ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates the rules of thumb for different climatic regions with the use of some imagined buildings. It shows the different construction methods, planning factors, form, orientation and natural heating/cooling techniques. The chapter describes several rules for hot-dry climate, hot-humid climate, cold climate, cold-winter/hot-summer climate, and temperate climate. The rules of hot-dry climate are: the key is to slow the rate of indoor heating on summer days using thermal mass and shading, promote rapid cooling on summer evenings with wind towers and/or cross ventilation, use natural cooling in summer, with water if available, and use natural heating in winter, so orientation and opening design for solar gain are crucial. The rules of hot-humid climate are: the priority is ventilation: it must be effective, night and day, reduce solar heating of the building fabric with shading, permit a high rate of evening cooling with large openings and cross ventilation, and allow natural cooling using shaded ground, evaporative cooling and wind.
