4.4. Climate and Housing

It is the climate which determines the house types. Igloo in polar region (the house of Eskimos), and open houses in tropical areas are the glaring examples. In terms of building or architectural climatology, the micro-climatic conditions are influenced by a number of factors such as local relief, nearby buildings, landscaping, existing water bodies and industrial wastes. Climate is an important input in green buildings which tries to maximize usage of sunshine, winds etc.

In tropical countries, double roofs to ensure free movement of air reduce the flow of absorbed solar heat into a building. The type of roofs designed for houses in different climatic conditions take care of precipitation or snowfall.