Tropical Design

The general climate of a large geographical area (e.g., the tropical belt).

Macroclimate

The localized climate of a specific site, influenced by vegetation, topography, and water bodies.

Microclimate

The amount of water vapor in the air; in hot-humid tropics, high RH (above 80%) prevents sweat evaporation, causing discomfort.

Relative Humidity

The horizontal angle of the sun measured from the North

Azimuth

The vertical angle of the sun above the Horizon.

Altitude

The two times a year when the sun reaches its highest (Summer) or lowest (Winter) point in the sky.

Solstice

The two times a year when day and night are of equal length.

Equinox

Using the principle that hot air rises, allowing it to escape through high-level vents or monitors.

Stack Effect

Increasing wind speed by constricting the air flow through a narrow opening or passage.

Venturi Effect

Removing heat from a surface by moving air over it.

Convective Cooling

Opening windows at night to allow cool air to flush out the heat stored in the building's mass.

Night Flush Cooling

Using overhangs, fins, or louvers to block direct sunlight before it hits the glass.

Sun Shading

A variable used to calculate the total heat gain through a surface, combining air temperature and solar radiation.

Sol-Air Temperature

A horizontal surface that reflects daylight deep into a building while shading the lower window.

Light Shelf

A high-level window that provides daylight and ventilation while maintaining privacy.

Clerestory Window

A permanent sun-shading structure (e.g., concrete fins) popularized by Le Corbusier.

Brise Soleil

The rate of heat transfer through a material (Lower U-value = Better insulation).

U-Value

The thermal resistance of a material (Higher R-value = Better insulation)

R Value

The time delay for heat to pass through a thick wall from the outside to the inside.

Thermal Lag

The ability of a material to release absorbed heat.

Emissivity

The concept that an increase in the speed of a fluid (air) occurs simultaneously with a decrease in static pressure; used to design openings that accelerate indoor airflow.

Bernoulli’s Principle

The reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows through a constricted section of a pipe or a narrowed architectural passage, increasing wind velocity.

Venturi Effect

The variation between a high temperature and a low temperature that occurs during the same day; critical for determining the required Thermal Mass of a structure.

Diurnal Temperature Swing

The uniform temperature of an imaginary enclosure in which the radiant heat transfer from the human body is equal to the radiant heat transfer in the actual non-uniform enclosure.

Mean Radiant Temperature

The transfer of heat from one place to another by the movement of fluids; the primary scientific goal of "cross-ventilation" in tropical zones.

Convective Heat Transfer

The measure of the diffuse reflection of solar radiation out of the total solar radiation received by a body; high-albedo materials (white/silver) minimize solar heat gain.

Albedo Effect

Using trees to filter dust and cool the wind before it enters the building.

Vegetation Buffer

The side of the building facing the wind (High-pressure zone).

Windward Side

The side of the building away from the wind (Low-pressure zone/Wind shadow).

Leeward Side

Ground surfaces that allow water to soak through, reducing ambient heat and runoff.

Pervious Paving