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Solar & Daylight Data

Updated 2026-09-02

Daylight & Orientation: Calgary, Canada

How to research daylight & orientation for a specific site in Calgary — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.

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Last updated September 2, 2026 · Location data from the [GeoNames CA dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/CA.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 5913490). Regulatory starting point: [Codes Canada and the applicable provincial or territorial authority](https://nrc.canada.ca/en/certifications-evaluations-standards/codes-canada/codes-canada-publications). Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: [NOAA Solar Calculation Details](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html); the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained. Project-date refinement reference: [NREL Solar Position Algorithm](https://midcdmz.nrel.gov/spa/).

Direct answer

For Calgary at 51.0501, -114.0853, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 62.4° at the June solstice, 38.9° at an equinox and 15.5° at the December solstice. Refine these geometry checks with the project date, civil time, facade azimuth, terrain and local horizon. The reproducible location record is GeoNames ID 5913490 in administrative area 01, at 51.0501, -114.0853; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 62.4° at the June solstice, 38.9° at an equinox and 15.5° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 7.7 hours in December to 16.3 hours in June; this excludes atmospheric refraction, terrain and obstruction effects. The cited national authority is a discovery starting point; current local documents and a named qualified reviewer control project use of this daylight and building orientation record.

Prepared by Harth · Topic-specific calculated asset and fresh SERP brief passed editorial screening; page remains noindex pending the independent content, evidence, similarity and link gates · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-09-02.

What must be verified for Calgary?

Calgary is represented here at approximately 51.0501, -114.0853 for discovery and workflow planning. A project address, parcel, elevation, exposure, authority, and submission date must replace that city-centre reference before design use.

How should daylight and building orientation be established?

  1. Fix the surveyed site and local time basis.
  2. Select an authoritative weather source or a named solar-position algorithm.
  3. Record period, percentile or scenario and units.
  4. Test sensitivity to elevation, exposure, urban form and horizon.
  5. Save the source file, retrieval date and checker in the model record.
InputProject-specific evidenceQA question
Sitesurveyed coordinates, elevation and horizonDoes the point represent the building?
Weather/solar methodnamed dataset, algorithm, period and time basisAre station, time zone and units explicit?
Design scenariocurrent and future scenario agreed by the teamIs an average being mistaken for an extreme?
Complianceadopted local document and editionWas applicability confirmed with the authority?

What are the limits of this worksheet?

This daylight-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Calgary site remain authoritative.

Calgary monthly daylight-orientation ledger

Representative dateGeometric daylightSolar sunriseSolar sunsetSunrise hour angleNoon bearingChange from prior month
21 January8.403 h07.8016.2063.02°180.0°+0.730 h
21 February10.105 h06.9517.0575.79°180.0°+1.702 h
21 March11.933 h06.0317.9789.50°180.0°+1.829 h
21 April13.958 h05.0218.98104.68°180.0°+2.024 h
21 May15.597 h04.2019.80116.98°180.0°+1.639 h
21 June16.327 h03.8420.16122.45°180.0°+0.730 h
21 July15.661 h04.1719.83117.46°180.0°-0.666 h
21 August13.989 h05.0118.99104.92°180.0°-1.672 h
21 September11.967 h06.0217.9889.75°180.0°-2.022 h
21 October10.011 h06.9917.0175.08°180.0°-1.956 h
21 November8.339 h07.8316.1762.54°180.0°-1.672 h
21 December7.673 h08.1615.8457.55°180.0°-0.666 h

Orientation checks prompted by the Calgary ledger

The representative daylight span runs from 7.673 hours on 21 December to 16.327 hours on 21 June. Solar sunrise and sunset are expressed in apparent solar time, not a time-zone clock. The noon-bearing column is a true-north azimuth screen and becomes unstable when the sun passes close to zenith.

For Calgary at 51.0501°, -114.0853°, test each occupied facade against the actual horizon, adjacent buildings, glazing, room depth and target illuminance. This ledger describes geometric availability only; it does not estimate irradiance, daylight autonomy, glare or energy. Refine project-date positions with the NREL SPA.

Where can you explore related guidance?

Sources and method

Location data from the GeoNames CA dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 5913490). Regulatory starting point: Codes Canada and the applicable provincial or territorial authority. Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: NOAA Solar Calculation Details; the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained. Project-date refinement reference: NREL Solar Position Algorithm.

Source links

Frequently asked questions

What does the daylight and building orientation record for Calgary establish?

The daylight and building orientation record for Calgary establishes a reproducible discovery point at 51.0501, -114.0853 (GeoNames ID 5913490, administrative area 01) and a Canada source path. It does not establish a final project value, approval or parcel decision.

What must be replaced before using this daylight and building orientation workflow for a project in Calgary?

For the daylight and building orientation record in Calgary, replace the 51.0501, -114.0853 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under National Building Code of Canada plus provincial, territorial, and municipal adoption. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.

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