Comparison between need and availability of wind and solar radiation for bioclimatic analysis of buildings in Florianópolis

Abstract

The bioclimatic strategies recommended to ease thermal discomfort under hot or cold conditions in Florianópolis are, respectively, natural ventilation and solar heating. Therefore, the main objective of this article is to assess the availability of wind and solar radiation in buildings under the climatic conditions of Florianópolis, as natural ventilation and solar heating will only be effective bioclimatic strategies if there is wind and solar radiation available. The bioclimatic strategies proposed by Baruch Givoni were analysed considering the three hottest and the three coldest months of 2006 in Florianópolis. The Analysis BIO computer programme was used. Such bioclimatic strategies were compared with the availability of wind and solar radiation. From the results, it could be observed that, for the hottest months, there was wind available over 74% of the time in which natural ventilation was needed. However, for the coldest months, there was sunshine over only 35% of the time in which solar heating was necessary. The main conclusion derived from the analysis is that building designers should check if natural ventilation and solar radiation are available when they are needed as bioclimatic strategies, as other strategies should be considered to account for their absence.