Climate Consultant is a graphic-based software designed to help architects, builders, contractors, homeowners, and students understand their local climate for designing sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. It uses annual 8760-hour EPW format climate data, provided free by the US Department of Energy, from thousands of weather stations worldwide. The tool translates raw climate data into dozens of intuitive graphic displays, offering insights into subtle climate attributes and their impact on built environments.
More than just plotting data, Climate Consultant organizes information into user-friendly visuals to aid in understanding how climate influences building design. One of its advanced features is the Psychrometric Chart, which plots temperature and humidity data for every hour of the year. Specific zones on the chart represent 16 different Design Strategies, such as passive heating and cooling. The tool analyzes the percentage of hours that fall into each zone, offering tailored Design Guidelines for a specific location.
By visualizing climate data and identifying effective strategies, Climate Consultant enables users to design buildings that are uniquely suited to their environments. It is a valuable resource for creating energy-efficient, sustainable designs that respond to local climatic conditions.
