Sun Hours on Ground
The averaged hours of direct sunlight per day on the ground, over the course of one year. The impact of a new development project on sunlight and shadows is frequently a topic of concern from a sustainability and quality of life perspective. Sun hours on the ground quantifies this impact.
Developments in cool climates should aim to maximize sun hours on ground, and in warm climates should review shadow hours for maximizing solar comfort.
How are sun hours on the ground measured?
Delve uses historical weather data and the project’s geographical location to simulate sunlight rays for every hour of the day throughout a full year. Delve then samples the ground to see if these sunlight rays are unobstructed by generated buildings or existing structures in the surrounding context. The unobstructed vectors are then summed up to provide the average hours of sunlight received per day.
How to interpret sun hours scores?
Six hours of direct sunlight or more on vegetated open space is acceptable according to the City Environmental Quality Review for New York. Greater than 6 hours of sunlight during a day would ensure the health of vegetation and increase comfort level in public spaces.
Data Sources
Historic weather data (Energy Plus)
Existing buildings (OpenStreetMap)