Solar & Daylight Data

Updated 2026-09-02

Solar Shading Design: Kitengela, Kenya

How to research solar shading design for a specific site in Kitengela — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.

Last updated September 2, 2026 · Location data from the [GeoNames KE dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/KE.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 7931934). Regulatory starting point: [National Construction Authority and the applicable county government](https://www.nca.go.ke/). 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 Kitengela at -1.4761, 36.9614, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 65.1° at the June solstice, 88.5° at an equinox and 68.0° 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 7931934 in administrative area 19, at -1.4761, 36.9614; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 65.1° at the June solstice, 88.5° at an equinox and 68.0° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 11.9 hours in June to 12.1 hours in December; 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 solar shading design 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 Kitengela?

Kitengela is represented here at approximately -1.4761, 36.9614 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 solar shading design 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 shading-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Kitengela site remain authoritative.

Kitengela horizontal-overhang screening worksheet

Representative date09:00 altitude / P:HSolar noon altitude / P:H15:00 altitude / P:H
21 January42.26° / 1.10071.34° / 0.33842.26° / 1.100
21 February44.30° / 1.02580.25° / 0.17244.30° / 1.025
21 March44.99° / 1.00088.93° / 0.01944.99° / 1.000
21 April43.42° / 1.05776.94° / 0.23243.42° / 1.057
21 May40.90° / 1.15468.39° / 0.39640.90° / 1.154
21 June39.66° / 1.20665.07° / 0.46539.66° / 1.206
21 July40.80° / 1.15968.08° / 0.40240.80° / 1.159
21 August43.38° / 1.05876.77° / 0.23543.38° / 1.058
21 September44.99° / 1.00088.73° / 0.02244.99° / 1.000
21 October44.21° / 1.02879.72° / 0.18144.21° / 1.028
21 November42.17° / 1.10471.03° / 0.34442.17° / 1.104
21 December41.20° / 1.14268.03° / 0.40341.20° / 1.142

Kitengela overhang sizing hand check

P:H is projection depth divided by the vertical facade distance to shade, calculated as 1 / tan(solar altitude). For a 1.20 m vertical target, multiply the table ratio by 1.20 m. The 09:00 and 15:00 columns use apparent solar time and show the solar-profile-plane ratio; they do not resolve facade azimuth, horizontal shadow displacement or a side-fin geometry.

The Kitengela worksheet uses latitude -1.4761° and records longitude 36.9614°. A project study must replace the reference point, use the actual facade normal and obstruction mask, convert to civil time, test the full occupied period and account for diffuse sky, glazing and thermal performance. Refine solar positions with the NREL SPA.

Sources and method

Location data from the GeoNames KE dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 7931934). Regulatory starting point: National Construction Authority and the applicable county government. 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.

Frequently asked questions

What does the solar shading design record for Kitengela establish?

The solar shading design record for Kitengela establishes a reproducible discovery point at -1.4761, 36.9614 (GeoNames ID 7931934, administrative area 19) and a Kenya source path. It does not establish a final project value, approval or parcel decision.

What must be replaced before using this solar shading design workflow for a project in Kitengela?

For the solar shading design record in Kitengela, replace the -1.4761, 36.9614 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under National Building Code and county development-control requirements. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.

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