Bioclimatic architecture of residential buildings

In: Rivista di studi sulla sostenibilità, Band 11, Heft 2, S. 179-194

Abstract

The environmental impacts deriving from pollution due to the high use of cooling and heating systems in buildings have made it necessary to study alternative methods of designing or upgrading existing buildings. In this work the concepts of bioclimatic architecture are discussed and possible technological solutions for energy saving in the construction sector are presented. The solutions proposed concern orientation, the shape of the building and the internal volumetric arrangement. Attention is paid to internal comfort and the problem of convective motions related to the cooling of homes. Other solutions referring to the use of bioclimatic diagrams to determine the maximum and minimum temperatures to be considered for bioclimatic design are also proposed.