CLIMATOLOGY

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
TECHNIQUE FOR COLD
CLIMATE
The cold climate is October through march in
northern hemisphere and April through
September in southern hemisphere.
Regions that falls under cold climate experience
very cold winters.
The temperature ranges from 20-30c in summer
and -3 to -8c in winters.
The main objectives of
building design in cold zones
are:
1.Resisting heat loss
2.Promoting heat gain
Resisting heat loss
Decrease the exposed surface area of the
building.
Using materials that heat up fast but release
heat slowly
Providing buffer space between the living area
and the outside
Decreasing the rate of ventilation inside the
building.
Promoting heat gain
Avoiding excess shading.
Utilizing the heat from
applications.
Trapping the heat from the
sun.
Technique in building
construction
Sun path
In cold climate, the heat gain is desirable.
Hence building should be located on the
south slope of a hill or mountain for better
access to solar radiation.
Trap maximum heat from sun
Trap maximum heat from sun
Building arrangement
If the buildings are clustered, then the cold
wind movement can be reduced.
Open space between buildings should be
treated with reflective surface so that the
Day radiation reflect into the building
Building arrangement
The street should be wide
enough to ensure that
building on one side
should not shade those
on the other side.
The street orientation
should be east-west to
allow for maximum
south sun to enter the
building.


Orientation and plan form
Window should face south to facilitate direct gain
of sun heat.
The north side of the building should be well
insulated.
Living room can be located on the south side
while the utility and store room can be located on
north side.
Air-lock lobbies can be used in entry and exit
points of the building
Heat generated by applications in room such as
kitchen may be used to heat the other parts of
the buildings.
False ceiling with internal insulation such as
polyurethane foam(PUF), thermocol, wood
wool, etc are used for houses in cold climate
ROOF
Aluminum foil is used in-between the
insulation layer and roof to reduce heat loss
through ceiling.
ROOF
A sufficiently sloping roof with skylight
enables to drain water and snow and allow
sun radiation to enter the building during day.
WALLS
The wall should be made of materials which
lose heat slowly.
The walls can be of concrete blocks as they
store heat for a longer time.
South facing walls should be of high thermal
capacity.
North side walls should be cavity wall
construction.
WINDOW
Maximum window area on the southern side of the
building to facilitate direct heat gain.
The window should be double glazed to avoid heat
loss during night.
Shades can be used to avoid overheating during
summer.

Color
The color of the building should be dark to
absorb more heat from the sun.
Sun space
Trombe wall
CASE STUDY
Degree college and hill
council, Leh, India
Located in Leh, in upper Himalayas, the degree
college and hill council have been built within
a cold and dry climate. The building required
to be heated almost throughout the year. It
has long winter from October to April .
Lecture hall
South side building view
North side building view