1. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 1
www.energy.soton.ac.uk
Climate
and the Built Environment
Part 1 – Background & Issues
Oman Energy Efficiency in Buildings Workshop, 15/10/2011
Dr Mark Jentsch
Sustainable Energy Research Group, University of Southampton, UK
1Climate and buildings
www.energy.soton.ac.uk

2. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 2
Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification System
Would you use the same building design
solutions in Oman, Europe and China?
provide shelter against the elements
provide safety
provide comfortable indoor conditions
(thermal, visual, air quality, noise etc.)
meet social expectations (social
standards, representation, work task etc.)
Architecture as a result of our needs
Strong impact
on operational
energy
consumption
Basic requirements for
Buildings

3. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 3
Adapting to differences in the environment requires
inventiveness
Without inventiveness humans would not be able to
survive in most climates we live today.
The Natural Environment
Human inventiveness for comfort and shelter
A very long time ago …
Comfort and Shelter

4. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 4
Comfort and Shelter
Still a very long time ago …
Human inventiveness for comfort and shelter
A – Design factors related to the human
feeling of comfort
solar radiation, light levels / glare,
temperature, change in temperature,
rainfall, humidity, air quality / movement
B – Design factors influencing the
construction
earthquakes, storms, floods, biological
pests, high solar radiation, high humidity
and condensation, salt levels in air
Climate and Architecture
Influence of geographical conditions on
building design

5. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 5
Prevailing climate conditions
Material availability
Food production & availability
Technical / construction know-how
Culture / social system / societal conventions
Key factors for the appearance of
vernacular buildings
Vernacular Architecture
Architectural design related to the
environmental conditions
Vernacular
Architecture
=
Climatic
Design
Climatic
Design
≠
Vernacular
Architecture
Due to the regional differences in climate
traditional forms of architecture all over the
world are adapted to their specific exterior
conditions in order to:
provide the desired comfort
be energy efficient
withstand the climate
Vernacular Architecture
Architectural design as answer to the
climatic conditions

6. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 6
Vernacular Architecture
Example – traditional Thai house

7. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 7
Vernacular Architecture
Example – traditional buildings in Yemen
Modern Architecture and Energy
Climatic design principles have been lost …
Villa Savoye, 1928-1931 – 20th century icon of the
modern movement, sustainability catastrophe.

8. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 8
Henry Galson – First people’s air conditioner, commercially available in 1933
(Willis Haviland Carrier – Inventor of modern air conditioning, 1902)
Modern Architecture
Architecture utilising the possibilities of
the industrialised world
Model: De La Vergne
rain
evaporative
cooling
ventilation
meeting and
communication
Concept and Function
Atria as climate moderator in the
traditional Roman house

9. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 9
The climate moderation function is often reduced in modern atria,
in particular in summer.
Dubai
Concept and Function
Modern atria have often lost the function
of a climate moderator
Technical building
solutions
Idea: Every climatic
problem can be solved by
application of technology,
the design idea comes first
Solution Approaches
Modern architectural reaction to the
climatic conditions

10. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 10
Solution Approaches
Modern architectural reaction to the
climatic conditions
Integrative building
solutions
Idea: To adapt to the climatic
conditions by observing them
first
2Climate change is not new
www.energy.soton.ac.uk

11. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 11
Paleoclimatology
The global climate system changes constantly
The Earth’s surface temperature over time
dinosaurs
end of last ice age
forests on
the poles
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Paleoclimatology
The global climate system changes constantly
The Earth’s surface temperature over time
2.4 to 6.4 °C
by the end of 21st century under a high emissions scenario
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

12. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 12
Climate change is not new
Can we adapt today?
Can we adapt in time?
3Global climate change
www.energy.soton.ac.uk

13. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 13
5 Subsystems of the
Global Climate
Atmosphere (the most unstable and rapidly changing)
Oceans (hydrosphere, high thermal inertia, important for
stabilising and regulating the atmospheric variations)
Snow and ice cover (cryosphere)
Land surface (litosphere)
Vegetation cover (biosphere)
Changes to the subsystems can result
in changes to the global climate
Image source: Wikimedia Commons, User: Bgr
Simplified Energy Flow in a
Planet with an Earth-Like Atmosphere
30°C
240 W/m²
480 W/m²
240 W/m²
240 W/m²
atmosphere

14. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 14
Emissions
Land use
change
Rising
atmospheric
greenhouse
gas
concentration
(CO2 equiv.)
Links in the climate system
Radiative
forcing
(changes
in energy
balance)
positive
negative
Diagram source: IPCC AR4, www.ipcc.ch
Emissions
Land use
change
Rising
atmospheric
greenhouse
gas
concentration
(CO2 equiv.)
Rising
atmospheric
temperatures
Rising ocean
temperatures
(logged)
Physical changes in
climate
Rising global mean
surface temperatures
Rising sea levels
Changes in rainfall
variability and
seasonality
Changing patterns of
natural climate
variability
Melting of ice sheets,
sea ice & land glaciers
Feedbacks include a possible reduction in the
efficiency of the land and oceans to absorb CO2
emissions and increased releases of methane.
Local and global feedbacks,
e.g. changes in clouds, water
content of the atmosphere
and the amount of sunlight
reflected by sea ice (albedo)
Impacts on physical,
biological and human
systems
Radiative
forcing
(changes
in energy
balance)
Links in the climate system

15. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 15
Climate change predictions
A net ‘positive global radiative forcing’ of between 0.6 W/m²
to 2.4 W/m² since 1750
0.74 °C average global mean temperature rise over the last
100 years (1906-2005)
IPCC 4th Assessment Report
1 W/m² forcing
60 W light bulb
Surface area: 510,072,000 km²
=> 8.5 billion light bulbs
What can we do?
do the quick fix
be inventive
wait and see
easy & low immediate risk
easy & low immediate risk
difficult & long term return

16. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 16
4Climate trends as
driver for change
www.energy.soton.ac.uk
Temperature development
Middle East
UK
Thailand

17. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 17
Middle East
temperature development
Middle East: Temperature rise of around 1.0 ºC over
the last century.
1870-2009 deviation of annual mean temperature from 1961-1990 baseline
(Data source: Climatic Research Unit, www.cru.uea.ac.uk)
1870-2009 data points in the Middle East (32 points in total)
(Data source: Climatic Research Unit, www.cru.uea.ac.uk)
Middle East
temperature development

18. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 18
Mediterranean areas 0.2
- 0.5 °C
Persian Gulf 0.5 - 1.1 °C
Central regions in eastern
Iran 1.4 - 1.7 °C
1901-2005 linear trend
varies by region:
Data source: Climatic Research Unit, www.cru.uea.ac.uk
Bottom image gerated with: Panoply viewer, Version 2.9.4
Middle East
temperature development
UAE and UK 1977-2007
annual mean temperatures
Clear rising trend for
the UAE
UAE trend slightly
stronger than for the
UK
UK data: 1 km grid, UAE data: 6 weather
stations (Data source UK data: Met Office,
data source UAE data: United Nations FAO)
The problem is potentially far more severe for hot arid climates
than for moderate climates.

19. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 19
Thailand and UK 1977-2007
annual mean temperatures
Trends are not equal
for all parts of the
world
Timeframe plays a
role for the trends
Thailand data 50-65 stations (Data source UK data: Met Office,
data source Thai data: United Nations FAO)
In the UAE a temperature
increase may result in the
winter months requiring
increased cooling.
UAE and UK 1977-2007
monthly mean temperatures
UK annual swing of 10 to
15 °C
UAE annual swing of 15
to 17.5°C
UK data: 5° grid, UAE data: 6 weather stations (Data source UK data: Met Office, data source UAE data: United Nations FAO)

20. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 20
UAE and UK 1977-2007
monthly mean temperatures
UK annual swing of 10 to
15 °C
Thailand annual swing of
5 to 8 °C
Smaller monthly variation
in Thailand implies
smaller vulnerability
during the summer
months than in the UAE.
UK data: 5° grid, UAE data: 6 weather stations (Data source UK data: Met Office, data source UAE & Thailand data: United Nations FAO)
5Other pressures for
energy efficiency
www.energy.soton.ac.uk

21. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 21
Human Development Index
against Ecological Footprint
Threshold for high human development = 0.8
Human
Development Index
life expectancy
education
per-capita gross
national income
Earth‘sbiocapacity=2.1hectaresperperson
Sustainable
Society
Image adapted from original on:
Wikimedia Commons, User: Travelplanner
Human Development Index
against Ecological Footprint
Image source: Wikimedia Commons,
User: Travelplanner

22. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 22
UK fuel import /
export ratio [%]
Why Climatic Design of
Buildings and Cities?
Data source: Digest of UK energy
statistics
Mineral oils +
biofuels
Why Climatic Design of
Buildings and Cities?
Development of
global oil
production

23. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 23
5.76 million km²
133 % of the land
surface of the EU
68 % of the land
surface of Brazil
Biodiesel from
palm oil in 2030:
2350 million
tonnes of biofuels
in 2030 ??
Why Climatic Design of
Buildings and Cities?
Development of
global oil
production
Peak Oil ~2010 Peak Gas ~2020 Peak Coal ~2025
If energy consumption is to be reduced then this will need to
happen in urban environments
Urbanisation and energy
consumption

24. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 24
The Metabolism of a City
The Metabolism of a City

25. Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Workshop
Climate and the Built Environment
Part 1
Mark Jentsch, University of
Southampton 25
User
Buildings
City
Supplies
What to Consider for Climatic Design?