, Wael Ahmad Yousuf [Verfasser], Werner [Akademischer Betreuer] [Gutachter] Lang, and Thomas [Gutachter] Auer. "Potential of vernacular architecture for an integrated model for passive design in hot-arid climate / Wael Ahmad Yousuf Mousa ; Gutachter: Thomas Auer, Werner Lang ; Betreuer: Werner Lang." München : Universitätsbibliothek der TU München, 2016. http://d-nb.info/1137624574/34.
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Grimm-Seyfarth, Annegret [Verfasser], Florian [Akademischer Betreuer] Jeltsch, and Klaus [Akademischer Betreuer] Henle. "Effects of climate change on a reptile community in arid Australia : exploring mechanisms and processes in a hot, dry, and mysterious ecosystem / Annegret Grimm-Seyfarth ; Florian Jeltsch, Klaus Henle." Potsdam : Universität Potsdam, 2017. http://d-nb.info/1218403748/34.
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Bothma, Johan. "Landscape and architectural devices for energy-efficient South African suburban residential design." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/22852.
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The study relates international knowledge of climatically responsive and energy-efficient design to work done in South Africa. It also explores the relevance of design devices from international regions to the climates of this country. The research approach explores existing analyses of the main climate regions and the effects of climate factors on human comfort in each, in order to derive appropriate design solutions for the climate of South Africa. In South Africa obstacles exist in the face of energy efficiency. The cheapness of electricity to the consumer and the virtual non-existence of appropriate legislation appear to be two of the most significant obstacles. Design and subsequent construction of suburban residences is carried out with little regard for climatic context. Water is shown to be a particularly scarce and unevenly distributed commodity, which the affluent have greater access to and consume in greater quantities. However, it is demonstrated that the South African climate is virtually ideal for several climate-responsive energy-efficiency techniques. Especially due to the high solar radiation levels there is potential for various active and passive solar design techniques and technologies. The impact of atmospheric temperature and humidity, wind, radiation and precipitation on human comfort is investigated. Humidity and wind are demonstrated to be very influential on human comfort, whereas radiation and wind are the most easily manipulated through design. Furthermore, the specific topography and location of a site can influence the microclimate and solar access of an area to a significant degree. The South African climate is predominantly either hot semi-arid or temperate. Most of the western interior is hot arid whereas the eastern interior and highveld is predominantly temperate, with temperatures increasing to the north and decreasing to the south. The only cool region of the country is found in the highlands of the Drakensberg, with a significant portion of the eastern coast being hot humid. Methodologies and guidelines for both layout, or macro design, and detailed design of residential suburbs are explored. The manipulation of solar radiation, sunlight and wind, as well as the management of rainwater and used household water is explored. It is shown that designing suburbs to create access to solar radiation forms the basis of solar design, with solar access control, material and surface treatment largely determining the success of individual designs. Wind manipulation is achieved mainly through planting design, influencing mostly heat loss and gain ratios into buildings. Effective household water management can substantially reduce its consumption. Further research is needed in all aspects of climate-responsive design, especially classification of the South African climate and development of design techniques adapted to this context.<br>Dissertation (M (Landscape Architecture))--University of Pretoria, 2006.<br>Architecture<br>unrestricted
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Al-Temeemi, Abdul-Salam Ali. "The suitability of earth-sheltered mass-housing in the hot-arid climates of the Middle East with emphasis on the State of Kuwait." Thesis, Heriot-Watt University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10399/413.
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SEDKI, YASSIN Ali. "IMPROVING INDOOR THERMAL COMFORT IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN HOT-ARID CLIMATES THROUGH THE COMBINATION OF NATURAL VENTILATION AND INSULATION RETROFITTING TECHNIQUES - Case study: Existing social housing stocks in Greater Cairo." Doctoral thesis, Università degli studi di Ferrara, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11392/2389392.
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Achieving thermal comfort in buildings has currently become an urgent need, because
of excessive demand in energy consumption across the length and breadth of the
world. Accordingly, academics, policy-makers, regulators and governments are striving
to find solutions that can be applied to achieve thermal comfort in buildings without
excessive consumption of energy. Corollary to this, thermal comfort and energy
efficiency in buildings are two faces on the same coin.
Egypt is characterised by haphazard utilisation of prototypical design in public
housing projects. The haphazard utilisation of prototypical strategy is in stark contrast
with the conventional strategy, which takes into account the various climatic design
issues in carrying out social housing projects. Previous studies indicated that the
thermal behaviour of same building stock varies across Egypt due to different climatic
regions. This evidence overtly illuminates that in order to ensure thermal comfort in
residential buildings in Egypt, a combined strategy that takes into consideration the
prevailing climatic condition is imperative. It is therefore, against this backdrop that
this study examined how the combination of natural ventilation behavioural strategies
and insulation retrofitting technique influences indoor thermal comfort without using
any mechanical cooling or heating systems.
In order to accomplish the research aim, the problem of thermal comfort in the
prototype design social housing building stocks within the hot arid climate of Egypt
was identified. Further, the Integrated Environmental Solution – Virtual Environment
(IESVE) was adopted to predict the building thermal behaviour whilst applying
natural ventilation behavioural strategies on the one hand and its combination with
insulation retrofitting technique on the other hand. Predictions were comparatively
analyzed to identify the optimum strategy during each month of the year. Cross
analyses were carried out to ascertain either this strategy highlights the differences
among building orientations or otherwise. In addition, a comparison between typical
and upper floor was conducted to highlight their differences.
By applying natural ventilation behavioural strategies, scenarios of natural ventilation
were categorized into three; the base case scenario, the actual behavioral scenarios and
the hypothetical suggested scenarios. The results illuminated that, In terms of the
summer season, the hypothetical suggested scenario of cross night purge ventilation
revealed a considerable improvement in indoor thermal comfort. Moreover, whilst
natural ventilation scenarios had a modest improvement in thermal comfort in springautumn
period, it had a negative effect in winter season.
In regards to the combination strategy, simulation results revealed that whilst this
strategy played a major role in increasing indoor thermal comfort and reducing
cooling demand in summer period, it had very slight impact on enhancing indoor
comfort and reducing heating demand (in winter) and heating or cooling demand (in
spring-autumn periods). However, by comparing the combined strategy with natural
ventilation only, it was deduced that the insulation technique had relatively small
impact on thermal comfort enhancement in all periods of the year.
Improving indoor thermal comfort in residential buildings in hot‐arid climates through the combination of natural ventilation and insulation retrofitting techniques
II
The study further assessed the effect of orientation on indoor thermal comfort via the
utilisation of natural ventilation only as well as the combined strategy in winter,
summer and spring-autumn periods. The observable fact illuminated that the
orientation has no significant effect on indoor thermal comfort in winter, summer and
spring-autumn seasons. Finally, the comparison between typical and upper floor
confirmed that the difference between them is negligible in terms of thermal comfort.
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Yakubu, Gbadamosi Salami. "Modulated solar shielding of buildings : a study of a solar radiation control strategy for low energy buildings in hot dry and semi-arid climates." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 1990. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/6058/.
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This study investigated the use of modulated solar shielding in the context of solar radiation control in hot-dry and semi-arid climates. Solar shielding refers to the solar protection of the entire or large parts of the building's external fabric and not just those elements which directly transmit solar radiation. The study was undertaken with particular reference to the hot semi-arid climate of northern Nigeria. A conceptual and climatic analysis provided a contextual background for the work. A study of the use of shading devices indicated that their strength in some climates may be their weakness in others, especially the hot dry and semi and climates. A multiplicity of inherent climatic and environmental elements were not fully addressed by formal shading techniques. The concept of solar shielding was conceived from the interplay of the climatic and environmental factors of hot dry and semi-axid lands. Lack of measured solar radiation data in the reference climate necessitated the development of an interactive computer program to generate this and other relevant design data. A literature review provided a theoretical foundation un- derpining a series of full scale field measurements, scale model experimentation and thermal simulation studies. Fill scale measurements in a building were instructive on a possible impact of solar shielding on indoor thermal conditions. Model scale wind tunnel tests on the reference building and studies on full size louvres, using a pressurisation test facility, culminated in the development of airflow models through louvres. Finally, parametric thermal modelling studies enabled not only the optimisation of the technique but also a comparison with formal shading methods. Measured and simulated data portrayed not only a significant agreement but also indicated that solar shielding could have a higher solar protection efficiency than shading devices.
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Alqalami, T. A. "The application of visualisation tools to enable architects to explore the dynamic characteristics of smart materials in a contemporary shanashil building design element for hot arid climates." Thesis, University of Salford, 2017. http://usir.salford.ac.uk/44452/.
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Contemporary architecture has changed the features of building façades and this affects the design identity, forms and aesthetics, yet despite the advantages of modern technology, architectural elements have difficulties in fulfilling the idea of beauty that once traditional elements provided. This problem calls for an interdisciplinary design approach to deliver sustainable development solutions to protect and control against the surrounding environment, especially in hot arid climates. This research seeks to select a smart material which mimics the dynamic characteristics observed in nature, inspired from biomimetics, taking into consideration the role of sustainable development. Such qualities are found in the characteristics of smart dynamic glazing material particularly in the switchable, reversible properties of transparency and colouration efficiency. With this in mind, can a traditional window/wall/balcony design element be revived through the integration of new smart materials? This study adopts a design science methodology incorporating methods of biomimetics, analogy, and 21 semi structured interviews with a thematic analysis as the main data analysis technique. The emergent findings are then evaluated by conducting further interviews with 6 architects, where the material characteristics are attached to a digital prototype to visualise the difference between dynamic and static properties. Lumion 3D, Smart glazing VR, and Revit plugin visualization tools were used to develop a 3D digital prototype that expressed the difference between a traditional window/wall/balcony element and smart dynamic glazing element. These tools were needed not just to engage the interviewees to be part of the design process, but also to provide a clear illustration of the dynamic material characteristics and its impact on the architectural façade to improve design quality. Whilst they favoured the smart material in improving environmental control it was not favoured in its aesthetic aspects due to the transparency role and the abstraction of screen pattern details. Accordingly, the fixed image of traditional shanashil still imposes difficulties in understanding the dynamic characteristics, both aesthetically and functionally. This research concludes that the dynamic characteristics of smart glazing material are effective in delivering a multifunctional design quality. However, they still lack the potential to illustrate aesthetic aspects regarding colour, texture, order and proportion. Future research is needed to improve dynamic material characteristics in order to collectively blend in harmony with the surroundings.
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Macauley, Nadine. "Impact of Carbon Sinks on Urban Heat Island Effects : Assessment Using Satellite Data in Water Scarce Region of the Thesis." Thesis, Högskolan i Gävle, Avdelningen för byggnadsteknik, energisystem och miljövetenskap, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-33414.
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Urbanization modifies the thermal characteristics of the land and makes way for a succession of transformations in the urban environmental system. This phenomenon, known as Urban Heat Island (UHI), is characterized by elevated temperatures in urban areas that negatively impact on the quality of life and environment in urban areas including, increased emissions of Green House Gases (GHGs) and rising energy consumption. These impacts add to global climate change and thus, mitigating UHI is essential to mitigating global climate change. One GHG, Carbon Dioxide (CO2), accounts for about half of the Earth’s anthropogenic GHG emissions. Terrestrial ecosystems can act as Carbon sinks (C sinks), i.e. natural vegetation reservoirs that absorb more C than they release. Thus, C sinks play an essential and critical function in lowering CO2. Furthermore, providing appropriate C sinks at both the building and urban scales can decrease UHI and contribute to reduction in energy consumption. This study used Landsat 8 imagery of the site, Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar, to investigate the effects of surface UHI by computing the Land Surface Temperature (LST) difference of the site---pre- and post-construction, as well as examine the correlation between natural vegetation abundance and temperature in ten locations within the site’s vicinity. Results show that minimum, maximum and mean LST of the case study area (2014 vs. 2020) decreased 2.80 oC, 5.5 oC and 2.3 oC, respectively, as well as a decreasing trend in the LST as a function of increasing C Sinks. These results demonstrate the importance of introducing C sinks to lower LST and mitigate UHI. Mitigating UHI also has a direct effect on Energy Consumption Balance (ECB). This equilibrium is achieved not only through the introduction of C sinks, but balancing C sinks with high albedo materials and natural ventilation. Thus, this study also investigated the site’s various design aspects (e.g. cooling technology, structure and surface albedo materials, landscaping) and found that Al Bayt Stadium’s design successfully incorporates strategies to reduce energy consumption at both the urban (macro) and building (micro) scales.
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ElSoudani, Moamen [Verfasser], Claus [Akademischer Betreuer] Steffan, Klaus [Akademischer Betreuer] Zillich, Claus [Gutachter] Steffan, Patrick [Gutachter] Jochum, and Klaus [Gutachter] Zillich. "Cooling techniques for building-greenhouse interconnections in hot-arid climates : the case of Red Sea, Egypt / Moamen ElSoudani ; Gutachter: Claus Steffan, Patrick Jochum, Klaus Zillich ; Claus Steffan, Klaus Zillich." Berlin : Technische Universität Berlin, 2016. http://d-nb.info/1156181682/34.
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Mohamed, Tamer Awny Abd Elkader [Verfasser], and José Luis [Akademischer Betreuer] Moro. "Simultaneous optimization of office building facades in terms of both energy consumption and transparency in hot arid climates, analysed on the example of Cairo / Tamer Awny Abd Elkader Mohamed ; Betreuer: José Luis Moro." Stuttgart : Universitätsbibliothek der Universität Stuttgart, 2017. http://d-nb.info/1147759510/34.
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Braun, Jeffery Kenneth. "Cold Arid Climate, Efficient Building Design." The University of Arizona, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/552683.
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Sustainable Built Environments Senior Capstone<br>This paper will look at the current information concerning sustainable strategies. It will look at the ones that have been used in the past as well as the strategies that are currently being used. After studying the existing material on sustainable practices and strategies the next step will be looking at three primary sources and determining strategies that will be most useful. The first source that will be used is a professional working in the field. Secondly buildings that are located in a cold arid climate will be studied and finally a program called climate consultant. The recommendations from all three sources will be compiled in a list, organized by how many sources recommended each strategy. The strategies that have the most recommendations will be implemented into a residential single family building design for cold arid climates.
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Cermak, Otto Wayne 1935. "Aesthetic design using arid climate plants." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/191984.
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A series of 35mm color slides depicting landscape compositions incorporating arid climate plants was evaluated by a panel of experts to determine a correlation between the strength of four design principles (line, form, texture, and color) and the visual preference of the general public for these compositions. The results indicate that there is a positive correlation between preference and the strength of the design principles. It is felt that the results of this study support the idea that the four design principles do in fact influence preference in plantings that do well in arid climate environment.
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Haverland, Arin C. "Considering Climate Change Through Global Water Initiatives." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/579107.
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Hundreds of international water institutions have been established over the last three decades in an attempt to address global water issues. Despite great efforts by these and other institutions, a significant percentage of the world's population still lacks access to clean water and sanitation facilities. Although billions of dollars have been spent on development, infrastructure and public health endeavors meant to tackle such issues, little research has been done to examine how these often influential organizations known as global water initiatives (GWIs) are addressing such urgent issues in the face of a rapidly changing climate. As water is central to the hydrological cycle, and affected by changes in climate, examining the role of GWIs in the use and translation of climate-change science may lead to better understanding of the mechanisms through which such organizations are linking climate change to their work in water management and governance. By examining 170 GWIs through two distinct phases of methodology, it was found that GWIs are addressing climate change issues through their work with water. Evidence presented in this research supports the claim that GWIs have adopted climate change as part of their overall operational frameworks and that their missions may be supported and ultimately achieved through the addition of climate-change science. While GWIs are shown to use climate-change science in setting objectives, and in decision making, it was also found that issues of cost, access, and utility remain as significant barriers. Findings presented in this study also suggest that intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, alongside professional societies dedicated to trades and disciplines related to water, are among the most important categories of GWIs, and as such, operate within a series of complex networks. This research also revealed that activities and outputs of GWIs enhance water management and governance, contribute to the world's knowledge base on water, and highlight the need to acknowledge GWIs as an important and prominent aspect of the global water dialogue.
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Warke, Patricia A. "Inheritance effects in the weathering of debris under hot arid conditions." Thesis, Queen's University Belfast, 1994. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.296826.
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Elnokaly, Amira Medhat H. "Airway behaviour around tensile fabric membrane skins in hot arid regions." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.416392.
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Popp, Alexander. "An integrated modelling approach for sustainable management of semi-arid and arid rangelands." Phd thesis, kostenfrei, 2007. http://opus.kobv.de/ubp/volltexte/2007/1510/.
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Murad, Khan Hayder Mirza Majeed. "Modelling and thermal optimization of traditional housing in a hot arid area." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2015. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/modelling-and-thermal-optimization-of-traditional-housing-in-a-hot-arid-area(b02bccf8-8902-42ec-868f-a0d78fdaae07).html.
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This thesis studies the use of night ventilation as a passive cooling strategy for a traditional courtyard house in a hot dry climate. This was done by CFD simulation of the house and its surroundings, using weather data for Baghdad. The simulation was done for a large number of scenarios in which each represented a change in one of the house elements, such as courtyard and room dimensions, and in some cases included modern technologies such as a ceiling fan. The thesis suggests that performance should be calculated with the aid of a "Night Time Effectiveness Ratio" (NTER) and time constants. The findings show that building elements can change the performance to various degrees, that the airflow patterns inside the rooms change from day to night, and that the thermal conditions during the day depend more on the intensity of solar radiation than other factors. The results show that a courtyard house can ensure the thermal comfort for its residents. However, it needs some assistance from new techniques such as fans to keep the air quality inside the house within acceptable limits. The values for NTER from initial simulations are around ten, which indicate that night ventilation is not enough for cooling the building. However, the values drop to less than one by using a small and narrow courtyard with a two-level house and a gallery around the courtyard. Also, it is necessary to have a connection between the courtyard and alleyway at ground level in the night only and to cover the courtyard during the day. The windows have the largest role in deciding the performance of night ventilation. Ideally they should be small and tall, or preferably a pair of windows separated by a vertical distance and kept closed during the day. The effects of room dimension are clearer in affecting the thermal comfort more than improving the performance of night ventilation. The research also examines the indoor air quality and suggests ways to improve it. Some of the ways are traditional like the use of a wind catcher in ventilating the courtyard and the basement, and others are more modern like using an exhaust fan. Furthermore, it suggests an algorithm to control these ways and to introduce only a limited quantity of fresh air to avoid excessive warming. Suggestions for future work are given, including tests for more elements in the courtyard house and for longer duration runs. It would also be helpful to study the use of latent heat storage (e.g. phase change material) as an additional effective thermal mass.
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Mohammed, R. "Assessment of the effect of climate change in anticipated water resources availability in arid climate zones." Thesis, University of Salford, 2017. http://usir.salford.ac.uk/44643/.
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Climate change impact and drought phenomena linked with anthropogenic pressure have become a growing concern for water resource managers and policy makers, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. This research proposes generic methodologies to evaluate the prospective impact of such changes at a basin-scale. The Lower Zab River Basin, northern Iraq, has been selected as a representative case study. These methodologies have been achieved through the following: (1) Highlight the impact of potential evapotranspiration (PET) methods, elevation, and climatic conditions on the reconnaissance drought index (RDI) results, applying three of the most widespread PET estimates, which are Thornthwaite, Hargreaves, and Blaney-Criddle in addition to the Food and Agriculture Organization Penman-Monteith reference technique, using data from 24 stations cover different elevations and climatic conditions for the period from 1979 to 2014. The initial form of RDI is directly influenced by the selected PET method at different elevations for all regions. (2) Combine the results of the flow duration curve and the digital filtering algorithms to overcome the limitations of the traditional baseflow separation methods, and then determine the baseflow annual variations. The water yielded from the basin storage system during the dry seasons resulted in dissimilarities in the observed baseflow index between the pre-damming and post-damming periods of the streamflow. (3) Quantify the hydrological alterations of various flow characteristics utilise the Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration method, in addition to multi- regression, hydrologic sensitivity, and hydrologic model simulations. Climate change was the main factor reducing streamflow. (4) Compare the results of seven ensembles General Circulation Models (GCM) with the results of delta perturbation (DP) scenarios. Both scenarios predicted almost identical decreases in the mean monthly flows to the reservoir. The DP scenarios allow the sensitivity of the impact models to climate change to be more evidently determined compared to GCM scenarios so that they could be complemented GCM scenarios.
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Bourbia, Meghezzi Fatiha. "Building cluster and shading in hot dry climate." Thesis, University of Reading, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.367700.
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Falcone, Ilaria. "Energy retrofit of residential buildings in hot climate." Doctoral thesis, Universita degli studi di Salerno, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10556/1293.
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2010 - 2011<br>The topic of the research is to analyze the energetic efficiency of residential buildings in hot climates.
The idea comes from the need to analyze the "case of hot climates" separately, as the European
directives and all the studies so far undertaken in this area, too frequently not suit well to this case.
Research begins with the evaluation of the energy performance of buildings (heating and cooling),
analyzes the potential for energy retrofit, considers energy savings, economic feasibility and comfort
improvements. With appropriate precautions and adopting new and more efficient materials and
technologies, it’s possible to significantly reduce the energy consumption of buildings, with an annual
energy saving up to 44%.
1. Problem Statement
The increasing demand for energy, resulting in cost growth and related environmental
problems, led to an increased interest in the design of energy-efficient buildings. In
Mediterranean climate, warm and rather humid, it becomes of prime importance to be
able to ensure a high indoor comfort. Buildings are built to protect people from adverse
weather conditions, and to ensure a comfortable indoor environment. To achieve these
goals a huge amount of energy is consumed in heating, ventilation, cooling or
dehumidification. Many attempts have been made in order to use low-power strategies
consumption. It is necessary however, to think of appropriate solutions in terms of shading
and insulation in order to avoid excessive use of air-conditioning systems and reduce power
consumption. To solve this problem an integrated approach is essential. This research
focuses on energy upgrading of buildings, (belonging to social housing) in Salerno and
Naples, acting on the building envelope, that is, proposing an improvement of materials
and characteristics. This paper discusses economically feasible ways and means to choose
between insulation measures, better glazing, shading systems and ventilation. Finally a
hierarchy of energy-savings measures is deduced from the results. The intention is to
demonstrate that an effective energy-retrofit can be done without necessarily going
through expensive technologies or ex-novo designs, obtaining interesting results in terms of
energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, at a cost that can be recovered in a
few years, making retrofitting possible even on ordinary buildings and therefore desirable at
a urban scale.
2. Strategies
The case of the warm climate needs to be analyzed separately, as the European
directives and studies in the field cannot be fully adapted to the problem. In practice the
cold climate strategy is "defensive", or rather of protection from cold, on the contrary an
intervention in a hot climate needs more flexibility. Starting from a detailed analysis of the
case study, in terms of macroclimate, microclimate, solutions and techniques used, a
choice of the interventions that should be made, need to be taken, with the aim of
reducing the risk of overheating in the summer, encouraging natural ventilation, maximizing
the benefits of the solar gains during winter, in order to reduce annual energy consumption
and CO2 emissions. These objectives can be achieved with a bioclimatic approach. The
"Climate Responsive Design" is part of an approach to design called "Ecological Sustainable
Design (ESD)" based on an analysis of how the shape and structure of a building moderate
the climate, in order to obtain a acceptable level of indoor comfort. The active principles of
the "Climate Responsive Design" is the understanding of climatic parameters that can
influence the process of planning/redevelopment, such as temperature, humidity, wind,
light, vegetation, and everything that is related to geographical location. These principles
can be applied , even if in a different ways, to retrofitting. We have therefore chosen the
case studies in Campania, a region in the south of Italy, buildings belonging to social
housing, and signed by designers known and appreciated, objectively valid in terms of
design quality, but inevitably obsolete in terms of technological solutions, all these aspects
made them particularly indicated for the study. Moreover, in each of the two cases the
typology is repeated in the area with variable orientation, which allowed to analyze the
effects of orientation on several units.
3. Methodology
The buildings analyzed are representative of the Italian building stock, built from 1950 up
to 1980. The energy savings measures were applied by steps, analyzing as first intervention
the thermal insulation through the cavity(case study 1) or outside the wall (case 2), the
replacement of windows, then the use of a proper shading system and finally the
integration of natural ventilation. For each item various options have been tested, choosing
from time to time, the most advantageous... [edited by author]<br>X n.s.
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Cory, Toussaint Dawn. "Thermoregulation in three southern African bat species inhabiting a hot, semi-arid environment." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/24646.
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Bats inhabiting arid, subtropical environments face diverse challenges related to energy and water balance. First, they may have to conserve water and energy during cool, dry winters when water is scarce and insect availability reduced. Second, during hot summers when air temperature may routinely exceed body temperature, bats may need to avoid both hyperthermia and dehydration. A common response to the energetically challenging winter period in temperate, subtropical and tropical species is heterothermy (i.e. torpor and hibernation). Despite evidence suggesting that heterothermy is of major significance in the energy balance of tropical and subtropical bats, its occurrence in southern African species especially those in semi-arid subtropical regions have received relatively little attention. Moreover, the physiological and thermoregulatory responses of bats to high air temperatures (Ta) are relatively poorly known. The goal of my project was to investigate various seasonal physiological challenges imposed on bats in an arid, sub-tropical climate. I investigated the occurrence of winter heterothermy in Nycteris thebaica (Nycteridae) in the Limpopo Valley. Skin temperatures (Tskin) were measured using temperature-sensitive transmitters, and roost temperatures (Troost) were recorded using miniature temperature loggers. N. thebaica used multiple roosting sites, including a hollow baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) and several caves, and exhibited only moderate heterothermy. Tskin was maintained around normothermic levels, with differences of 3-9°C (7.5±1.7°C) between overall maximum and minimum Tbs. A minimum Tskin of 28.4°C occurred at Troost = 23.8°C, and patterns of thermoregulation did not appear to be influenced by prevailing weather conditions. Roost temperatures did not decrease below 10°C, and averaged 21.2±2.8°C and 23.3±2.9°C respectively. The lack of pronounced heterothermy in N. thebaica is surprising, particularly in view of the daily torpor cycles observed in many insectivorous bat species. I also investigated the physiological responses of three sympatric bat species during summer using an open-flow respirometry system to measure resting metabolic rates (RMR) and evaporative water loss (EWL) over a range of Tas ~ 10-42°C, with body temperatures (Tb) simultaneously recorded via temperature-sensitive passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. Basal metabolic rates for Nycteris thebaica and Taphozous mauritianus were 8.9±2.7mW.g-1 and 6.6±2.2mW.g-1 respectively, falling within the 95% prediction intervals for bat BMR, whereas the value for Sauromys petrophilus (3.4±0.6mW.g-1) fell below the lower 95% prediction interval. Maximum EWL for N. thebaica, T. mauritianus and S. petrophilus were 18.6±2.1mg.g-1.h-1 (Ta=39.4°C), 14.7±3.1mg.g-1.h-1 (Ta=41.9°C) and 23.7±7.4mg.g-1.h-1 (Ta=41.7°C) respectively. Maximum individual Tbs recorded were 46.5°C in N. thebaica (Ta=39.3°C), 44.9°C in T. mauritianus (Ta=41.8°C) and 46.5°C in S. petrophilus (Ta=41.7°C). Overall, I found that N. thebaica was the least heat tolerant species, with T. mauritianus and S. petrophilus being more heat tolerant. In the face of climate change, heat tolerance together with specific thermal properties of a given roost may play a major role in the ability of a species to persist in a hot, arid environment.<br>Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2012.<br>Zoology and Entomology<br>unrestricted
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Crego, Ramiro Daniel. "Modeling the distribution of meadows in arid and semi-arid Patagonia, Argentina: assessing current distribution and predicting response to climate change." OpenSIUC, 2012. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/1001.
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Meadows are critical in arid and semi-arid Argentinean Patagonia because of their importance for regional biodiversity. Despite this, little information on the spatial distribution of meadows is available and no analysis of the potential effect of climate change on meadows has been performed, which hampers conservation planning. In this study, I modeled the spatial distribution of meadows and investigated how climate change may affect the current distribution of meadows in arid and semiarid Patagonia by 2050. In addition, I investigated conservation status and areas of desertification vulnerability of those areas predicted to contain meadows. I used high-resolution imagery available in Google Earth software to visually estimate presence and absence of meadows. To model current and future distribution of meadows I used these observations and different socio-environmental predictor variables. I implemented generalized linear, additive, boosting, and random forest models, as the basis for a mean ensemble technique. I predicted future distribution of meadows using four different general circulation models and the A2 SERES scenario. The final ensemble model was an accurate representation of the current distribution of meadows in Patagonia and indicates they are severely under-represented within protected areas. I determined that overall meadow abundance is going to decrease by 2050 given the changes in climate. However, there were two contrasting trends: severe reduction of meadows in northwest Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego Island, and an expansion of suitable areas for meadows in the south and a small section in the northwest. This first regional map of meadow distribution across Argentinean Patagonia and information on meadows vulnerability to climate change represent key information for planning actions to conserve this critical habitat.
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Köchy, Martin, Martin Mathaj, Florian Jeltsch, and Dan Malkinson. "Resilience of stocking capacity to changing climate in arid to Mediterranean landscapes." Universität Potsdam, 2008. http://opus.kobv.de/ubp/volltexte/2008/1872/.
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Small livestock is an important resource for rural human populations in dry climates. How strongly will climate change affect the capacity of the rangeland? We used hierarchical modelling to scale quantitatively the growth of shrubs and annual plants, the main food of sheep and goats, to the landscape extent in the eastern Mediterranean region. Without grazing, productivity increased in a sigmoid way with mean annual precipitation. Grazing reduced productivity more strongly the drier the landscape. At a point just under the stocking capacity of the vegetation, productivity declined precipitously with more intense grazing due to a lack of seed production of annuals. We repeated simulations with precipitation patterns projected by two contrasting IPCC scenarios. Compared to
results based on historic patterns, productivity and stocking capacity did not differ in most cases. Thus, grazing intensity remains the stronger impact on landscape productivity in this dry region even in the future.<br>Kleinvieh ist eine wichtige Lebensgrundlage für die Landbevölkerung in trockenen Regionen. Wie stark wird sich der Klimawandel auf die Tragfähigkeit der Weideflächen auswirken? Wir benutzten hierarchische Modellierung, um das Wachstum von Sträuchern und einjährigen Kräutern, das wichtigste Futter für Ziegen und Schafe, quantitativ auf die Fläche von Landschaften in der östlichen Mittelmeerregion zu dimensionieren. Die Produktivität ohne Beweidung stieg sigmoidal mit dem mittleren Jahresniederschlag. Je trockener die Landschaft, desto stärker verminderte Beweidung die Produktion. An einem Punkt knapp unter der Tragfähigkeit der Vegetation, sank die Produktion stark mit zunehmender Beweidung, weil die Samenproduktion der Kräuter zu gering war. Wir wiederholten die Simulationen mit Niederschlagsverteilungsmustern gemäß zweier gegensätzlicher IPCC-Szenarien. Zukünftige Produktivität und Tragfähigkeit unterschieden sich in den meisten Fällen nicht von Ergebnissen auf Grund von historischer Niederschlagsverteilung. Allerdings war die zukünftige Produktivität in trockenen Habitaten der semiariden und trocken-mediterranen Regionen niedriger. Somit hat auch in Zukunft die Besatzdichte die größere Auswirkung auf die Produktivität dieser trockenen Landschaft als das Klima.
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Hamza, Neveen Ahmed. "The performance of double skin facades in office building refurbishment in hot arid areas." Thesis, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10443/1669.
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The facade's configuration in hot arid areas is predicted to be responsible for up to 40% of the building's cooling loads. The increasing reliance of public buildings in Cairo on air conditioning systems indicates the failing role of the building envelope to perform its function as a moderator leading to an alarming increase in electricity consumption. Office buildings in Cairo consume 5-7% of the total national energy consumption. The need to reduce energy consumption in this sector targets benefits of reductions of electricity bills to building owners as well as reducing C02 emissions from the built environment due to increasing electricity generation. The lack of maintenance funds left the office building facades in a deteriorated state. This deterioration of image led to abandonment of buildings and loss of economic revenue. Double skin facades were investigated as a novel facade refurbishment option, targeting a multi criteria framework for facade refurbishment set in this thesis. To achieve the aim of the thesis, different facade technologies were simulated using a dynamic software (APACHE v.4.3.1) to understand their thermal performance. Quantitative results of simulations were parametrically examined to identify benchmark options for facade refurbishment to reduce building total cooling loads. Simulations results indicated up to 40% reductions in total cooling loads if a double skin facade with an outer reflective surface is used. Information generated from the simulation of single and double skin facade configurations were inducted into qualitative theories predicting human comfort aspects within the workplace. Three qualitative criteria underpinning the psychological comfort of occupants and its impact on productivity are set for balancing energy saving measures through facade refurbishment. These criteria are: the need for a view out, day light availability for non-task performances, and perceived control over the facade in work places.
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Moreno, Paola. "Environmental Natural Processes that Achieve Thermal Comfort in Multifamily Buildings in Hot Arid Regions." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/603491.
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Buildings, especially in hot climates, consume a lot of energy when people want to be comfortable inside them, which translates to very expensive fees each month. The most innovative response to this problem is renewable energy, that is used, in this case, to run mechanical HVAC systems. Renewable energy is the solution for many problems, but to avoid urban heat islands when using excessive HVAC systems (powered by renewables), and to solve thermal comfort-related problems, there has to be other solution. The major challenge to find it would be to have a change of thinking process. If a building in a hot-arid region uses natural processes to emulate the functions of HVAC systems, and the proper passive strategies, then, it will provide thermal comfort to its users, diminishing the need of a mechanical system. This hypothesis will be carried out by extracting the natural processes found in a specific case in nature, applying them into a building's design, and then simulating its energy efficiency with the adequate software. There will be a comparison of the same proposed building without the natural processes, to have tangible numbers showing that these proposed strategies, in fact, work. With explanatory detailed diagrams and the energy analysis, the hypothesis could be proven correct or incorrect. The significance of this approach relies on the proximity to the natural processes that have been working in different aspects of life since the beginning of time. They have been there all the time, waiting until architects, engineers, and people in general use them, instead of making more new energy-using inventions. By having the numbers from a conventional building and the ones of the proposed building, and the right environmental diagrams, the experiment should be valid. In the near future, there should be more research focused on nature and its processes, in order to be able to reduce the use of mechanical systems, and with that, reduce the energy use and the carbon footprint.
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Pattinson, Nicholas Bruce. "Seasonal physiological and behavioural responses of a small bird in a hot, arid habitat." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19728.
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The role that climate plays in the ecology of organisms is perhaps the most pronounced where the earth’s environments are most extreme. In arid-zones, organisms have to deal with large seasonal shifts and/or extremes in temperature and/or moisture levels. As a result, arid-zone species are sensitive to climatic changes. I assessed the physiological and behavioural adjustments of an arid-zone endemic passerine, the rufous-eared warbler (Malcorus pectoralis), to seasonal changes in the Karoo semi-desert of South Africa. Respirometry measurements in the field showed that the warblers’ basal metabolic rate was lower and set point body temperature (Tb) was higher in summer compared to winter. At high air temperatures (Ta) evaporative water loss (EWL) rate was significantly lower in summer compared to winter, while Tb showed a clear pattern of heterothermy that was similar in both seasons. Compared to winter, the warblers in summer were able to remain calm, and tolerate higher Ta’s, before their Tb’s increased to potentially detrimental levels. Behavioural observations showed that free-living warblers exhibited significant temperature-dependence in their behaviour; they increased panting behaviour, and reduced activity levels, time spent preening, and foraging effort at high Ta’s in summer. The warblers also displayed a considerable decrease in foraging success, and a shift in microsite use, at high Ta’s in summer. I hypothesise that the flexible responses the rufous-eared warblers show are aimed at increasing their heat tolerance in summer, and help them balance their energy and water demands in an arid environment that exhibits wide seasonality in Ta, in addition to high summer Ta. My findings emphasise the importance of identifying, as well as understanding, the associated costs of physiological and behavioural responses to environmental variables. This information is valuable in terms of predicting biologically meaningful responses (and hence, vulnerability) of arid-zone avian communities to climactic shifts.
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Li, Ang. "Energy demand and indoor climate of a traditional low-energy building in a hot climate." Thesis, Högskolan i Gävle, Institutionen för teknik och byggd miljö, 2009. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-6033.
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Energy demand in the built environment is quite important. China holds a large population and the energy use in the building sector is about 1/3. The rebuilding of old houses and building new low energy houses are becoming more and more popular in China. Low energy building not only consumes less energy, but also provides good indoor environment. An indoor climate software IDA is used in energy and indoor climate simulation. The traditional high isolated low energy house in a hot climate is analyzed, on a typical day in either summer or winter, or during the whole year. Energy consumptions under different parameters are presented. Results show that high isolated house may not always be suitable in a hot climate.
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Dabbaghian, Mohammadreza. "Water quality and lifecycle assessment of green roof systems in semi-arid climate." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/46609.
Full textAbstract:
Non-point source pollution contributes significantly to stormwater contamination in urban areas. Low impact development (LID) techniques and technologies are developed as a response to these challenges. Green buildings incorporate environmentally responsible and resource-efficient technologies to reduce environmental impacts over their life cycle. Green roof systems are broadly recognized as LID practices that may improve urban environmental quality by reducing stormwater runoffs. Potential impact of green roofs on the quality of runoff may be a deterrent to wider application of green roof systems. Organic and inorganic fertilizers in growing media, for example, may contaminate runoff and generate non-point source pollution. Recently, various environmental assessment methods have been developed to assess the environmental performance of green building technologies. Methods developed to date, however, are insufficient for accurate quantitative estimation and evaluation of triple-bottom-line (TBL) sustainability performance objectives (i.e. economic, environmental, and social) in the context of green building technologies. This study has two main objectives. First, it aims to investigate the performance of green roofs in the context of runoff water quality in the semi-arid environment of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. An experimental investigation has been conducted to enhance green roof performance by addition of a supplemental filtration layer. Runoff and precipitation samples were analyzed for water quality parameters including pH, nitrate and ammonia. In the next step, a quantitative sustainability evaluation framework for green building technologies was developed. The proposed framework integrates fuzzy-analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) integrated with a ‘cradle-to-grave’ life cycle assessment to address interactions and influence of various TBL criteria. The experiment results showed that the generic green roofs runoff is acceptable for domestic reclaimed water used under Cnadaian guidelines for domestic reclaimed water. The analysis shows that green roofs are able to reduce non-point source nitrate and ammonia concentrations. The installation of extensive green roofs could decrease a large amount of non-point source nitrate and ammonia emissions in an urban area during their lifespan. The utility of the FAHP approach is demonstrated by comparing sustainability performance of two generic green roof systems with a conventional roof. The results show that an ‘extensive’ green roof system is a more desirable option in terms of long-term sustainability performance criteria.