The design and the management of a building for Climatic / Thermal Effectiveness depends on understanding the physics of the interaction of the external conditions and the building’s ‘fabric’ and interior spaces, and the relation this has not only to human physiology but to human culture. The issue in climatically responsive and responsible design is to find ways in which locally available low-cost materials — preferably those of least environmental cost — can be combined to provide acceptable thermal conditions in buildings throughout the year, in accordance with the inhabitants’ requirements (e.g. in terms of the use of the buildings at different times of the year and of the day).

This requires us to have a good understanding of general Climate conditions, as well as the more nuanced Micro-Climate of a site. This would include:

• Air Temperature
• Temperature Range
• Solar Radiation
• Cloud-Cover
• Relative Humidity
• Wind
• Night Sky Radiation
• Precipitation

The physics of the interaction of buildings and climate is of course universal, but the ways in which it can be applied to provide comfortable and appropriate human environments depends on local conditions — 

• Climatic
• Geographical
• Material
• Economic
• Social
• Cultural