RENAISSANCE Project in Zaragoza

Housing & Energy

Bioclimatic housing

Bioclimatic is defined as the kind of architecture that, assuring comfort for the occupants of the building, minimises the use of auxiliary energy, supporting itself on the climatic characteristics of the place. Therefore, a bioclimatic dwelling is a household that allows enjoying comfortable inner conditions of humidity and temperature, with a low consumption of heating, air-conditioning, and domestic hot water (DHW).

Effects of the application of bioclimatic criteria in the energy needs of households

In essence, the criteria developed by "natural architecture" for every microclimate and context, continue to be valid and have been considerably improved thanks to the present capacity of thermic calculation/simulation of buildings, and the incorporation of new materials.
Bioclimatic architecture makes good use of the available resources in natural environment (radiation and temperature as prevailing factors, wind, humidity...).Therefore, design changes outstandingly depending on the microclimate and according to the location of the household inside the housing complex.
Observing graphic 2, it can be pointed out in a very general way that a bioclimatic household in Zaragoza will be compact, with a south oriented main facade, with over a 40% glazed facade, and with effective shading systems. East and west facades will have sunlight protection in hollow places (for instance, blinds with vertical slats), and the north facade will overcome insulation level regulations using tiny gaps. It is also important to favour night cooling by means of cross-airing between the main facades, and to guarantee sun accumulation in order to support auxiliary consumption of energy.

  Daily sun-irradiation on vertical surfaces N, S, E and W oriented, for Zaragoza.

Energy saving

What is energy saving and what relation does it have with bioclimatic building?

In the building sector, it is evident that exists a cause-effect relationship between architecture and the environmental impact supported by its ecosystem. Building consumes a great amount of energy in Europe (more than 40% of the total), and therefore, an important part of the greenhouse gases emitted are provoked by this.

As a result, our goal must be a drastic reduction in energy consumption ? therefore, in the emissions of greenhouse gases in cities- due to building. From a technical point of view, there are only three ways to reach this goal:

• A reduction on energy demand in the existing housing stock, through comprehensive projects for an environmental rehabilitation of buildings.
• A big scale integration of renewable energies in building and in urban areas.
• %uF0B7 And finally, the application of energy saving criteria and strategies in new buildings: to build bioclimatic buildings. Bioclimatic architecture must fulfil several requirements such as these: a very low energy demand thanks to building adaptation to climate and environment; supply that demand, as far as possible, with renewable energy sources, fulfil healthy buildings rules with a low environmental impact by means of using recycled and recyclable materials, and finally, be economically affordable. Therefore, an architecture adapted to the environment, sensitive to the impact provoked in nature, and trying to minimize energy consumption and environmental pollution.