Sun & Wind

Balancing solar radiation is key to designing solar responsive buildings, striking the right balance between excessive and insufficient exposure. Facades and roofs are of paramount importance as the primary sun-exposed areas in urban environments, providing the foundation for energy-related functions within buildings, ranging from solar energy harvesting to cooling requirements. ENVI-met software provides efficient solar access modules that allow for quick and thorough assessments of solar exposure for all building facades, taking into account environmental factors such as vegetation.

ENVI-met software provides comprehensive microclimate analysis, ranging from short-term periods of a few days to long-term annual assessments, including vital climate parameters such as solar access. This enables accurate estimation of energy use on building facades and quantification of year-round growing conditions for plants. Gain detailed insight into both energy dynamics and optimal plant development throughout the year with advanced analysis capabilities.

Highly reflective metal or glass facades can have a significant impact on the local microclimate by altering the reflection of solar radiation. The presence of such materials, such as aluminum, can result in a significant increase of 300 W/m² or more in the surrounding area compared to standard concrete structures. ENVI-met software incorporates the Indexed View Sphere (IVS) method, which allows accurate modeling of multi-reflection radiation fluxes and accurate estimation of thermal radiation, providing high resolution analysis.

Key to the analysis of urban microclimate and air quality is the simulation of the three-dimensional wind field. This wind vector governs energy transport, pollutant dispersion, and wind-related human and vegetation comfort and risk. ENVI-met software integrates a comprehensive three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) system that continuously adapts to evolving thermal conditions. Supported by an advanced turbulence model, it provides the basis for accurate microclimate and air quality simulations.

Semi-open spaces, such as atriums, train stations, and stadiums, create unique microclimates that are influenced by both meteorological factors and the surrounding design. Wind and sun play a pivotal role in establishing a direct connection between these spaces and the external environment, fundamentally shaping their distinct characteristics. Understanding the interplay of wind and solar dynamics is critical to understanding and optimizing the microclimate within semi-open spaces.

When wind interacts with solid obstacles such as buildings, walls, or vegetation, motion forces are transmitted toward the obstacle and cause mechanical reactions in the obstacle. In an urban environment, both wind direction and wind speed can vary significantly due to jet effects and vortex formation. Therefore, a detailed analysis of the local flow conditions under varying wind directions is essential to ensure safe building construction and to avoid wind-blown debris or damage to urban trees.