Bioclimatic Analysis Tool: An Alternative to Facilitate and Streamline Preliminary Studies

Energy Procedia 57 ( 2014 ) 1 – 3

Available online at www.sciencedirect.com

ScienceDirect

1876-6102 © 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of ISES.doi: 10.1016/j.egypro.2014.10.001

Editorial to the Proceedings of the

ISES* Solar World Congress 2013 (SWC 2013)

“Renewables working together for all”

David Renné*, Alvaro Lentz**

* ISES – International Solar Energy Society, Wiesentalstr. 50, 79115 Freiburg, Germany** ANES - Asociacion Nacional de Energía Solar Av Tamaulipas No. 141 Piso 3, 06140 Col. Condesa,

México D.F.

Over the past decade great achievements have been made in all fields of renewable energy use as the transformation to a renewable energy world moves forward. The cost of renewable energy technologies is decreasing, and their deployment is accelerating, which, along with progressive energy efficiency measures and sustainable energy practices,reduces per-capita energy intensity throughout the world. Renewable Energy technologies are now cost-competitive with conventional energy sources in many places and for many applications around the world. Renewable energy installations have grown at an average annual rate of 70 percent worldwide as supportive policies help stimulate investments, while research and development programs improve technology performance and support technological breakthroughs. The ISES Solar World Congress 2013 gathered more than 750 scientists, engineers, decision-makers, industry representatives, students and energy practitioners, from 66 nations around the world, to share in knowledge of the progress being made with these technologies.

Researchers presented more than 400 technical papers and interactive forums, offering up-to-date information on renewable energy technology trends and breakthroughs, best practices in deploying these technologies, global and regional policies, and market opportunities. Notwithstanding the progress made on renewable energy deployment globally, the SWC 2013 also explored the many challenges towards achieving 100% renewable energy for all, such as:

More than 1.3 billion people still lack access to modern electrical services.Global climate change and other threats to the energy and economic security of nations demands transformation of energy systems around the world that end reliance on fuels producing greenhouse gas emissions and that must be imported from far-off places.

The Congress demonstrated that renewable energy technologies offer a viable solution to meet these challenges, and that a variety of innovative policies and strategies around the world are helping to secure the transition. Some of the key issues to the success of a renewable energy transformation include:

Integrating renewable technologies into increasingly “smarter” grids and the development of microgridsMaking much more use of distributed generation supplies meeting local loadsVastly increasing the efficiency of buildingsDeveloping innovative carbon-free transportation technologiesImproving energy storage technologies.

The SWC 2013 offered special knowledge transfer opportunities through a series of plenary speeches and forums that addressed key global developments involving international organisations including:

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) Initiative,The UN Foundation’s Practitioner Network, The REN 21 Global Status and Global Futures Reports, and

http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1016/j.egypro.2014.10.001&domain=pdf


2 David Renné and Alvaro Lentz / Energy Procedia 57 ( 2014 ) 1 – 3

IRENA’s Renewable Energy Learning Platform and their efforts to develop effective communication strategies to broaden the acceptance of renewable technologies

Moving forward, ISES is committed to building on the energy and ideas from the Congress through enhanced knowledge sharing webinars and events, participation with partners in activities that strengthen the renewable energy movement, and strong support of the work its members do to transform the global energy supply. In particular, the SWC 2013, through ISES’ key partners participating in the Congress, initiated a process for establishing an enduring regional dialogue to develop and grow renewable energy markets throughout Latin America and around the world.

The papers presented at the congress and published in these proceedings were carefully selected and reviewed by the Scientific Committee. ISES and ANES would like to express their sincere thanks to the reviewers of the SWC 2013 and to all the authors and participants who contributed to the Congress’ quality of scientific excellence.

Members of the following committees are duly thanked for their hard work and contributions to making the ISES Solar World Congress an enormous success

David Renné, ISES, U.S.AInternational Organizing Committee

Álvaro E. Lentz, President ANESAlberto Valdés, ANES, MexicoVicente Estrada-Cajigal, ANES, MexicoEduardo A. Rincón, ANES, MexicoJennifer McIntosh, ISES, GermanyLiliana Beltran, ISES, U.S.A.Jorge Bisteni, B.P. Servimed, Mexico

Chair: Eduardo A. Rincón, ANES, MexicoScientific Committee

Co-Chairs:Yogi Goswami, ISES, U.S.A.Manuel Romero, ISES, SpainÁlvaro E. Lentz, ANES, Mexico

Theme Chairs

Hans-Martin Henning, Solar Heating and CoolingLiliana Beltran, Solar Buildings Jose Gonzalez-Aguilar, Renewable ElectricityJoao Tavares Pinho, Rural Energy SupplyJohn Boland, Resource Assessment and ClimatePaulette Middleton, Renewable Energy and Society

Members:Werner Weiss (GER)Jan-Olof Dalenbäck (SWE)Halime Paskoy (TUR)Elimar Frank (SUI) Brian Norton (IRE) Ruzhu Z. Wang (CHI)

Jean Christoph Hadorn (SWI)Ursula Eicker (GER)Roberto Best-Brown (MEX)Yanjun D. Dai (CHI)Christian Budig (GER)Jorge González-Cruz (PuR)Ma. Dolores Duran (MEX)John S. Reynolds (USA)Kirsten Sander (DEN)David Morillón Gálvez (MEX)Luisa F. Cabeza (SPA)Matheos Santamouris (GRE)Anne Grete Hestnes (NOR)Jean-Louis Scartezzini (SWI)Harvey Bryan (USA)Torben Esbensen (DEN)Irene Marincic (MEX)Jehao Song (CHI)Margot McDonald (USA)Pedro Zanabria (PER)Edna Shaviv (ISR)Silvia de Schiller (ARG)John Martin Evans (ARG)Aníbal Figueroa (MEX)Michael K.H. Leung (H K)Chennan Li (USA)Michael Epstein (ISR)Aldo Steinfeld (SWI)S.A. Sherif (USA)Takhir M. Razykov (UZB)E.K. Stefanakos (USA)Igor Tyukhov (RUS)Paul Gipe (USA)Lorin Vant-Hull (USA)

David Renné and Alvaro Lentz / Energy Procedia 57 ( 2014 ) 1 – 3 3

Ricardo Ruether (BRA)Nicola Romeo (ITA)Daniel Rowe (AUS)Claudio Estrada-Gasca (MEX)Sam-Shajing Sun (USA)Mukund Patel (USA)Darren M. Bagnall (UK)Hari M. Upadhyaya (UK)Aliakbar Akbarzadeh (AUS)Doerte Laing (GER)Chuck Kutcher (USA)Nitin Goel (IND)Ricardo Vásquez Padilla (COL)Sarada Kuravi (USA)Sudhakar Neti (USA)Istvan Farkas (HUN)Arturo Morales-Acevedo (MEX)P. Gandhidasan (SAR)Bernd Weber (MEX)Shyam S. Nandwani (CoR)G.N Tiwari (IND)Julio Tinoco (HON) Miguel Hadzich (PER) Conrado Moreno (CUB) Richard Perez (USA)Rafael Almanza (MEX)Chris A. Gueymard (USA)Rodrigo Escobar (CHL)Dave Renné (USA)Carsten Hoyer-Klick (GER)Frank Vignola (USA)Wikus van Niekerk (SAF)Klaus Vajen (GER) Dieter Holm (SAF)Monica Oliphant (AUS)Wolfgang Palz (GER)José Etcheverry (CAN)Graciela Lesino (ARG)Ranga Pitchumani (USA)Bibek Bandyopadhyay (IND)Marco E. Sanjuán-Mejía (COL)Jayant K. Nayak (IND)Iván Martínez-Cienfuegos (MEX)Adil Sharag-Eldin (USA)Gunnar Tamm (USA)Jan Remund (SWI)André De Herde (BEL)Wendy Miller (AUS)Thomas Reindl (SIG)Zerrin Yilmaz (TUR)Gökmen Demirkaya (TUR)

Susan M. Ubbelohde (USA)Bruce Haglund (USA)J. Manuel Martínez Colindres (HON)Philippe Lauret (FRA)Manuel Vázquez Vázquez (SPA)Sergio Colle (BRA)Andrew R. Martin (SWE)Arno Krenzinger (BRA)Markus Eck (GER)Gerhard Willeke (GER)Viktoria Martin (SWE)Luigi Crema (ITA)James D. Spelling (SWE)Nelson L. Forero (COL)Eduardo González Cruz (VEN)Philippe Blanc (FRA)Wolfgang Streicher (AUT)

Steve Blume (AU)International Advisory Board

Ming Huang (CN)Paulette Middleton (US)Manuel Romero (ES)Monica Oliphant (AU)Torben Esbensen (DK)Dieter Holm (SA)Tanay Sidki Uyar (TR)Wolfgang Palz (BE)Jan-Olof Dalenbäck (SE)Corry de Keizer (DE)Elimar Frank (CH)John Grimes (AU)Anne Grete Hestnes (NO)Manfred Horn (PE)Ahmad F. Houri (LB)Matthias Hüttmann (DE)Samuel Luna De Abreu (BR)Bernard McNelis (UK)John Reynolds (US)Roberto Román (CL)Haruki Sato (JP)Radindra Kumar Satpathy(IN)Wikus Van Niekerk (SA)Roberto Vigotti (IT)Bernhard Weyres-Borchert (DE)Prof. Gerhard Willeke (DE)Edna Shaviv (ISR)Taebeom Seo (KOR).

Energy Procedia 57 ( 2014 ) 1374 – 1382

Available online at www.sciencedirect.com

ScienceDirect

1876-6102 © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of ISES.doi: 10.1016/j.egypro.2014.10.128

2013 ISES Solar World Congress

Bioclimatic analysis tool: An alternative to facilitate and streamline preliminary studies

Julio César Rincón Martíneza*, Víctor Armando Fuentes Freixaneta* aAutonomous Metropolitan University, Azcapotzalco. Av. San Pablo 180, Reynosa Tamaulipas, Azcapotzalco, C.P. 02200, México, D.F. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Abstract

The Bioclimatic Analysis Tool is a spreadsheet that calculates, plots and analyzes several parameters and criteria based on equations and diagrams developed by different authors around the world (Auliciems, Szokolay, Givoni, ASHRAE, Olgyay, Mahoney, etc.). This is automatically done from the climate data introduced in the spreadsheet. The main aim is focus on having different climatic analysis tools on a same simple interface such as Köppen methodology and others. Also, automatic plotting and analysis of Mahoney strategies, comfort triangles, bioclimatic chart and effective temperature nomogram is done. All this offers to bioclimatic designers a simple tool to have the climate analysis from a specific site and strategies needed for the initial conceptual design easily and shortly. One of the more important characteristics of the tool is that it was developed in a conventional spreadsheet. © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of ISES Keywords: climate analysis; bioclimatic analysis; temperature; relative humidity; wind; solar radiation; atmospheric pressure; bioclimatic diagram (Olgyay); comfort triangles (Evans); Mahoney’s indexes (Mahoney); nomogram corrected effective temperature.

1. Introduction

Bioclimatic Architecture seeks to design spaces —worthy, comfortable and healthy for the users’ body, mind and spirit—, considers the usage of the natural resources of the environment. The bioclimatic tools most frequently used in the preliminary design analysis are: the bioclimatic diagram by Olgyay [1], adapted by Szokolay [2], the psychometric diagram by Givoni [3], the Effective Corrected Temperature

* Corresponding author. Tel. +52 (55) 5318 9110 E-mail addres: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

© 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of ISES.


Julio César Rincón Martínez and Víctor Armando Fuentes Freixanet / Energy Procedia 57 ( 2014 ) 1374 – 1382 1375

nomogram [4], the stereographic diagram by Szokolay’s [5], the comfort triangles by Evans [6] and Mahoney indexes [7].

A project’s bioclimatic analysis depends on the location’s physical, climatic and environmental characteristics, as well as the users’ requirements and the activities to develop in the different spaces. Then, it can be assumed that the way to carry it through follows the procedure which, according to the same study, can suffer slight variations.

To motivate architects and other professionals to make use of the tools, the Bioclimatic Analysis Tool (BAT) application has been developed. This, between other aspects, seeks to simplify the comprehension of the climate’s behavior and the project’s bioclimatic requirements. The tool has been programmed in a conventional spreadsheet, that allows graphing and operating automatically the different climatic variables and bioclimatic tools considered for the site analysis through a universal interface. Also, this application pretends to simplify the time spent on the project’s preliminary studies.

2. BAT: Bioclimatic Analysis Tool

Knowing the investment of time, practical work and human resources used in the development of a project’s climatic and bioclimatic analysis, is how the authors of this paper have designed BAT, see Fig. 1, which aims to fulfill the same analysis work from the optimization of the resources used for that matter. The developers’ intention consists in distributing this application for free, with giving the corresponding credits to the authors and to make an appropriate use of it to achieve the goal it was designed for, as it’s only condition.

Fig. 1. General view of the interface with which the application BAT has been designed.

1376 Julio César Rincón Martínez and Víctor Armando Fuentes Freixanet / Energy Procedia 57 ( 2014 ) 1374 – 1382

2.1. Conceptualization

BAT’s design’s main objective consists, on one hand, in facilitate the comprehension, processing and graphing of each project’s climatic and bioclimatic information and it’s emplacement location. On the other hand, to concentrate in a unique interface the different bioclimatic tools in which the preliminary bioclimatic analysis is based on, aiming to optimize the used resources on the generation of each analysis.

Thereby, BAT has been conceived from the premise of making more with less. For this, it has been developed around the informatics programming’s optimization, in which with only capturing certain climatic data, the application operates automatically, developing the corresponding graphs to each climatic parameter and updating, automatically, the diagrams, the indexes and the bioclimatic tables included.

2.2. Requirements

Aiming to offer a reachable and easily operated tool, it’s programming was developed in a conventional spreadsheet under which all the matrix equations and graphic characteristics needed for the accurate operation for the application are found. It is essential to count with the same or subsequent version of the one used when resorting to the BAT, no matter the operative system.

2.3. Design (programming) and structure

In general terms, the BAT consists in 22 calculus sheets, each with a different content (tables and graphs) making reference to the climatic or bioclimatic analysis. There are only two tabs, which need to be edited (to capture data) so that the application performs instantly the corresponding calculus and develops the respective graphs. The application’s structure and operation is presented below: Credits (Sheet 1): Space in which the information about the BAT’s authors’ description and contact

data are found. Index (Sheet 2): Content table in which, by means of hyperlinks, the different application’s sections

are linked. Climatological Data (Sheets 3-16): Climatic data organized in two calculus sheets —one with

monthly-normalized data (Sheet 3) and the other one with monthly wind by orientated data (Sheet 16)—. This information can be obtained generally in observatories or meteorological stations, airports, military bases or academic or investigation centers near to the site analyzed. This information takes care of making the BAT to work entirely; see Fig. 2 (a).

Köppen-García’s climatic classification (Sheet 4): Starting from Köppen’s classification method, modified by García [8], the site’s climate is determined based on the dry bulb’s temperature and the rain precipitation monthly total data processing. In this same sheet, the local bioclimatic agrupation proposed by Fuentes and Figueroa [9] from the dry bulb’s medium temperature of the hottest month of the year and the annual total rain precipitation is determined.

Temperature (Sheet 5): In this calculus sheet the dry bulb’s temperature maximum historic registers, average maximum, medium, minimum average and minimum historic registers are processed and related to the thermal comfort threshold determined with Auliciems and Szokolay’s [10] linear equation, see Fig. 2 (b).

Hourly temperatures (Sheet 6): Sheet in which the dry bulb’s temperature monthly time data throughout the year is calculated, based on the trigonometric method of the adjusted sinusoidal curve, algorithms developed by Figueroa [11], where the temperature’s minimum and maximum values correspond to 06:00h and 15:00h, respectively. From a chromatic scale, seven temperature levels are


distinguished; the blues make reference to under heating conditions, the oranges to over heating conditions and the whites to thermic comfort conditions, see Fig. 3 (a). With the above it’s determined, by a circular graph, the annual proportion (in percentage) of cooling or heating requirements.

Fig. 2. (a) Sheet 3 with climatological data; (b) Sheet 5 with the graphs related to the dry bulb’s temperatures.

Relative humidity (Sheet 7): Sheet in which the relative humidity maximum historic, maximum average, medium, minimum average and minimum historic registers are processed, in relation to the hygric comfort threshold inferior and superior limits, suggested by Marcó et al. [12] and Sosa and Siem [13].

Hourly relative humidity (Sheet 8): In this sheet relative humidity monthly time data throughout the year is calculated, based on the trigonometric method of the sinusoidal curve, which is based on the algorithms developed by Figueroa [11], where the humidity minimum and maximum values correspond to 06:00h and 15:00h, respectively. From a chromatic scale, seven humidity levels are distinguished; the oranges reference to low humidity conditions (dry), the blues to high humidity conditions (wet) and the whites to hygric comfort conditions. The circular graph makes reference to the year’s proportion (in percentage) of the humidification or dehumidification requirements, see Fig. 3 (b).

Solar radiation (Sheet 9): Calculus sheet where the total (global) monthly solar radiation, the direct solar radiation and the diffused solar radiation are graphed (all of them maximum, to the 12:00h solar time). The values are graphed in relation to the respective limit of each component [14].

Fig. 3. (a) Sheet 6 with time temperatures; (b) Sheet 8 with time relative humidity.


Hourly solar radiation (Sheet 10): In this sheet the solar radiation time data is calculated —in each of its components: total (global), direct and diffuse— based on the calculus method developed by Fernández Zayas [15]. From a chromatic scale, four levels of radiation are distinguished; the oranges make reference to high radiation conditions (dark orange), medium radiation (medium orange) and low radiation (light orange); the blues indicate null radiation.

Precipitation and evaporation (Sheet 11): Calculus sheet in which the total monthly rain precipitation throughout the year is graphed, related to the limits that define a moderate rainfall of a low one (<40mm) or a high one (>150mm) [14]. Also, in the graph, the monthly evaporation is referenced to the rain precipitation; see Fig. 4 (a).

Cloudiness (Sheet 12): It consists in a bar graph piled up to 100% where, proportionally, clear days, medium cloudy and cloudy of the month are represented. The data is the average analyzed period and it’s obtained every month, see Fig. 4 (b).

Fig. 4. (a) Sheet 11 with the resulting graph of the rain precipitation and evaporation; (b) Sheet 12 with the resulting graph of the cloudiness data.

Degree days (Sheet 13): In this calculus sheet the cooling or heating general and local requirements throughout each month are referenced.

Ombrothermic index (Sheet 14): In this calculus sheet the medium temperature levels are interrelated with the total of the rain precipitation (both monthly figures), aiming to distinguish the rain period of the year and the requirements.

Octagonal compass rose (Sheet 15): Based on the monthly speed and wind frequency means presented by orientation, in this calculus sheet the octagonal compass rose is graphed, where the monthly behavior of the wind by orientation can be appreciated. The continuous lines make reference to the average frequency of the wind each month, whereas that the dotted lines —located at the exterior extreme of each continuous line— make reference to the average speed presented with the monthly wind resource. The figure located at the center of the octagon refers to the percentage of annual medium calms, see Fig. 5 (a).

Wind / Frequency and speed (Sheet 16): Calculus sheet in which the wind’s monthly behavior from the average speed and frequency data captured in sheet 15 are graphed. Each radial graph represents the monthly frequency the wind takes place in with each orientation; as such, the figure located at the inferior right part of each graph makes reference to the calms percentage given that month. In the same way, in each radial graph it is possible to appreciate the orientation where the prevailing and the dominant winds originate monthly, see Fig. 5 (b). Ultimately, it is important to mention that in this


same calculus sheet a graph is elaborated with the monthly medium and maximum speeds related to the maximum speed for interiors, as suggested by Evans [16].

Fig. 5. (a) Sheet 15 with octagonal compass rose; (b) Sheet 16 with radial graphs monthly wind.

Special phenomena (Sheet 17): It consists in a linear graph which contains each of the special phenomena collected in the climatological data: measurable rain, immeasurable rain, days with dew, hail, frosts, electric storms and fog.

PMV-PPD (Sheet 18): From the calculus of the Predicted Mean Vote and Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied indexes —based on the maximum, medium and minimum humidity and temperature— the corresponding graph is developed from the Fanger model [17].

Mahoney’s indexes (Sheet 19): With the dry bulb’s temperature, thermic oscillation, relative humidity and rain precipitation data, in this calculus sheet different design strategies are defined, based on the tables and indexes proposed by Carl Mahoney [7], see Fig. 6 (a).

Fig. 6. (a) Sheet 19 with the Mahoney indexes; (b) Sheet 20 containing the comfort triangles.

Comfort triangles (Sheet 20): From the existing correlation between medium temperature and daily thermic oscillation (amplitude generated between the maximum average and minimum average temperatures), in this calculus sheet the monthly data of the mentioned parameters are graphed on


Evan’s comfort triangles [6]. Based on each month’s punctual location, the comfort diagrams offer, on one hand, four comfort zones —in which, according to the average temperature and oscillation data, one can count on the adequate thermic conditions for the development of certain activities—, and, on the other hand, design strategies —which intend to correct the low and over heating conditions of the space—, see Fig. 6 (b).

Bioclimatic diagram (Sheet 21): Based on the maximum and minimum average registers and minimum and maximum average, of the dry bulb’s temperature and relative humidity, respectively, the Olgyay’s bioclimatic diagram [1], adapted by Szokolay [2], updates automatically from three variables: a) from the neutral monthly temperature —calculated using Auliciems and Szokolay’s equation [10]—, b) from the hygrothermal monthly trace according to the extreme temperature conditions and relative humidity, and c) from the metabolic level. With these, the bioclimatic diagram, both monthly and annual, offers different design strategies given the position in which each of the monthly temperature and relative humidity traces resulted; see Fig. 7 (a). In this calculus sheet the bioclimatic diagram is offered, by month and year, according what the cell E18 indicates.

Effective corrected temperature nomogram (Sheet 22): Considering the dry and the wet bulbs’ temperature average data, in this calculus sheet the monthly values of the mentioned variables are graphed on the effective corrected temperature nomogram; see Fig. 7 (b). This nomogram is presented monthly and yearly, it analytically calculates the effective corrected temperature according to each case’s induced wind speed, and it calculates and graphs the thermic comfort zone in each month. Moreover, the criteria under which the thermic comfort zone is considered can be indicated from the cell M23, following the maximum interior wind speed; on the other hand, it is possible from cell Q19 to indicate if it is wished or not to prolong the monthly lines —all across the nomogram—, with the aim of confirming graphically the effective corrected temperature values analytically calculated.

Fig. 7. (a) Sheet 21 containing the bioclimatic diagram; (b) Sheet 22 with the corrected effective temperature nomogram.

The application has been designed from the programming of simple and matrix formulas that follow a specific indication for each case, which is why, with ensuring the precise operation for each calculus sheets in particular —just as their graphic and analytical content, essentially— as its purpose, it has been decided to protect every resource that represents a risk for the correct performance for which this application was designed; nevertheless, the cells in which the user can enter information related to their


project have been left completely free —thereof containing a small red triangle in the top right part; meaning indications related to the information to enter—.

2.4. Scope

The format in which the BAT has been developed allows to optimize significantly time, practical work and resources spent on the graph, table and diagram elaboration, corresponding to a project’s climatic and bioclimatic analysis. The efficiency and speed with which this application serves —thanks to the way the values and the corresponding cells have been linked, as well as the formula programming, each graph’s design and the way the bioclimatic tools have adapted— offers a simple operation and that the user doesn’t require of specific knowledge in running the software for its correct use.

Consequently, the application was designed to work automatically from the values (climatic data) captured by the user. However, it is important to mention that in order to estimate, calculate or determine certain values (neutral temperature, thermic comfort zone’s amplitude, hygric comfort’s threshold, interior wind speed or models to estimate and graph the thermic comfort zone in the corrected effective nomogram, for example), BAT’s design is based on punctual criteria from certain authors (Auliciems [10], Szokolay [2], Evans [16], etc.) which could be modified according the author the user wants to refer to in their analysis. For the above, it is enough to change the criteria (or value) on the designated cells for it —green cells with white font located in determined calculus sheets along the application—.

On the other hand, the total weight of the application does not exceed the 5Mb, which allows its easy opening and operation, as well as its simple portability.

2.5. Operation

The way BAT operates is quite simple; in general terms, it is enough with capturing the climatic data in only two calculus sheets (climatological data, Sheet 3; and wind / frequency and speed, Sheet 16) so that the application develops everything automatically. On one hand, the graph process, calculus and development with the introduced climatic data, and on the other hand, the updating of certain bioclimatic design tools developed in advance by different authors around the world.

The internal navigation across the different sections and calculus sheets of the BAT is from the hyperlinks added in the observatory image —found at the top right part of each calculus sheet’s headline, which automatically links with the application’s main index— and from the hyperlinks found at the application’s same index. Another way of navigating across the different application’s tabs, less known but same as effective, is by entering the combination of the following keyboard keys: Ctrl + Av Page (to move on to the next calculus sheet) and Ctrl + Re Page (to go back to the previous calculus sheet).

It is important to mention that there are two different ways of obtaining the tables, graphs and diagrams —resulting from this application’s operation— in image: In format*.pdf. With the support of the virtual Adobe PDF printer. In format*.png, *.jpg or *.bmp. With the support of the Snippy Tool (for Windows XP or previous

operative systems), Snipping Tool (for Windows Vista or subsequent operative systems; in this systems the utility is already pre-charged in accessories) or its equivalent for Linux, OS X. Another alternative, maybe less practical but it also works, is from a simple screen-printing.

3. Conclusion

BAT application, besides optimizing significantly time, practical work and resources spent on the elaboration of a project’s climatic and bioclimatic analysis, is of a simple operation, it does not require of


a certain software to run, and above all, it eases the comprehension of the climate of a determined location; offering, according to the considered tools, a series of bioclimatic design strategies that will allow the designer a better conceptualization of their project.

References

[1] Olgyay, V. Design with Climate, Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1963. [2] Szokolay, S. Passive and Low Energy Design for Thermal and Visual Comfort, Proceedings of the International Conference

on Passive and Low Energy Eco Techniques Applied to Housing (PLEA 84), Pergamon Press, México, 1984. [3] Givoni, B. Man Climate and Architecture, London, Applied Science Publishers, 1981. [4] ASHRAE. Handbook Fundamentals, American Society of Heating Air Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta; 1993. [5] Szokolay, S. Solar Geometry, PLEA 96, University of Queensland, 1996. [6] Evans, J. Técnicas Bioclimáticas de Diseño: las Tablas de Confort y los Triángulos de Confort, memorias de Cotedi 2000

(Conferencia Internacional “Confort y Comportamiento Térmico de Edificaciones”), Maracaibo, 2000. [7] Koenigsberger et al. Viviendas y Edificios en Zonas Cálidas y Tropicales, Paninfol, Madrid; 1977. [8] García, E. Modificaciones al Sistema de Clasificación Climática de Köppen, Talleres Larios, México; 1988. [9] Fuentes, V. y A. Figueroa. Criterios de Adecuación Bioclimática en la Arquitectura, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social,

México; 1990. [10] Auliciems, A. and Szokolay S. Thermal Comfort, PLEA 87, University of Queensland, Australia, 1997. [11] Figueroa, A. Subroutines for Hourly Data Calculation, University of Texas in Austin, Austin, E.U.A.; 1984. [12] Marcó, J. et al. “Humectadores” en Guía Técnica para la Prevención y Control de la Legionelosis en Instalaciones,

Subdirección General de Sanidad Ambiental y Salud Laboral, Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad, España; 2003. [13] Sosa, M. y G. Siem. Manual de Diseño para Edificaciones Energéticamente Eficientes en el Trópico, Instituto de

Desarrollo Experimental de la Construcción, Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, Caracas, Venezuela; 2004. [14] Fuentes, V. Clima y Arquitectura, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, México; 2004. [15] Fernández Zayas, J. L. y V. Estrada-Cajigal. Cálculo de la Radiación Solar Instantánea en la República Mexicana, Instituto

de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de México, serie no. 472, México; 1983. [16] Evans, J. The Comfort Triangles: A New Tool for Bioclimatic Design, Technische Universiteit Delft; 2007. [17] Fanger, O. Thermal Comfort, Ed. McGraw-Hill, New York; 1972.

Bioclimatic Analysis Tool: An Alternative to Facilitate and Streamline Preliminary Studies

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