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This is a Western Australian book by two architects
who were world-recognised authorities on solar energy use
back in 1978. Sam, published 'Living with the Climate' (good
title) and Garry developed his computer analysis method of
solar design called 'Tecto'.
The book has a 40-page introduction explaining
the authors' approach to design. There is a worked example
showing plans, photos and sample calculations (including thermal
mass/storage requirements) of an energy efficient house. The
writers take a holistic approach to design and don't forget
things like 'client evaluation', 'the budget' and site factors.
The key words are collection, storage, distribution and control.
The aim is to find an effective means of modifying the external
environment using the building's skin and material content.
Air conditioning is mentioned, but only as an auxiliary system,
to be used after window shading, thermal mass, insulation
and night ventilation systems have been evaluated first. So
the tropical north does have air conditioning recommendations
but areas like Melbourne and Adelaide have no mention of air
conditioning in the auxiliary table. Instead there are recommendations
for solariums, glazed roof air collectors, trombe walls, gas
space heaters and solar roof collectors.
Given the fixation on HVAC (heating, ventilation
and air conditioning as one item) in modern computer calculations,
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I find this older approach is reassuring and
properly independent on any commercial considerations.
The remainder of the book divides Australia
into 23 climatic zones with a series of 8 spreadsheets for
each zone. Each spreadsheet gives you the tabulated results
of computer calculations for a house facing a particular compass
point.
If you are designing, say a 200 sq.m. solid
brick house facing east in any place in Australia you can
instantly read off a series of recommendations as follows:
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Horizontal and vertical sun angles for
each face of the building at 7am, 9am, 12, 3pm and 5pm
on the solar solstices and equinoxes. |
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Normal hot and cold wind directions. |
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Recommended shading percentages for the
windows. |
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Recommended glass areas for each façade
in sq.m. and as a % wall to glass. |
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Thermal storage mass requirements in
cu.m. |
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Insulation (R value) for roof, walls,
slab edge and exposed floor. |
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Fan size required for night ventilation,
heat distribution and heat recycling in litres/sec. |
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Cooling, heating systems are sized in
terms of kW. |
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Solar hot water systems sized in litres
and sq.m. collection as well as a payback period in years. |
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These spreadsheets give a lot of
relevant information at a glance and because the results are
fixed no one can tamper with the results. Given the vagaries
of climatic data, the unpredictability of occupant behaviour,
the lack of specific local microclimatic data and the existence
of contradictory design influences (like a terrific view to
the west), it is doubtful that we will ever fine tune computer
programmes to give more realistic results than this book has
already achieved. Modern computer programmes are a massive overkill
of dubious data and their claims of accuracy owe more to marketing
than to science. That's what I like about this spreadsheet format
- it costs nothing, it's fixed, instantly readable and accurate
enough to let designers get on with their work. Let's
get this book recognised.
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Oceania 
