The province of West Azerbaijan, due to its geographical location, topographic conditions and governing atmospheric systems, experiences from cold to semi-cold weather over the main part of the year. Consequently, during five to eight months of the year, cold-to-cool bioclimatic conditions prevail in the province.
Owing to these conditions, the main priority in the overall design of buildings is that of receiving the maximum radiation energy in residential areas, especially in the cold season. Considering the prevalence of cold and cool bioclimatic conditions in the province as well as the little need for the air flow to create comfortable conditions in the environment (less than 10% in year), the best direction for using solar energy to heat residential areas is “southeastern” in the southern and central parts of the province, and “southern” in the northen part of the province.