Design Strategies

Intermediate Light Shelves

A light shelf is a high-reflecting horizontal surface that allows daylight to penetrate deep into a building.

Indirect Gain: Sunspace

A sunspace is an equatorial-facing area/room in a building with glass roof and walls intended to maximize solar heat gain.

Green roofs provide a rainwater buffer, purify the air, provide roof insulation, regulate indoor temperature, reduce energy consumption, encourage biodiversity in the city and help moderate the heat island effect.

Form for Heating

Buildings with large south facing walls and glazing areas exposed to the south (in the northern hemisphere) can benefit from passive heating in the winter.

Form for Daylighting

In many cases, an optimal floor plan runs east to west, maximizing the glazing area on the north and south facades to allow daylight to penetrate deeper into the interior spaces.

Form for Cooling

The shape and volume of buildings should be compact and elongated along the east-west axis to reduce heat gain in the summer while maximizing solar exposure in the winter.

Evaporative Cooling Towers

Evaporative cooling towers are useful for cooling buildings and outdoor areas in hot and dry climates.

East/West Shading

East and west facing windows should be protected to reduce heat gains into the building in the morning and afternoon.

Earth Sheltering

Earth-protected design uses earth as the main component of a building’s thermal control system.

Double Roof

Double roofs are used in climate responsive designs to reduce heat gain and protect the structure from natural elements such as rain, sunlight, and wind.