Solar & Daylight Data

Updated 2026-08-31

Sun Path: Kitchener, Canada

How to research sun path for a specific site in Kitchener — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.

Last updated August 31, 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 5992996). 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.

Direct answer

For Kitchener at 43.4254, -80.5112, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 70.0° at the June solstice, 46.6° at an equinox and 23.1° 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 5992996 in administrative area 08, at 43.4254, -80.5112; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 70.0° at the June solstice, 46.6° at an equinox and 23.1° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 8.8 hours in December to 15.2 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 sun path record.

Prepared by Harth · Prepared from the cited location and country sources; local project inputs remain unreviewed · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-08-31.

What must be verified for Kitchener?

Kitchener is represented here at approximately 43.4254, -80.5112 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 sun path 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 sun-path-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Kitchener site remain authoritative.

Kitchener monthly solar geometry check for sun path

Representative dateDeclinationSolar-noon altitudeGeometric daylightNoon shadow / height
21 January-20.14°26.44°9.292 h2.011
21 February-11.23°35.35°10.556 h1.410
21 March-0.40°46.17°11.949 h0.960
21 April+11.58°58.15°13.491 h0.621
21 May+20.14°66.71°14.708 h0.430
21 June+23.45°70.02°15.232 h0.363
21 July+20.44°67.02°14.754 h0.424
21 August+11.75°58.33°13.514 h0.617
21 September-0.20°46.37°11.975 h0.953
21 October-11.75°34.82°10.486 h1.438
21 November-20.44°26.13°9.246 h2.038
21 December-23.45°23.12°8.768 h2.342

Kitchener solar-geometry fingerprint at 43.4254, -80.5112

  • Kitchener, 21 January: declination -20.14°, noon altitude 26.44°, zenith 63.56°, geometric daylight 9.292 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.011.
  • Kitchener, 21 February: declination -11.23°, noon altitude 35.35°, zenith 54.65°, geometric daylight 10.556 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.410.
  • Kitchener, 21 March: declination -0.40°, noon altitude 46.17°, zenith 43.83°, geometric daylight 11.949 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.960.
  • Kitchener, 21 April: declination +11.58°, noon altitude 58.15°, zenith 31.85°, geometric daylight 13.491 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.621.
  • Kitchener, 21 May: declination +20.14°, noon altitude 66.71°, zenith 23.29°, geometric daylight 14.708 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.430.
  • Kitchener, 21 June: declination +23.45°, noon altitude 70.02°, zenith 19.98°, geometric daylight 15.232 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.363.
  • Kitchener, 21 July: declination +20.44°, noon altitude 67.02°, zenith 22.98°, geometric daylight 14.754 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.424.
  • Kitchener, 21 August: declination +11.75°, noon altitude 58.33°, zenith 31.67°, geometric daylight 13.514 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.617.
  • Kitchener, 21 September: declination -0.20°, noon altitude 46.37°, zenith 43.63°, geometric daylight 11.975 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.953.
  • Kitchener, 21 October: declination -11.75°, noon altitude 34.82°, zenith 55.18°, geometric daylight 10.486 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.438.
  • Kitchener, 21 November: declination -20.44°, noon altitude 26.13°, zenith 63.87°, geometric daylight 9.246 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.038.
  • Kitchener, 21 December: declination -23.45°, noon altitude 23.12°, zenith 66.88°, geometric daylight 8.768 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.342.

Harth computed the Kitchener fingerprint for latitude 43.4254° with the Cooper declination approximation, 90° - |latitude - declination| at solar noon, centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle and 1 / tan(altitude) shadow ratio. Longitude -80.5112° is retained for a later civil-time conversion; this screen does not perform that conversion. See NOAA's solar calculation details. Atmospheric refraction, terrain, facade azimuth and obstructions remain outside this first-pass comparison.

Sources and method

Location data from the GeoNames CA dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 5992996). 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.

Frequently asked questions

What does the sun path record for Kitchener establish?

The sun path record for Kitchener establishes a reproducible discovery point at 43.4254, -80.5112 (GeoNames ID 5992996, administrative area 08) and a Canada source path. It does not establish a final project value, approval or parcel decision.

What must be replaced before using this sun path workflow for a project in Kitchener?

For the sun path record in Kitchener, replace the 43.4254, -80.5112 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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