# Solar Shading Design: Mlolongo, Kenya

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

- Canonical: https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/solar-shading-design-mlolongo-ke/
- Last updated: 2026-09-02
- Data source: 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 9166066). 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/).

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Location reference | -1.3964, 36.9403 (GeoNames ID 9166066; replace with surveyed project coordinates) |
| Administrative area | 31 (GeoNames snapshot code; confirm the competent local jurisdiction) |
| Regulatory starting point | National Building Code and county development-control requirements (country-level context only; identify the competent local authority) |
| June-solstice solar-noon check | 65.2° (declination-only geometry; not an hourly obstruction model) |
| Equinox solar-noon check | 88.6° (declination-only geometry) |
| December-solstice solar-noon check | 68.0° (declination-only geometry; verify civil time and horizon) |
| Approximate daylight range | 11.9–12.1 hours (representative 21st-day geometry (June to December); excludes refraction and terrain) |

## Direct answer

For Mlolongo at -1.3964, 36.9403, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 65.2° at the June solstice, 88.6° 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 9166066 in administrative area 31, at -1.3964, 36.9403; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 65.2° at the June solstice, 88.6° 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.

*Content and cited inputs reviewed by [Scott Barrington](https://nz.linkedin.com/in/barrington), Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-09-02.*

## What must be verified for Mlolongo?

Mlolongo is represented here at approximately **-1.3964, 36.9403** 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.

| Input | Project-specific evidence | QA question |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Site | surveyed coordinates, elevation and horizon | Does the point represent the building? |
| Weather/solar method | named dataset, algorithm, period and time basis | Are station, time zone and units explicit? |
| Design scenario | current and future scenario agreed by the team | Is an average being mistaken for an extreme? |
| Compliance | adopted local document and edition | Was 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 Mlolongo site remain authoritative.

## Mlolongo monthly solar geometry check for solar shading design

| Representative date | Declination | Solar-noon altitude | Geometric daylight | Noon shadow / height |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| 21 January | -20.14° | 71.26° | 12.068 h | 0.339 |
| 21 February | -11.23° | 80.17° | 12.037 h | 0.173 |
| 21 March | -0.40° | 89.01° | 12.001 h | 0.017 |
| 21 April | +11.58° | 77.02° | 11.962 h | 0.230 |
| 21 May | +20.14° | 68.47° | 11.932 h | 0.395 |
| 21 June | +23.45° | 65.15° | 11.919 h | 0.463 |
| 21 July | +20.44° | 68.16° | 11.931 h | 0.401 |
| 21 August | +11.75° | 76.85° | 11.961 h | 0.234 |
| 21 September | -0.20° | 88.81° | 12.001 h | 0.021 |
| 21 October | -11.75° | 79.64° | 12.039 h | 0.183 |
| 21 November | -20.44° | 70.95° | 12.069 h | 0.345 |
| 21 December | -23.45° | 67.95° | 12.081 h | 0.405 |

## Mlolongo solar-geometry fingerprint at -1.3964, 36.9403

- **Mlolongo, 21 January:** declination -20.14°, noon altitude 71.26°, zenith 18.74°, geometric daylight 12.068 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.339.
- **Mlolongo, 21 February:** declination -11.23°, noon altitude 80.17°, zenith 9.83°, geometric daylight 12.037 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.173.
- **Mlolongo, 21 March:** declination -0.40°, noon altitude 89.01°, zenith 0.99°, geometric daylight 12.001 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.017.
- **Mlolongo, 21 April:** declination +11.58°, noon altitude 77.02°, zenith 12.98°, geometric daylight 11.962 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.230.
- **Mlolongo, 21 May:** declination +20.14°, noon altitude 68.47°, zenith 21.53°, geometric daylight 11.932 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.395.
- **Mlolongo, 21 June:** declination +23.45°, noon altitude 65.15°, zenith 24.85°, geometric daylight 11.919 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.463.
- **Mlolongo, 21 July:** declination +20.44°, noon altitude 68.16°, zenith 21.84°, geometric daylight 11.931 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.401.
- **Mlolongo, 21 August:** declination +11.75°, noon altitude 76.85°, zenith 13.15°, geometric daylight 11.961 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.234.
- **Mlolongo, 21 September:** declination -0.20°, noon altitude 88.81°, zenith 1.19°, geometric daylight 12.001 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.021.
- **Mlolongo, 21 October:** declination -11.75°, noon altitude 79.64°, zenith 10.36°, geometric daylight 12.039 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.183.
- **Mlolongo, 21 November:** declination -20.44°, noon altitude 70.95°, zenith 19.05°, geometric daylight 12.069 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.345.
- **Mlolongo, 21 December:** declination -23.45°, noon altitude 67.95°, zenith 22.05°, geometric daylight 12.081 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.405.

Harth computed the Mlolongo fingerprint for latitude -1.3964° with the Cooper declination approximation, `90° - |latitude - declination|` at solar noon, centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle and `1 / tan(altitude)` shadow ratio. Longitude 36.9403° is retained for a later civil-time conversion; this screen does not perform that conversion. See [NOAA's solar calculation details](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html). Atmospheric refraction, terrain, facade azimuth and obstructions remain outside this first-pass comparison.

## Where can you explore related guidance?

- [Explore all solar data guidance](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data.md)
- [Sun Path: Mlolongo, Kenya](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/sun-path-mlolongo-ke.md)
- [Solar Altitude & Azimuth: Mlolongo, Kenya](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/solar-altitude-azimuth-mlolongo-ke.md)
- [Daylight & Orientation: Mlolongo, Kenya](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/daylight-orientation-mlolongo-ke.md)
- [Solar Shading Design: Athi River, Kenya](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/solar-shading-design-athi-river-ke.md)
- [All solar & daylight data guidance for Kenya](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/kenya.md)
- [House Construction Cost Planning: Mlolongo, Kenya](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/house-construction-cost-mlolongo-ke.md)
- [Office Construction Cost Planning: Mlolongo, Kenya](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/office-construction-cost-mlolongo-ke.md)
- [Retail Construction Cost Planning: Mlolongo, Kenya](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/retail-construction-cost-mlolongo-ke.md)
- [School Construction Cost Planning: Mlolongo, Kenya](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/school-construction-cost-mlolongo-ke.md)

## Sources and method

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 9166066). 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/).

### Source links

- [download.geonames.org](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/KE.zip)

- [nca.go.ke](https://www.nca.go.ke/)

- [gml.noaa.gov](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html)

- [midcdmz.nrel.gov](https://midcdmz.nrel.gov/spa/)

## Frequently asked questions

### What does the solar shading design record for Mlolongo establish?

The solar shading design record for Mlolongo establishes a reproducible discovery point at -1.3964, 36.9403 (GeoNames ID 9166066, administrative area 31) 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 Mlolongo?

For the solar shading design record in Mlolongo, replace the -1.3964, 36.9403 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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