Climate Appropriateness
Considerations regarding climate-appropriate technologies are areas in which feasibility, performance, and economics often intersect. By selecting technologies that are practical for your climate, you will be optimizing the performance of your building, which, in turn, will result in cost-effective operation and maintenance.
Identify Your Climate Zone
DOE climate zones serve as the basis of IECC requirements for insulation levels, window performance characteristics, and HVAC and water heating equipment sizing and efficiency.
As your climate becomes more severe (either hot or cold, or humid or dry), you will want to consider higher levels of insulation, better performing windows, and more efficient space-heating/cooling equipment.
Although not prohibited by code, certain types of space-heating equipment may not be as suitable for certain climates. For instance, a standard air-source heat pump will not perform cost effectively or produce desired levels of comfort in climates with very cold temperatures (for example, significant periods below 40 °F). Some manufacturers have developed air-source heat pumps that do perform well at these lower temperatures, however, so it is worth looking at what is frequently referred to as a “cold climate heat pump.”
In a hot, dry climate like Phoenix, Arizona, the emphasis will be on cooling, and selecting the most efficient air-conditioning equipment the budget permits may be advisable. Standard space-heating equipment for a short, moderate heating season may be all that is really warranted, given the amount of time it will operate.
The choice in selecting the most effective innovations may be driven by both temperature and humidity. For example, in colder climates, a heating recovery ventilator may be appropriate. In humid climates, dehumidification strategies may be needed.
For new projects or additions, your climate zone will affect the orientation and design of your building. When feasible, maximize southern exposure in all climates that have a heating season; maximize exposure to prevailing winds in cooling dominated climates; avoid significant north-facing glazing in cold climates and west-facing glazing in warm/hot climates. These examples are only a few of the ways that climate considerations may affect your design. The humidity or dryness of your climate affects the method of application of vapor barriers, strategies in HVAC duct location, and appropriate ventilation design.