| Sustainability has become an important issue, globally and on the architectural agenda. Sustainable building design involves all aspects of design, with a very important component, which is energy. This issue is of particular importance in Canada, where consequences of its energy-intensive economy have resulted in high emissions of green house gases, contributing to the global warming and depletion of the ozone layer. The Southern Ontario region has a big share of this emission, since it is the most populated and industrialized region in Canada.; The thesis gives insight to the impacts of energy use in the built environment and its environmental consequences, concentrating on the commercial and institutional subsector, since it is highly energy extensive and experiencing a high rate of growth. It critiques the prevalent environmental assessment methods in Canada and discusses their appropriateness as design tools.; The emphasis of the thesis is on developing climate responsive and energy conserving tools appropriate to the Southern Ontario region, covering the whole decision-making spectrum in building design. To achieve this, the thesis assesses the variations of each of the climatic elements in the region and their influence within the context of climatic design. It discusses thermal comfort parameters and assesses the deviation of the external thermal environment from comfort conditions. A methodology for estimations and analysis of heat gains and losses is outlined to help the designer identify the building's thermal needs. Accordingly, appropriate design strategies are suggested. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
