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Visualizing the Seasons |
Introduction Animations
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 This "climatic wheel" portrays the climate changes during a typical annual cycle, identifying four distinct seasons: winter, theremal sailing, hot-dry and hot humid. The Thermal Sailing Seasons, usually one extended period in the spring and one in the fall, are those multi-day periods when the operative temperature in the house stays within the comfort range without the need for any intervention by mechanical systems. The average daily outdoor temperature during this period is within the comfort zone. The Hot-Dry Season can also occur during the spring and fall and is that period when mechanical equipment is required to maintain comfort conditions, and the dew point is below 55F. The Hot-Humid Season occurs when the average dailly temperature is above the comfort range and the dewpoint is above 55°F so that mechanical equipment is required to maintain comfort. Evaporative coolers become ineffective during this period. Note that the comfort standard recommends that the indoor dew point be kept below 62F. This may require dehumidification equipment The Winter Season is that period when the daily mean temperature is below the comfort range and some form of heating, passive or active, is needed to maintain comfort conditions within the occupied space. |
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| Visualizing the changing thermal conditions in the envelope and space The animation below shows
the actual passive thermal performance of a well insulated high mass envelope
along with the resulting interior space conditions during a two day cycle
during period when daily mean temperature were 90°F (32.2°C) -
conditions falling above the summer comfort zone. These exterior conditions
occured during latter September and would be considered in the hot dry
season. |
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The animation below shows
the actual passive thermal performance of a well insulated high mass envelope
along with the resulting interior space conditions during a two day cycle
during period when daily mean temperature was 74°F (23°C) - conditions
falling in the middle of the combined summer and winter comfort zones.
These exterior conditions occured during March and would be considered
the Thermal Sailing Season. |
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