Solar Radiation Data Manual for Buildings

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Architects and engineers use solar resource information to help design passive solar and daylight features for buildings. Solar resource information includes data on how much solar radiation and illuminance are available for different window orientations, and how they vary.

This manual provides solar radiation and illuminance values for a horizontal window and four vertical windows (facing north, east, south, and west) for 239 stations in the United States and its territories. The solar radiation values are monthly and yearly averages for the period of 1961-1990. Included are values showing the solar radiation incident on the window. Illuminance values are presented for average diurnal profiles for 4 months of the year.

In addition to the solar radiation and illuminance data, this manual contains tables listing climatic conditions such as average temperature, average daily minimum and maximum temperature, record minimum and maximum temperature, average heating and cooling degree days, average humidity ratio, average wind speed, and average clearness index.

The solar radiation, illuminance, and climatic data are presented in tables. Data for each station are presented on a single page, and the pages are arranged alphabetically by the state or territory, the pages are arranged alphabetically by city or island.

Map of 239 Stations in the National Solar Radiation Data Base (230K)

Technical Background

Table of Contents

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