Final answer:
Building fenestration orientation is essential for managing solar heat gain, with different strategies for hot and cold climates. Overhangs and the angle of solar panels are also important design considerations, especially in areas with clear skies where solar tracking can significantly enhance performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The orientation of a building's fenestration, which includes elements like windows and doors, significantly impacts its thermal performance. Building orientation is crucial in different climates when designing for solar heat gain. In hot, sunny climates, it's optimal to have the largest windows face away from the sun—typically north—to avoid excessive heat, with south-facing walls being well insulated and bearing smaller windows for cross-ventilation and reduced sunlight intake. Conversely, in colder climates such as Canada, maximizing heat from the winter sun might lead to choosing the opposite orientation with greater southern exposure. Overhangs can provide additional seasonal control, by shading south-facing windows from high summer sun while allowing lower winter sun to penetrate and warm the interior. Solar panels also need careful consideration regarding their angle and orientation for efficient operation, particularly in locations with different sun path patterns due to latitude differences. The demand for solar tracking is higher in cloud-free regions, where concentrated solar power systems can receive up to a 30% boost in performance over flat panels. In summary, while both overcast and clear skies affect building fenestration design, orientation and detailing are critical in managing solar energy interaction with the building.