BLDG 6611 2016-09-06

BLDG 6611 Building Science

Introduction to Building Science

September 8, 2016
Chang-Seo Lee, Ph.D.
Dept. of Building, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Concordia University

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Building Science
 Definition (T.J. Kesik, https://www.wbdg.org/resources/buildingscienceconcepts.php)
 Field of knowledge that draws upon physics, chemistry,
engineering, architecture, and the life sciences.
 Understanding the physical behavior of the building as a
system and how this impacts energy efficiency, durability,
comfort and indoor air quality is essential to innovating
high-performance buildings.
 Building Physics
 Heat, air and moisture transport in buildings

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Building Functions

E. Allen (2005) How Buildings Work?, Oxford

University Press, UK
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Basic Requirement of Buildings

 Safe in respect of structure, fire, and health
 Structural strength and rigidity
 Resistance to initiation and spread of fire
 Control of air and water quality
 Economical in initial cost and operating cost
 Well-matched to its purpose
 Durable materials and components
 Reasonable maintenance and operating costs
 Aesthetically pleasing, inoffensive to the senses, and an
aid in sensory tasks
 Odor
 Light
 Sound and vibrations

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Basic Requirement of Buildings

 To function as a moderator of the environment
 To satisfy all other requirements
Must provide the control of
1. Heat flow
2. Air flow
3. Movement of water as vapor
and as liquid
4. Solar and other radiations

T.J. Kesik, https://www.wbdg.org/resources/buildingscienceconcepts.php

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Climate & Buildings

N. Lechner (2001) Heating, Cooling, Lighting: Design Methods for Architects (2nd Ed.), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York
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Factors Affecting Climate

 Solar radiation
 Ambient temperature
 Air humidity
 Precipitation
 Wind
 Sky condition

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Earth in Solar System

 Earth’s motion
 Rotation
Day/night
 Revolution
Elliptical path
365.25 days

ASHRAE Handbook Fundamental Chap.14 Climate Design Information (2013)

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Solar Angles
 Solar Declination ()
Northern hemisphere

+ 284
= 23.45° sin × 360°
365
n: the day number of the year (e.g., n=1 on Jan.1)

http://www.itacanet.org/the-sun-as-a-source-of-energy/part-3-calculating-solar-angles/
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Solar Angles
 Solar Altitude Angle ()
Apparent angular height of the sun in the sky if you are facing it

sin = sin sin + cos cos cos

L = latitude (positive in either hemisphere) [0° to +90°],
δ = declination angle (negative for Southern Hemisphere) [–23.45° to +23.45°],
H = hour angle.
At solar noon, H=0
= 90° − +
Ex) Altitude angle for Montreal at noon at solstices
Latitude L = 45.5°N;  = 68° Summer Solstice
 = 21° Winter Solstice

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Atmosphere
 Dry air composition

 Water vapor
 highly variable upto 4% by weight
 very influential and important component
From B. Sportisse (2010) Fundamentals in Air Pollution - From Processes to Modelling
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Atmosphere
 International Standard Atmosphere

E. Torenbeek.(2013) Advanced Aircraft Design: Conceptual Design, Analysis and Optimization of Subsonic Civil Airplanes, John Wiley & Sons
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Atmosphere
 Temperature variation with altitude

From B. Sportisse (2010) Fundamentals in Air Pollution - From Processes to Modelling

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Atmosphere

http://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2010/07/15/thermosphere.jpg
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Climate Classification
 Köppen Climate Classification System
 Most widely used system for classifying the world's climates.
 based on the annual and monthly averages of temperature
and precipitation.
 Five major climatic types
A - Tropical Moist Climates: all months have average temperatures
above 18° Celsius.
B - Dry Climates: with deficient precipitation during most of the year.
C - Moist Mid-latitude Climates with Mild Winters.
D - Moist Mid-Latitude Climates with Cold Winters.
E - Polar Climates: with extremely cold winters and summers.

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Kottek, M., J. Grieser, C. Beck, B. Rudolf, and F. Rubel, 2006: World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated. Meteorol. Z., 15, 259-263.

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Kottek, M., J. Grieser, C. Beck, B. Rudolf, and F. Rubel, 2006: World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated. Meteorol. Z., 15, 259-263.

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Comfort Zone

J. Lovell (2010) Building Envelopes: An Integrated approach, Princeton Architectural Press, New York.
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Local Climates
 Nature of the
ground surface
Topography, soil,
vegetation, urban
buildings, body of
water, etc.
 Heat island effect

J. Lovell (2010) Building Envelopes: An Integrated approach, Princeton Architectural Press, New York.
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Climate Change

UNEP (2012) GEO5 Global Environmental Outlook – Environment for the Future We Want

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Climate Change

UNEP SBCI (2009) Global Environmental Outlook

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Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Measure at Alert, Canada

http://www.ec.gc.ca/sc-cs/default.asp?lang=En&n=0EC06FB9-1

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Climate Change and Buildings

 Life cycle phases of buildings

UNEP SBCI (2009) Buildings and Climate Change- Summary for Decision Makers
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Sustainability & Green Buildings

 Sustainability
“meeting the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

 Green buildings
“designed, renovated, constructed, operated, and eventually
demolished in an environmentally and energy efficient
manner with least impact upon our global and internal
environment”
Principles of
Green Buildings

Minimizing
Reducing Minimizing
Reducing external pollution &
embodied energy & internal pollution &
energy in use environmental
resource depletion damage to health
damage
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Buildings and Resources

 Impact of US buildings on resources (USGBC, 2015)
 14% of potable water consumption
 30% of waste output
 40% of raw materials use
 38% of carbon dioxide emissions
 24% to 50% of energy use
 72% of electricity consumption

 Benefits of green buildings

 26% less energy usage
 27% higher levels of occupant satisfaction
 13% lower maintenance costs
 33% lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2)
USGBC, An Introduction to LEED and Green Building

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Acknowledgement
References
 N.B. Hutcheon & G.O.P. Handegord (1995) Building Science for a Cold Climate, NRCC
 ASHRAE Handbook Fundamental (2013)
 E. Allen (2005) How Buildings Work?, Oxford University Press, UK
 N. Lechner (2001) Heating, Cooling, Lighting: Design Methods for Architects (2nd Ed.),
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York
 B. Sportisse (2010) Fundamentals in Air Pollution - From Processes to Modelling
 E. Torenbeek.(2013) Advanced Aircraft Design: Conceptual Design, Analysis and
Optimization of Subsonic Civil Airplanes, John Wiley & Sons
 Kottek, M., J. Grieser, C. Beck, B. Rudolf, and F. Rubel, 2006: World Map of the Köppen-
Geiger climate classification updated. Meteorol. Z., 15, 259-263
 J. Lovell (2010) Building Envelopes: An Integrated approach, Princeton Architectural
Press, New York.
 UNEP (2012) GEO5 Global Environmental Outlook – Environment for the Future We
Want
 UNEP SBCI (2009) Buildings and Climate Change- Summary for Decision Makers
 USGBC, An Introduction to LEED and Green Building
 Various websites
Some slides from Dr. H. Akbari’s lectures

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Building Science - Adventures in Building Science

 Berkeley Lab- Distinguished Lecturer Series
 By Dr. Joseph Lstiburek, Building Science Corporation
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkfAcWpOYAA

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