Definition
The principle of “bioclimatic architecture,” or using
external conditions for internal climate control,that
contribute to their own environment, producing
energy rather than just consuming it.
Bioclimatic Architecture relates the study of the
climate applied to architecture, searching with this to
improve the conditions of the thermal comfort of the
occupants, through the use of appropriate project
strategies considering the climatic differences of each
place.
The Bioclimatic architecture deals with design and
architectural elements, avoiding mechanical systems,
which are rather regarded as support.
The Important of Bioclimatic
The world construction today…..
US 3 trillions are expended
annually in the world,
represent 1/10 of the global
economy (CICA,2002)
It constitutes 30% of the
businesses in Europe, 22% in
the USA, 21% in Japan, 23% in
the developing countries.
Buildings consume about 40%
of the world energy, 16% of the
drinking water, 25% of the
forest woods.
They are responsible for 50%
of the CO2 emmisions,
They consume 30-40% of the
countries total energy
demand.
Is this new?
No
a lot of traditional architecture works
according to bioclimatic principles (artificial
conditioning was rare and expensive)
South oriented windows in North Spain, the
use of materials with certain thermal features
as wood or adobe, earth coating, the use of
lime on walls in the houses.
Does it really work?
Traditional techniques work
in Spain, the coolness inside a thick-walled
traditional village house at noon in August, the
comfort of a traditional patio of Andalucia in a
hot day, or how the sun entering through South
oriented windows can replace heating in winter.
Cost of Bioclimatic House
needn't be either cheaper nor more expensive,
uglier or nicer, than any other
doesn't need the purchase and installation of
complicated and expensive systems
just uses the regular architectural elements to
increase the energetic performance and get a
natural comfort
the bioclimatic design imposes a set of
restrictions, but there still remains a lot of
freedom to design according to individual taste.
Advantages
Solution for energy problem
Electricity; clean energy that comes home, is "dirty"
in its origin (produced in a big percentage by burning
fuel (oil, coke, gas), with the corresponding gas
liberation, as CO2, that leads to the well-known
greenhouse effect, increasing planet temperature; or
as nitrogen oxides, that leads to the acid rain which is
damaging forests)
Other big percentage has its origin in nuclear
technology, with the well known problem of
radioactive waste.
Advantages
To save money, in our electricity or fuel bill.
To get on better with environment. We can swap
from the hermetic and artificial house that
doesn't takes into account environment, using
powerful conditioning appliances to solve the
problem, to the house that integrates and
cleverly uses environment and climate
conditions to solve its needs
Passive solar architecture
refers to housing design for the efficient use
of solar energy
doesn't use mechanical systems (thus the
term passive), it is closely related to
bioclimatic architecture
deal with other climatic elements
Active solar architecture
taking advantage of solar energy by the means
of mechanic and/or electric systems for heating
(solar collectors) and electric conversion
(photovoltaic pannels). They may complement
a bioclimatic house.
solar collectors
photovoltaic pannels
photovoltaic tree
Renewable energy
sources of energy that cannot be exhausted
Bioclimatic architecture uses solar radiation
(renewable) for heating and cooling
for a house we may consider other kind of
energies, as wind or water power for
electricity generation, or methane generation
from organic waste.
Sustainable architecture
general concept aiming to a minimum environmental
impact of all the processes implied in housing;
from materials (manufacturing processes that don't produce
toxic waste and don't consume much energy)
building techniques (for a minimum environmental damage)
building location
environmental impact, energy consumption and its impact
the recycling of materials when the building has accomplished its
function and is demolished
Bioclimatic architecture helps reducing the energy consumption
while the building is in use.
Self-sufficient house
a house independent from centralized supply
networks (electricity, gas, water, and even
food)
getting advantage of locally available
resources (water from wells, streams or rain,
energy from the sun or the wind, electricity
from the sun, food from orchards, etc.)
Bioclimatic architecture cooperates with self-
sufficiency regarding energy saving for
climatisation.
Bioclimatic Design, Menara Mesiniaga
Subang Jaya
Owned by Mesiniaga, a
Malaysian public company in
the IT sector
15 floor, 207 foot
intelligent building
finished in 1992
constructed at a cost of
roughly $8.9 M (USD).
The building design reduces long-term
maintenance costs and lowers energy use.
On the north + south facades, curtain wall
glazing minimizes solar gain.
On the east + west facades, aluminum fins and
louvers provide sun shading.
All the office floor terraces have sliding doors
that allow the occupants to control natural
ventilation.
The trussed steel + aluminum sunroof also
incorporates solar panels that power the
building.
Some other features include the skycourt,
vertical landscaping, and naturally ventilated
core.
The Menara Mesiniaga is the epitome of
building design that reflects climate
characteristics specific to the location of the
building.
1.0 LOCATION
climatic conditions in which the house will be
"connected" to the environment
can be differentiated between macroclimate
and microclimate conditions.
macroclimate
a consequence of belonging to a certain latitude
and region. The main data to define these
conditions are:
+ Main, maximum and minimum temperatures
+ rain
+ Solar Radiation
+ Wind direction and speed
Microclimate
a consequence of local geographic accidents
that may modify the above conditions
thoroughly
Ground slope, that sets a main orientation for
the house.
Close ground elevations, that may act as a
barrier for wind or solar radiation.
Close water masses, that reduce the
temperature range and increase humidity.
Close vegetation masses
Close buildings
The decision for housing location, is that is
possible, is very important for the bioclimatic
design process, maybe as important as the
housing design itself. Besides selecting the
appropriate location, it might be possible to
modify somehow the surroundings (adding or
removing vegetation or water, for example), so as
to modify microclimate conditions. This is called
surroundings correction.
2.0 SHAPE AND ORIENTATION
The shape of the house has to do with:
The contact surface between the house and the
outside, what influences heat gain or loss .
Wind exposure
a high house is always more exposed than a low one.
This is good in summer, because it increases ventilation,
but bad in winter, because infiltrations are also
increased
Roof shape and existence of outlets, for example, also
influences the achievement of a better "aerodynamic"
house.
Solar Capture
The orientation of the house has to do with:
3.0 PASSIVE SOLAR CAPTURE
Solar energy is the main conditioning source
for bioclimatic housing. Its capture is achieved
through appropriate housing design and
without mechanical systems
Capture uses the so called greenhouse effect.
For a better performance, it is recommended
to use isolation unsteady devices (window
shades, etc.) that can be closed at nighttime to
prevent heat loss by conduction and
convection through the glass.
There are several types of systems:
Direct systems. Sun penetrates directly
through glass to the inside of house. It is
important to set thermal mass for heat storage
in the places where sun hits (floor, walls).
These are the systems with maximum
efficiency and less delay.
Semi - direct systems. They use an
intermediate space (like an attached
greenhouse) between glass and inside.
Stored energy in this space is controlled so
that the amount required is driven inside
through a shut. The intermediate space can
be also used, at certain hours during daytime
as a living space. The efficiency of this system
is smaller than the preceding, buy its delay is
higher.
Indirect systems. Capture takes place in a storage
mass element arranged just after the glass (a few
centimeters apart). The inside of the house is just
after this element. Stored heat reaches the inside
by conduction, convection and radiation. The
storage element may be a high thermal mass wall,
water drums, stone bed, etc. and may substitute
one of the room walls, ceiling or floor. A special
case it the so called Trombe wall, in which there
are also adjustable shuts at the top and at the
bottom so that there is a controlled heat transfer.
The efficiency of these systems is also smaller than
the direct system, and they exhibit long delays.
4.0 VENTILATION
In bioclimatic housing, ventilation is important,
and has different uses:
Air renovation, to keep healthy conditions. A
minimum ventilation is always needed.
Thermal comfort increase in summer, because
air movement increases heat loss in the human
body.
Conditioning. Air in movement can remove heat
stored in walls, ceilings, floors by forced
convection phenomenon. To get that, air
temperature must be as low as possible. This is
useful specially during summer nights, when air is
coolest.
Natural ventilation. It takes place when wind generates air
movement inside the house, when windows are opened.
For a good performance, windows must be placed in
opposite walls, without obstacles among them, and in
walls facing dominant winds
5.0 PROTECTION AGAINST SUMMER RADIATION
Awnings Trees
Awnings and other external adjustable
sunshades, which advantage is that they can
be adjusted to the required conditions
Trees. We may use different strategies. Any
kind of tree close to the façade will cool the
surroundings
