Modeling and Bioclimatic Design
EXPERT TOOLS AT THE SERVICE OF PROJECTS
TERAO Asia has been practicing modeling and bioclimatic design since its origins: the contributions of its founder’s expertise has been essential in this field. This history of technique and passion is perpetuated today by the transmission of a unique know-how and the work of TERAO Asia team every day to provide detailed modeling and bioclimatic design.
Our highly qualified team pilot and carry out advanced technical studies with high added value:
Bioclimatic design has existed since the act of building itself appeared (locating the habitat in order to shelter it from the wind, taking benefit of good solar gains and reducing bad solar gains, etc.). These challenges and technical means of construction and modelling of building performance have continued to evolve, and today refer to advanced concepts, tools and requirements.
The thermal performance of buildings and the optimization of their envelopes and systems respond to factors with complex interactions. The need to reduce their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and to predict the level of hygrothermal and light comfort they will offer to their occupants – including in anticipation of climate change – are now at the heart of the concerns of public authorities, project owners and project managers, and users.
If integrated design (taking into account bioclimatic aspects from the start and at each stage of design) has long been a voluntary approach, if not militant and committed, because hidden by the “modernist” approach, it (re) becomes an absolute necessity with the climate change and all its consequences!
Our expert pilot and carry out advanced technical studies with high added value:
Sunshine and sun exposure study
Sky view factor and View Out
Thermal modeling
Energy modeling
CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) external and internal
CFD study flows at different scales: indoor environments (particularly complex ones), surrounding of buildings, or even at the city/ neighborhood scale (particularly in connection with the Heat Island Effect).
Energy supply and strategy studies
Heat Island effect
Thus, the temperature difference between the center of a city and its rural surroundings can vary from 2 to 15°C depending on the location. Studies of the Heat Island Effect are studies that take into account sun, air temperature and wind (via CFD). This study makes it possible to give recommendations to limit the contribution of the project to the heat island effect.
Thermal comfort and light comfort studies
The daylight factor is an index of natural lighting inside buildings, defined by the ratio between the interior lighting on a work surface or the ground (excluding artificial lighting) to the natural lighting outside.
Light autonomy corresponds to the percentage of time during which natural light is sufficient to ensure the lighting level recommended.
First step for energy efficiency, comfortable and sustainable buildings
Carrying out a site analysis is a prerequisite for any bioclimatic design approach: analysis of the climate, the course of the sun and the existing masks, and the potential improvement of biodiversity that can influence temperature and provide shading, identifying the potential for natural ventilation…
This makes it possible to optimize morphology, orientation of the building, the design of its facades, and to determine the optimized envelope. This reflection integrates all uses and internal gains of the building.
It is clear that these considerations are fundamental from the point of view of environmental impact and energy consumption, as well as comfort and quality of use! In practice, they can be deployed through expert statements and/or advanced modeling of the behavior of any future building or neighbourhood.
