Development of climatic zones and passive solar design in Madagascar

• Published in: Energy conversion and management Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 1004 - 1010
• Main Authors: Rakoto-Joseph, O., Garde, F., David, M., Adelard, L., Randriamanantany, Z.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Climatic zones; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Engineering Sciences; Equipments, installations and applications; Exact sciences and technology; Heating, air conditioning and ventilation; Mechanics; Natural energy; Passive solar designs; Physics; Solar energy; Solar thermal conversion; Technical data: comfort, insulation, loads, etc; Thermal comfort; Thermics; Malagasy Republic; Africa; ISW, Indian Ocean, Madagascar; Climatic zones; Thermal comfort; Passive solar designs; Design; Psychrometric chart; Bioclimatic building; Climatic map; Solar energy; Passive system; Solar heating; Natural ventilation
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2008.12.011

Climate classification is extremely useful to design buildings for thermal comfort purposes. This paper presents the first work for a climate classification of Madagascar Island. This classification is based on the meteorological data measured in different cities of this country. Three major climatic zones are identified. Psychometric charts for the six urban areas of Madagascar are proposed, and suited passive solar designs related to each climate are briefly discussed. Finally, a total of three passive design zones have been identified and appropriate design strategies such as solar heating, natural ventilation, thermal mass are suggested for each zone. The specificity of this work is that: it is the first published survey on the climate classification and the passive solar designs for this developing country.