Bioclimatic Architecture: 7th Semester Dissertation

Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management
BIOCLIMATIC
ARCHITECTURE
7th semester dissertation
Maria Pilar Solis Martinez
Consultant: Jesper Saxgren
VIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

Horsens Campus
DENMARK
May 2012
BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012
TITLE PAGE
BATCoM
Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management
DISSERTATION TITLE: Bioclimatic Architecture
CONSULTANT: Jesper Saxgren
AUTHOR: Maria Pilar Sols

Sol Martnez
DATE/SIGNATURE: May 2012
VIA Student number: 123706
Number of copies: 2 Copies

opies Calibri 12
Number of pages: 43 pages
Number of characters: 79
9.000 aprox.
All rights reserved no part of this publication may be reproduced without

ithout the prior
permission of
the author.
2
NOTE: This dissertation was completed
com
as part of a Bachelor of Architectural
Technology and Construction Management degree course no responsibility is
taken for any advice, instruction or conclusion given
give within!
Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management | PILAR SOLIS MARTINEZ

Contents
1. Introduction & Problem Statement..5
2. Adaptation to climate.6
3. Passive Design: ..9

a. Types of Bioclimatic Systems10
a.1. Captor systems..10
- Direct systems
- Semi-direct systems
- Indirect systems
- Independet systems
a.2. Inertia systems..11

a.3. Ventilation systems and air treatmen..11
- Generating systems of the movement of the air
- Crossed ventilation
- Chimney effect
- Thermosyphon collector, Heat siphon, or Glazed solar chimney
- Static suction system
- Wind tower
- Evaporative tower
- Underground ventilation system
- Radiation protection systems
b. Passive House.....16
3
4. Some specific elements: ..18

a. Design and orientation..18

b.
c.
d.
e.
Insulation and thermal mass.21

Trombe walls and Water walls.23
Natural ventilation: Windcatcher and Solar chimney.28
Vegetation: Green roof and other roofing techniques35
5. Comparison of two examples in different climates...38

a. Introduction..38
b. First case.39
- Climate
- Traditional design for temperate climates
- Some design features
c. Second case..43
- Climate
- Traditional design for polar/cold climates
- The first Finnish Passive Houses
- Some design features
6. Working Process & Research Methodology.46
7. Conclusion46
8. References and Bibliography.47
Abstract
This report examines Bioclimatic Architecture. It speaks about the passive design and
how it depends of the specific climate. It analyzes different types of bioclimatic
systems, passive houses, and some specific passive elements. The report concludes
comparing two cases of passive houses in different climates, and shows how they
affect them.
4
Key words
Bioclimatic Architecture. Passive Design. Orientation. Bioclimatic systems. Passive
Houses, captor systems, ventilation systems, insulation, classification of climates

1.
Introduction & Problem Statement
This dissertation was written as part of the final semester of the education as Bachelor
of Architectural Technology and Construction Management. This report will examine
Bioclimatic Architecture.
Bioclimatic Architecture is the design of buildings taking into consideration the specific
climatic conditions of the place, using free resources (sun, vegetation, rainfall, wind)
to reduce the environmental impacts, and to try to reduce energy consumption.
It is a kind of architecture where the balance, harmony and environment are the
constants. It tries to get a high level of thermal comfort, considering the climate and
environmental conditions to help to achieve the interior thermal comfort by the
adequacy of the design, geometry, orientation and the building adapted to the specific
climatic conditions of their environment. It plays with the local environmental
characteristics (topography, climate, natural vegetation, direction of prevailing winds,
sunshine, etc), and the design and architectural elements, without using mechanical
systems.
We must not forget that a big part of traditional architecture worked according to
bioclimatic principles: south-facing windows in cold climates of the northern
hemisphere, using certain materials with specific thermal properties, such as wood,
stone or adobe, warm soil, whitewashed in Mediterranean houses to keep the interior
cold in summer, the location of the villages, etc. Bioclimatic architecture is, in short, an
architecture adapted to the environment, which doesn't cause any sensitive impact in
nature, and it seeks to minimize energy consumption and, therefore, the pollution.
Nowadays we should be worried about the pollution, the global warming, hole in the
ozone layer, greenhouse effect, climatic change, etc. We should take care about the
environment. We must try not pollute, or at least, to pollute as less as possible. We
have a lot of natural energy sources, and we must take advantage of them. They are
clean and free, so we do not pollute and besides, we save money.
Here I am going to talk about how to use this kind of energies to heat, cool, ventilate,
acclimatize a house. We can use solar energy, natural air or wind, natural materials...
-to build
-to insulate (to avoid heat losses)
-to heat
-etc

All these things are called Passive Design and we will see some examples later. But
obviously, passive design does not always follow the same guidelines in everywhere. I
mean, we do not have a standard design to apply it to the houses that we want. The
passive design depends on the climate of the place. We cannot build the same passive
house in Denmark as in Spain, for example. Later, I will compare two cases in two
different climates.
Because of that is why I am interested in this topic. I think that it is very important to
be sensible with the environment. Everything is not discovered. Sustainability is
improving. But unfortunately it is not as quick as we would like. It takes time. There are
some countries where there is still much to do.
This topic is not very developed in my country. It was the main reason why I chose it:
because I want to learn more about that and to be able to apply it in the future. I think
that sustainability is very interesting, specially, passive design and acclimatization.
Maybe it could be expensive in the beginning, but I think that it worth it.
2.
Adaptation to climate
This is the main point when we speak about Bioclimatic Architecture. What we are
trying to get is the good interior conditions in a house. Because of that, to adapt the
building to the specific climate where we are is very important. We can obtain a lot of
benefits depending only of how we take advantages of our climate.
The most common aims, are:
-To take the most advantage possible of the thermal energy of the sun when
the weather is cold, for example for heating and hot water or for to warm a
room.
- To have a good enveloped house, to avoid the heat losses.
-To take advantage of the greenhouses glasses.
-To take advantage of the natural ventilation.
However, world climates, as studied by meteorologists, display a wide range of

complex characteristics and variations. For building design purpose it is possible to
make use of a simplified version of the climate classification system initially developed
by Kppen in early 1900s. This simplification divides the worlds climates into four

types: polar/cold, temperate, hot dry and hot humid. This picture shows these climates
zones.
Polar/cold climates: This type of climate is typically found at high latitudes

above 55. The key shelter problem in polar/cold climates is proving thermal
comfort against the extreme cold. Average medium air temperatures in winter
maybe be below -15C, with the lowest temperatures dropping below -40C. In
summer temperatures will not rise above 10C. Strong winds can add to the
chill factor. Perhaps surprisingly, polar regions are dry, and can may have
similar levels of precipitation to those found in dessert areas.
Temperate climates: This type of climate is usually found at latitudes between

30 and 55. The main shelter issue with temperate climates is coping with the
seasonal variations. This leads to potential overheating problems in summer
but overcooling issues in winter. In the summer air temperatures may average
25C but then drop down to as low as -15C in winter. Humidity levels are not
normally a problem. Precipitation may occur at any time of the year.
Hot dry climates: This type of climate is usually found at latitudes between 20
and 35. The main shelter issue is overheating. Mean summer temperatures are
around 25C but can reach a maximum of 45C. Clear nocturnal skies can cool
temperatures down as low as -10C. Relative humidity is low and precipitation
is very low. This lack of moisture, together with strong seasonal winds, can
make wind-borne sand storms a major problem.

Hot humid climates: This type of climate is usually found at latitudes between 0 and
25. The mains shelter problems are overheating and oppressively high humidities. Day
time temperatures do not normally exceed 35C, but night time temperatures will
often not drop below 20C. Relative humidities are very high, reaching 80 per cent in
some months. Rainfall is frequent and occurs as heavy falls, typically in short, intense
spells. There is little seasonal variation in the climate, apart from rainy seasons such as
monsoons. [1]
A comparison of the four climates types is given in this picture:
In general, we can say that when the weather is warm it is traditional to make the
walls thicker, and to have the roof and the facades of the house with light colors or in
shading. In this way, the walls and the roof will reflect the most of the sun radiation
(because light colors do not absorb all the heat), and we could keep our house fresh
and cold. It is also because the walls are so thick that they can absorb the heat and do not
transmit it to the interior. We would be avoiding the most part of the heat transmissions.
These are some of the most common things that we can do to prevent the excess heat
in the houses. However there are other situations that we can find. For example, the
opposite situation: we would like to heat our home as much as possible because we
are placed in a cool climate.
In this case, we should try to have as less windows as possible looking at the north, and
they must be very well insulated. We need try to avoid the heat losses. And in general,

we do opposite things than in the last case: usually, we use dark colors to paint the
exterior of the house. It is because they absorb the most of the sun radiation, so, the
house could be kept warm.
We will see more specific solutions later, in the point number 5: Comparison of two
examples in different climates.
3.
Passive Design: Passive House
Passive design is the key to sustainable building. It is a method used in architecture in

order to get buildings that achieve their environmental conditioning by natural
processes.
It responds to local climate and site conditions to maximize building users comfort and
health while minimizing energy use.
It achieves this by using free, renewable sources of energy such as sun and wind to
provide household heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting, thereby removing the
need for mechanical heating or cooling. Using passive design can reduce temperature
fluctuations, improve indoor air quality and make a home drier and more enjoyable to
live in.
A building is constructed to separate us from the climatological adversities and to
create an adequate climate weather indoors. Because of that, when outdoor
conditions prevent the comfort of the interior space we resort to the using of heating
or cooling systems. The passive design tries to minimize the use of these systems and
the energy they consume. It can also reduce energy use and environmental impacts
such as greenhouse gas emissions.
Interest in passive design has grown, particularly in the last decade or so, as part of a
movement towards more comfortable and resource-efficient buildings.
The key elements of passive design are:

-building location and orientation on the site
-building layout
-window design
-insulation (including window insulation)

-thermal mass
-shading
-ventilation
Each of these elements works with others to achieve comfortable temperatures and
good indoor air quality.
The first step is to achieve the right amount of solar access enough to provide
warmth during cooler months but prevent overheating in summer. This is done
through a combination of location and orientation, room layout, window design and
shading.
Insulation and thermal mass help to maintain constant temperatures, while that the
ventilation provides passive cooling, and the improving indoor air quality as well.
All of these elements work alongside each other and therefore should be considered
holistically. For example, large windows that admit high levels of natural light might
also result in excessive heat gain, especially if they cast light on an area of thermal
mass. Similarly, opening windows that provide ventilation will also let in noise.
Alongside passive design features, designers should also consider other factors such as
views, covenants and local authority restrictions, and building owners preferences.
A) TYPES OF BOICLIMATIC SYSTEMS

Bioclimatic architectural elements, they are also called special climatic systems,
respond to the following definition: They are components of a building, whose primary
mission is to improve their climatic behavior, acting on the phenomena of radiation,
heat and air movement, which acts in a natural way in the architecture. They are also
called passive systems because they dont use any artificial energy source for its
working order.
A) 1. Captor systems:
They are component or set of components of a building which are primarily intended
to capture the energy of the solar radiation and to transfer it to the interior of a room
as heat. They are the passive systems of solar energy.
-
Direct systems: The energy goes directly into the interior of the specific
room through the glass surfaces (windows, skylights). Once inside, the
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solar radiation is absorbed by the interior surfaces, heating them. (Direct
gain).
-
Semi-direct systems: In these systems, a space is interposed between the

inside and outside (greenhouse effect). It has a big inlet of radiation, and
thus it reaches higher average temperature conditions than the out
conditions. This space may be temporarily habitable, acting as an extension
of the interior space. (Sunrooms).
Indirect systems: The raising of the solar radiation is done with a storage
element and later, it transfers the energy to the interior space. The radiant
energy, after passing through the glass, is absorbed as heat in a large
thermal capacity element. From this element the heat is transferred to the
interior space like a long wave radiation and convection, with a delay and a
significant reduction in the temperature oscillation. (Indirect gain).
They can be indirect systems by the facades, the ceilings, the floors, etc.
Independent systems: They use systems similar to the indirect system by
the floors, but in this case the accumulator and captator components or
elements can become independent each other and with the conditioned
space. The transfer of the heat between the different elements is
performed by convective flow of air (or water) which flows through
conduits, where regulation and control devices are incorporated. [2]
A) 2. Inertia systems:
They are parts or components of a building which act as stabilizers of indoor
temperatures, confronting to the swings in external conditions. Its principle of
operation makes them suitable to improve both the effects of cold or heat. They are
characterized by its useful thermal mass. It is the heat capacity which the building
provides for determinate time cycles and moderate temperature fluctuations.
A) 3. Ventilation systems and air treatment:

They are components of a building whose primary function is to facilitate the
movement of air through themselves, and/or treated it to improve its conditions of
temperature and humidity. Although they can be analyzed as individual systems, in a
lot of cases two or more different systems (expulsion and extraction of the air, or air
treatment associated with an expulsion one) can work together, favoring each other.
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-
Generating systems of the movement of the air: They make the air to
move inside the building, facilitating the air in and/or out through the
openings or devices placed for this purpose.
Crossed ventilation: It is a ventilation system of a space or a run of

associated spaces, through openings placed on two opposite walls. This
strategy should be used with the combined shaded environments and an
envelope (walls and ceilings) whose surface temperature would be similar
to ambient temperature. Otherwise and with not enough thermal
insulation, it can be several degrees above ambient temperature, involving
a heat emission which reduces the thermal comfort.
Sketches of some crossed ventilation systems
Chimney effect: It is a system that makes an air extraction by placing

apertures in the top of a room. They can be connected to an exhaust
vertical duct. The movement of the air is possible thanks to the stack effect.
The stack effect is also referred to as the "chimney effect", and it helps drive
natural ventilation and infiltration. It is the movement of air into and out of
buildings, chimneys, flue gas stacks, or other containers, and is driven by
buoyancy. Buoyancy occurs due to a difference in indoor-to-outdoor air
density resulting from temperature and moisture differences. The result is
either a positive or negative buoyancy force. The greater the thermal
difference and the height of the structure, the greater the buoyancy force,
and thus the stack effect.
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In these pictures, red arrow does not mean hot air

Sketches of some solar chimney systems
Thermosyphon collector, Heat siphon, or Glazed solar chimney: They are

some mechanisms which use energy from sunlight to extract the air. Its
mission is to heat the air inside a chamber, by means of a dark surface
sensor protected by a glass cover. When the air is heated, its density
decreases. It produces a suction effect in the perforations placed in the
bottom part of the chamber, in contact with the interior, and the air to go
out through the top part. These systems can be a loop of air, driven to flow
by the difference in weight per unit volume between the heated and
unheated material. (Some systems sensors, such as Trombe wall, can be
used as summer ventilation generators, opening to the outside top part of
the chamber, and to the interior, the bottom part).
13
Schematic of glazed solar chimney with vertical absorber geometry
b
In these pictures, red arrow does not mean hot air
Sketches of Thermosyphon collectors and cross section of the Paul Davis house, which used thermosyphon
collectors for heating.
- Static suction system: They are systems that produce a depression inside
the building by the Venturi effect. It favors the exit of the air from inside to
outside. It is made by means of the wind on a suitable device, located in the
roof of the building. The extraction must be completed with an enter for the
air at the bottom part. (The Venturi effect is the reduction in fluid pressure
that results when a fluid flows through a constricted section of pipe).
Sketch of a static suction system
- Wind tower: It is a system which introduces air in a building, through a

wind tower which takes the wind at certain height above the roof, where it
is most intense. The air is carried by a tube that can be introduced by the
lower part of the premises and even it can incorporate air treatment
devices. (Windcatcher, we will see more details about it later, in the point
4.D).
c
In this pictures, red arrow does not mean hot air
14
Sketch of a wind tower system
- Evaporative tower: It consists of a treatment system that also produces a

certain supply air to the interior. The air that enters through the top part of a
tower is cooled by means of evaporation of water. It also wets the interior
surfaces of the tower. This cooled air is heavier, and it tends to fall
penetrating inside from the bottom part of the tower.
- Underground ventilation system: It takes advantage of the thermal inertia
of the terrain to provide cool air in warm periods, through a system of
underground air ducts. The exterior air passes through these conducts to be
cooled before to entering in the building. It is an adequate system in high
temperature climates. The ducts situated at great depth (6 to 12 meters),
can find a thermal mass temperature which is almost constant in all the
year. In this case the ground temperature will always have favorable
conditions, because in summer the ground is colder than the air outside and
in winter it happens the opposite. (We will see it more detailed the
underground ventilation systems later, in the point 4.D).
Sketch of an underground ventilation system
d
e
In this pictures, red arrow does not mean hot air

In theis pictures, red arrow does not mean hot air
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- Radiation protection systems: It is made from components that have the
mission of protect the buildings or outdoor attached spaces, from the
unwanted radiation in warm periods. [2] and [3]
B) PASSIVE HOUSE
Passive houses are, mainly, buildings that have passive design, which we have
explained before. However, there are two different types of passive houses that we
can concern nowadays:
-
"Passive House" is a concept of building to suit the climate and energy

saving advantage of site conditions.
"Standard Passivhaus" is a certification system for buildings with very low
energy demand for operation.
The Passivhaus standard originated from a conversation in May 1988 between

Professors Bo Adamson of Lund University, Sweden, and Wolfgang Feist of the Institut
fr Wohnen und Umwelt (Institute for Housing and the Environment, Germany). Their
concept was developed through a number of research projects, aided by financial
assistance from the German state of Hessen.
The dark colours on this thermogram of a Passive house, at right, shows how little heat is escaping
compared to a traditional building to the left.
Talking about Bioclimatic Architecture, here in this dissertation, we are going to take in
consideration only the first type: the Passive Houses. As we mentioned before, they
are buildings that have passive design.
In summary, they do not need any heating system. They have no need for conventional
heating systems such as oil, gas, or solid fuel heating. The passive house is thermally
16

efficient to the point that temperatures throughout the house are constant. They have
a warm and comfortable indoor climate because they have thermal insulation, natural
ventilation, control of thermal bridges and control of the air tightness. And also, we
have to admit that human occupancy contributes to the overall heating too.
A passive house is not different from traditional houses in appearance. The house
construction is based on standard building materials but which are used in a different
manner to standard methodology.
In general, we can say that energy consumption in passive houses is lower than in
conventional buildings. However, we cannot forget that passive houses depend on the
climate.
A Passive House is a comprehensive system. "Passive" describes well this system's
underlying receptivity and retention capacity. Working with natural resources, free
solar energy is captured and applied efficiently, instead of relying predominantly on
active systems to bring a building to zero energy. High performance triple-glazed
windows, super-insulation, an airtight building shell, limitation of thermal bridging and
balanced energy recovery ventilation make possible extraordinary reductions in energy
use and carbon emission. [4]
Passive solar building design and energy-efficient landscaping support the passive
house energy conservation and can integrate them into a neighborhood and
environment. Following passive solar building techniques, where possible buildings are
compact in shape to reduce their surface area, with principal windows oriented
towards the equator - south in the northern hemisphere and north in the southern
hemisphere - to maximize passive solar gain.
However, the use of solar gain, especially in temperate climate regions, is secondary to
minimizing the overall house energy requirements. In climates and regions needing to
reduce excessive summer passive solar heat gain, whether from the direct or reflected
sources, can be done with a brise-soleil, trees, attached pergolas with vines, vertical
gardens, green roofs, and other techniques.
To sum up, we can emphasize, that the passive houses are a very good solution to
build bioclimatic buildings. In some years, they will be constructions more normalized,
and the people (from architects to users), will be more used to them. It will suppose a
really good improvement for our environment.
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4.
Some specific elements
As we already know, passive design concern a very spread item. To build a passive
house we can consider a lot of different things. In this dissertation I am not going to
speak about all of them, I am going to treat only some of them which I find them more
interesting.
A) DESIGN AND ORIENTATION

The first way which served the man to use solar thermal energy was through passive
solar energy, that is, using the energy which enters through the windows and the walls
(properly oriented) during the cold months, and encouraging the flow of air by thermal
effect in the warmer months.
In this type of construction, which takes advantage of passive solar energy, we use the
structural elements of the building to collect, store and distribute solar energy. Unlike
active solar energy, it doesnt require installation of any mechanical equipment. It is
only required that the southern facade of the building remains sunny during the warm
season. Passive solar energy can be used by the three ways of existing heat transfer,
(conduction, convection and radiation), to distribute this heat all habitable parts of the
building.
Orientation
A good consideration of the orientation of the building we can improve the heating of
our house or office. Usually, the architects take care about the sun position, rotation,
angles of shading These kind of analysis are very useful to get the most benefits of
the solar energy.
The sun rises in the East and sets in the West. The sun travels in an arc, reaching its
highest altitude in the South (for the Northern hemisphere).
18
An important requirement of the design process is to take into consideration about the
sun position. In hot climates, for example, we want that the building will be shaded
from the sun for as many hours as possible throughout the whole day. However a
balance must be achieved in order to ensure that the level of natural light entering the
building is not unacceptably reduced.
In order to effectively regulate the internal temperature, and better protect the
environment through the design of low energy buildings, the use of natural ventilation
and solar shading is becoming increasingly popular.
The following items which are described below constitute and complete the design of
a building based on the use of solar energy:
-
Opening, (collector)
Absorber
Thermal mass
Distribution
Control
OPENING (COLLECTOR)
It is the glazing or windows through which we receive sunlight in the building. With the
orientation of glazed openings to the south in the northern hemisphere, or north in
the southern hemisphere, it captures more solar radiation in summer and less in
winter, although for warmer areas (with average temperatures above 25C ) it is more
convenient to put the glazing in the opposite direction, that is, their back towards the
Ecuador. In this way, in summer, the glass face will only be radiated by the sun in the
first moments of dawn and in the last moments of sunset, and at the winter the sun
never heats this facade. It reduces the heat gain to the minimum and allows the use of
architectural design concepts specific to the use of glass. These glazing and windows
should not be obstructed by trees or other buildings between 9 am and 3 pm during
the hot season.
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ABSORBER
It is a surface with more absorbance in the storage elements (walls, floors, water
containers, etc), which is situated directly in the path of the sun's rays, more precisely,
between the suns rays and the inside of a room that we want to heat.
THERMAL MASS
It is all the materials which keep the heat produced by sunlight. The difference from
the absorber, although sometimes these elements are the same (wall, floor), is that
the absorber is a surface exposed to sunlight while the thermal mass is the material
that exists behind this surface. We will explain more about the thermal mass in the
point 4.B. (insulation and thermal mass).
DISTRIBUTION
It is the method by which heat is circulated from the collector and storage points to
different areas of the building habitable. A strictly passive design will use only the
three ways of heat transfer (conduction, convection and radiation), but in some
applications can use fans, ducts, or similar to this distribution.
CONTROL
To control the radiation reaching the collector we can use hanging roofs, electronic
temperature sensors (for example, differential thermostat which controls a fan that is
operated at a temperature rise), vents, low-emissivity blinds, awnings and other
systems which could help to this purpose.
20
Elements of a passive solar system
B) INSULATION AND THERMAL MASS

Bioclimatic houses can be constructed from dense or lightweight materials, but some
internal thermal mass is normally incorporated to reduce summer peak temperatures,
maintain stable winter temperatures, and prevent possible overheating in spring or
autumn before the higher sun angle "shades" mid-day wall exposure and window
penetration.
Thermal mass
Thermal mass is a concept in building design which describes how the mass of the
building provides "inertia" against temperature fluctuations, sometimes known as the
thermal flywheel effect.
Thermal inertia is the property that indicates the amount of heat that can keep
something and the speed at which that thing can give or absorb the heat from the
environment. It depends on the mass, of specific heat of the material and of the
coefficient of thermal conductivity thereof.
21

This property is used in construction to keep the temperature inside the habitable
rooms stable more time during the day by mass walls. During the day it become
warmer, and at night, (which is colder), it is giving heat to the local environment. In
summer, during the day, it is absorbing and at night it becomes cold again with the
adequate ventilation, so, it can be ready for the next day. A proper use of this
property can avoid the use of artificial indoor climate systems.
For example, when outside temperatures are fluctuating throughout the day, a large
thermal mass within the insulated portion of a house can serve to "flatten out" the
daily temperature fluctuations, since the thermal mass will absorb thermal energy
when the surroundings are higher in temperature than the mass, and give thermal
energy back when the surroundings are cooler, without reaching thermal equilibrium.
This is distinct from a material's insulative value, which reduces a building's thermal
conductivity, allowing it to be heated or cooled relatively separate from the outside, or
even just retain the occupants' thermal energy longer.
Insulation
We cannot forget the main role that plays the insulation here. We use it in a different
way that the thermal mass. To use properly the insulation can reduce significantly the
heat transfer through the walls, roof and floors. It is one of our main objectives in cold
climates. Although we must to remember that sometimes, such as hot climate
situations, we do not this requirement.
With passive homes the volumes of insulation are greater than traditional houses
which have the added advantage of greater soundproofing to houses. In particular
passive wall thicknesses are thicker.
There are a wide range of thermal insulation materials which we can use them to
provide the required high R-values (low U-values), such as: glass wool, polyurethane,
cellulose, wood fiber, cotton batts, areogels, etc.
In Passive Houses, we have windows which are very good insulated. They are different
than the normal windows, even their frames are insulated and their U-values
requirements are lower.
Also we need to take in consideration that the attic insulation is different. The way of
the attic insulation and crawlspace insulation is installed in different way that in a
normal house. It must meet energy performance through eliminating thermal bridges.
Other important thing in cold and temperate climates is to pay special attention in to
eliminating thermal bridges. It is very important to keep an adequate climate inside
22

the house, so we must to avoid the heat losses. (However, in hot climates, we would
encourage heat losses).
A thermal bridge, also called a cold bridge, is a fundamental of heat transfer where a
penetration of the insulation layer by a highly conductive or non-insulating material
takes place in the separation between the interior (or conditioned space) and exterior
environments of a building assembly (also known as the building enclosure, building
envelope, or thermal envelope).
Thermal bridging is created when materials that are poor thermal insulators come into
contact, allowing heat to flow through the path of least thermal resistance created,
although nearby layers of material separated by airspace allow little heat transfer.
A disadvantage resulting from the thickness of wall insulation required is that, unless
the external dimensions of the building can be enlarged to compensate, the internal
floor area of the building may be less compared to traditional construction.
However, despite of this small inconvenient, the insulation and thermal mass play a
very important role in the passive design. But we need to say that their roles are
different: briefly, insulation avoids heat loss in cold climates, and thermal mass
prevent heat transfer to the interior in a hot climate. Thank to their properties, a
building or a house can maintain a steady comfort level of the house during all the
year. They have a constant temperature in summer than in winter.
C) NATURAL VENTILATION: WINDCATCHER AND SOLAR CHIMNEY

Air conditioning and mechanical ventilation have been for decades the standard
method of indoor climate control in many building types, especially offices, in
developed countries. Pollution and reallocating energy supplies have led to a new
environmental approach in building design. Innovative technologies along with
bioclimatic principles and traditional design strategies are often combined to create
new and potentially successful design solutions. Because of that, natural ventilation is
so important.
In architecture, ventilation is the renewal of the air inside a building. The main
purposes of the ventilation are:
-
To collaborate in the thermal conditioning of the building.

To assure the cleaning of the unbreathable air.
To assure the healthiness of air, thus controlling the humidity, concentration of
gases or airborne particles.
To prevent the accumulation of smoke if there is a fire.
23

-
To protect certain areas where pathogens can penetrate through the air.
Natural ventilation is done by appropriate location of surfaces or building canals,

taking advantage of depressions or overpressures of the building, created by the wind,
humidity, sun, thermal convection of air or any other phenomenon without the need
to provide energy to the system as a mechanical work.
Natural ventilation can be created by providing vents in the upper level of a building to
allow warm air to rise by convection and escape to the outside. At the same time
cooler air can be drawn in through vents at the lower level. Trees may be planted on
that side of the building to provide shade for cooler outside air.
Cross Section of the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center Showing the Natural Ventilation Strategy
(notice that the length of the overhangs provides shading for the ventilating window openings,
as well as potential rain protection).
24
There are a lot of elements that we can use to provide of natural ventilation to our
house. Here we are going to develop some of them:

Windcatcher:
It is an element traditional form Persian architectural. It is used for many centuries to
create natural ventilation in buildings. And it still can be seen in many countries today.
Windcatchers come in various designs: uni-directional, bi-directional, and multidirectional.
It is used in deserted climates above all. The lack of moisture in the air generates large
temperature differences between day and night. So the air is cool in winter and
extremely hot in summer and very low relative humidity all day.
The windcatcher can function in three ways:

-
Downward in flow of air due to direct wind entry: It is essentially a tall, capped
tower with one face open at the top. This open side faces the prevailing wind,
thus 'catching' it, and bringing it down the tower into the heart of the building
to maintain air flow, thus cooling the interior of the building.
25
Upward flow of air due to a wind assisted temperature gradient: The second
usage is using a qanat, or underground canal. In this method, the open side of
the tower faces away from the direction of the prevailing wind. By closing all

but the one facing away from the incoming wind, air is drawn upwards using
the Coand effect, similar to how opening the one facing towards the wind
would pull air down into
in the shaft.
(The Coand effect is the tendency of a fluid jet to be attracted to a nearby
surface. The principle was named after Romanian aerodynamics pioneer Henri
Coand,, who was the first to recognize the practical
practical application of the
phenomenon in aircraft development).
As there is now a pressure differential on one side of the building, air is drawn
down into the passage on the other side. This hot air is brought down into the
qanat tunnel, and is cooled by the
the combination of coming into contact with the
cold earth as well as the cold water running through the qanat.
qanat The air is
therefore cooled, and is then drawn up through the windcatcher by the same
Coand effect.. This brings cool air up through the building, cooling the
structure overall, with the water vapour from the qanat having an added
cooling effect.
Upward flow of air due to a solar produced temperature gradient:

gradient Finally, in a
windless environment
ironment or waterless house, a windcatcher functions as a solar
chimney. It creates a pressure gradient which allows less dense hot air to travel
upwards and escape out the top. Below, we are going to develop this idea.
26

Solar Chimney:
A solar chimney is, in general, a chimney painted with a dark color. It can serve many
purposes. During the day, solar energy heats the chimney and the air inside it, creating
an updraft in the chimney. The suction created at the base of the chimney can be used
to ventilate and cool a home or office, to draw air through a geothermal heat
exchange, or to ventilate only a specific area such as a composting toilet.
In a lot of places around the world is simpler to take advantage of prevailing winds
from the site, but on calm and warm days, this type of chimneys can provide
ventilation where otherwise there wouldnt be any.
The chimney has to be higher than the roof level, and has to be constructed on the
wall facing the direction of the sun. Absorption of heat from the sun can be increased
by using a glazed surface on the side facing the sun. Heat absorbing material can be
used on the opposing side. The size of the heat-absorbing surface is more important
than the diameter of the chimney. A large surface area allows for more effective heat
exchange with the air necessary for heating by solar radiation. Heating of the air within
the chimney will enhance convection, and hence airflow through the chimney.
Openings of the vents in the chimney should face away from the direction of the
prevailing wind.
To further maximize the cooling effect, the incoming air may be led through
underground ducts before it is allowed to enter the building. The solar chimney can be
improved by integrating it with a tromb wall. The added advantage of this design is
that the system may be reversed during the cold season, providing solar heating
instead.
This solar chimney draws air through a geothermal heat exchange to provide passive home cooling. [5]
27
There are however a big average of variations of the solar chimneys. The basic design
elements of a solar chimney are:

- The solar collector area: This surface can be located at the top of the chimney or can
include the axis of the shaft. The orientation, type of paint, insulation and thermal
characteristics of this element are crucial to attract, retain and use solar energy.
- The main axis of the ventilation: The location, height, cross section and the thermal
characteristics of this structure are also very important.
- The inlet and outlet holes: The size, location and aerodynamic aspects of these
elements are also significant in performance.
A variation of the solar chimney concept is the solar attic. In a hot sunny climate the
attic space is often blazingly hot in the summer. In a conventional building this
presents a problem as it leads to the need for increased air conditioning. By integrating
the attic space with a solar chimney, the hot air in the attic can be put to work. It can
help the convection in the chimney, improving ventilation. [6]
The use of a solar chimney may benefit natural ventilation and passive cooling
strategies of buildings thus help reduce energy use, CO2 emissions and pollution in
general. Potential benefits regarding natural ventilation and use of solar chimneys are:
-
Improved ventilation rates on still, hot days

Reduced reliance on wind and wind driven ventilation
Improved control of air flow though a building
Greater choice of air intake (i.e. leeward side of building)
Improved air quality and reduced noise levels in urban areas
Increased night time ventilation rates
Allow ventilation of narrow, small spaces with minimal exposure to external
elements
D) TROMBE WALLS AND WATER WALLS

These passive design systems are very useful in bioclimatic buildings because they are
other way of heat a house, without using mechanical systems.
Trombe wall:
A Trombe wall or Trombe-Michel wall is a wall facing the sun, (preferably to the north
in the southern hemisphere and to the south in the northern hemisphere). It is built
with materials that can accumulate heat with the effect of thermal mass (such as
stone, concrete, adobe or water), combined with a small space with air, a sheet of
glass and ventilations, forming a solar thermal collector. The wall heats up slowly
during the day. Then as it cools gradually during the night, it gives off its heat inside
the building.
28

The trombe wall is a system created in France in 1957 by Jacques Michel and Felix
Trombe and it is grouped in indirect systems in bioclimatic architecture as described
above. (Although, Edward Morse patented the design in 1881 (U.S. Patent 246,626),
but it was ignored until 1964).
In the 1960 the design was popularized in the buildings which used the Passive Solar
Houses principles. In 1967 Jacques Michel and Felix Trombe built a prototype house
with walls 'Trombe' in Odeillo (France). The results of this study were published in the
reference work of Robert et al. (JF Robert, and F. Trombe Peube JL, "Experimental
Study of Passive Air-Cooled Flat-Plate Solar Collectors: Characteristics and Working
Balance in the Solar Obeillo Houses", Energy Conversion in Heating and Cooling and
Ventilation Buildings, Hemisphere, Washington, Vol 2, p. 761-782, 1978). [7]
Trombe walls are a great 'passive' (as in no mechanical parts) way of providing heat to
a room or space. They are often easily built from readily available materials and very
reliable. An extra benefit is that the heat is radiated in the infra red, which is more
penetrating and pleasant than the traditional convective forced air heating systems.
[8]
In a trombe wall the solar radiation, after passing through a glass, (single or double), is
absorbed and accumulated as heat by a large thermal capacity element. It is also called
confining element, which in this case can be a concrete wall, brick or stone (usually
between 20 and 40 cm of thick). Glass and confining element are situated at a distance
of between 20 and 150 cm for to make a small space or air tent thereby avoiding the
conductive effects. This element confining or wall has upper and lower perforations
communicating with the space to be cooled, resulting in an airflow (thermocirculation).
This passive solar energy indirect collection system uses heat transfer by conduction,
convection and / or radiation, the operating principle can be seen in the pictures:
29

Even single-pane glass works for this process, because glass is transparent to the
incoming visible light and near-visible shorter-wavelength higher-energy infra-red
radiation that warms the wall mass, but less so to the longer-wavelength infra-red
radiation that is the heat that is radiated back out from the wall mass. Modern
variations include insulating glass to retain more of the stored solar heat, and high and
low sometimes operable vents to allow convective heat transfer to the indoors.
Heating of the home in winter.
Position when we dont use it.
A modern Trombe wall has vents (holes) in the bottom part and top part of the wall
(making heat flow strongly directional): In this way, it allows the cooler air to enter
through the bottom part, then it circulates in the air cavity between the outer surface
of the wall and the glazing; and then with more heat, it goes out through the upper
opening into the interior environment. This physical phenomenon is called convection.
This kind of design is an indirect passive thermal collector.
Because of the temperature variations tend to propagate through dense masonry
materials (thermal diffusion) at a rate of approximately 1 inch per hour, daytime heat
gain will be available at the interior surface of the thermal mass in the early evening
when it's needed. This time lag property of thermal mass, combined with its thermal
decrement (dampening of temperature variations), allows the use of fluctuating
daytime solar energy as a more uniform night-time heat source.
Additionally we can place a dark film on the wall, on its outside face, to absorb some of
the visible solar spectrum and issue a small proportion of the infrared range. This
absorption converts the light into heat on the wall surface and it reduces reflection.
30

It is also recommended that the glass should have an additional insulating component
for during the night, the won heat does not dissipate.
The thermal mass of the wall accumulates heat during the day, so it will give the heat
into the room during the night, slowly. The vents must have grids (as if they would be
like little doors), to regulate heat flow and to prevent a reverse overnight flow which
could cool the interior environment instead of to heat it. Generally, the vents to the
interior are closed in summer months when heat gain is not wanted.
Another alternative is to replace the wall with a metal foil with thermal insulation on
the inside face, forming a hot air solar collector. It can heat a larger volume of air at
higher temperature and to keep the heat in the structure of the building.
To be able to do this, the walls and ceilings should have a good level of thermal
insulation on the outside face of them to minimize heat losses in the area that we
want to heat.
At night the thermal mass can help to buffer and to reduce significantly heat loss. In
the latest designs, new technologies are used which allow transparent thermal
insulation. It keeps the heat captured during the day and thus it reduces the size of the
Trombe wall. This isolation not only reduces heat loss at night but also it can decrease
the costs by improving daytime heat gain.
31

For proper sizing of the Trombe wall we should take into account external and internal
factors. According with the external ones, we should include:
1. - Weather: The heat loss depends on the difference of temperature between
the outside and the inside the room. If this difference is very big, we would
have greater losses, so in cold climates we should oversize the wall.
2. - Latitude and orientation: The solar energy incident on the south facades in
winter at latitudes above the Ecuador and on the north facades at latitudes
below the Ecuador. But it changes with latitude, so it tends to increase the size
of the wall with increasing latitude for the wall receives less heat. It also has to
take into account the sun's path during different seasons.
The optimum orientation in the northern hemisphere is at 5 of true south. At
15 it works well but it causes overheating in summer, and at 30 it begins to
be less effective. In the southern hemisphere it should be the other way, the
wall must be located to the north, (as we had said before).
3. - Needs of heating (heat loss): How much we want to warm the building or the
room. It is not the same in all the situations; it depends on the use of the room
too.
The commonest modifications in a trombe wall include:

-
Exhaust vent near the top that is opened to vent to the outside during the
summer. Such venting makes the trombe wall act as a solar chimney pumping
fresh air through the house during the day, even if there is no breeze.
Windows in the trombe wall. This lowers the efficiency but may be done for
natural lighting or aesthetic reasons. If the outer glazing has high ultraviolet
transmittance, and the window in the trombe wall is normal glass, this allows
efficient use of the ultraviolet light for heating. At the same time, it protects
people and furnishings from ultraviolet radiation more than do windows with
high ultraviolet transmittance.
Electric blowers controlled by thermostats, to improve air and heat flow.
Fixed or movable shades. The movable blinds are placed over the glass and
they are used to limit solar gain and can help with reducing heat loss at night.
Trellises to shade the solar collector during summer months.
32

-
Dark color. If we paint the inner wall in black or a dark colour, its heat gain
potential will improve drastically.
Insulating covering used at night on the glazing surface. If the wall areas not
behind the glass are insulated on the outside it avoids heat loss at night,
improving the longevity of heat gain after dark.
Using a selective surface to increase the absorption of solar radiation by the

thermal mass. [9]
However, there are some important guidelines to remember according to the trombe
walls. We cannot forget them
-
The space between the thermal mass wall and the glass should be a minimum
of 4 inches.
Vents used in a thermal mass wall must be closed at night.
Thermal wall thickness should be about 10-14 inches for brick, 12-18 for
concrete, 8-12 inches for adobe or other earth material and at least 6 inches for
water.
Trombe walls can also be used to create ventilation in sub floor spaces. If we have the
height in the sub-floor space set it up so that the top vent goes into the sub-floor space
and that the bottom is open to the outside (instead of the inside). In effect we have
made a solar chimney feeding into the sub-floor space - this will raise the average
temperature in the sub-floor area that should lower the relative humidity.
Also we can use a basic Trombe wall as a solar chimney to "suck" air out of a space,
basically bottom goes into the sub floor space and the top vent is outside. It is called
solar wall. These are not true Trombe walls, but use essentially the same principals to
do work for you. [10]
Water walls:
In bioclimatic architecture water walls are used as a strategic design. They cushion the
variation of the interior thermal wave, regarding to the exterior wave. They are simple
systems that collect heat and then they give it to the indoor environment when the
outside temperatures are lower.
33
In their main idea, water wall are containers or walls filled with water which create an
integrated system of heating by combining capture of the sun radiation and keeping it.

Generally, there are two types of water walls:
- Exterior water wall for indirect heat gains: It is similar to the trombe wall, but instead
to a solid wall, it uses water in container to absorb the heat. Water containers are
positioned between the living space and the glazing. External water wall can be built in
a lot of number of ways. Long and hard plastic tubes are often used. However, any
durable container will work, including 55-l drums, paint cans, or glass jars. A water wall
absorbs and stores solar heat in much the same way as a trombe wall, with the
exception that water holds more heat than equal volume masonry. Insulating curtains
are used at night to control heat from the water containers through the glazing.
Functional diagram of a exterior water wall
- Interior water wall for direct heat gains: Because of the materials good convective
properties, interior walls of water are much more efficient for thermal collection,
storage, and re-radiation than masonry walls. Water walls should be of dark color to
increase heat absorption when build-up in the living space. The convection process
carries heat away from the storage surfaces quickly, preventing heat build-up, and
allows the storage mass to heat evenly in a relatively short time. Extensively variable
interior temperatures are not often a problem when interior water walls are used for
heat storage. [11]
34
Functional diagrams of some interior water walls

E) VEGETATION: GREEN ROOF AND OTHER ROOFING TECHNIQUES
One of the main results of using Bioclimatic Architecture is to reduce the
environmental impact of buildings. We can get it mean by passive solar collection
systems, natural ventilation, walls which provide thermal inertia, suitably designed
eaves, ventilated screens can be incorporated in strong sunlight, etc, and also we can
use the vegetation. With a good use of the vegetation we can improve a lot the
sustainability of our building.
We can do different things to take advantage of the vegetation, such as:
- To install water plant systems which regulate the temperature and humidity.
- To plant perennial vegetation to the north sides and deciduous, in the south, east and
west sides. In this way, the heaves of the deciduous trees dont cover the windows
during the winter, and the sunlight can pass through them.
- Where climatology would permit, it is advisable to incorporate green roofs and rain
gardens.
Green roof:
A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered
with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It
may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation
systems.
The word "green" refers to environmentalism and to the plants, and not the color
green, as with green roof tiles or roof shingles. The term green roof is also used to
indicate other "green" technologies such as photovoltaic solar panels or photovoltaic
modules. Other names for green roofs are living roof or vegetable roof.
35
Green roof of the Mountain Equipment Co-op store in Toronto, Canada.

Green roof development involves the creation of "contained" green space on top of a
human-made structure. This green space could be below, at or above a grade or porch,
but in all cases the plants are not planted in the "ground'. Green roofs can provide a
wide range of public and private benefits.
Container gardens on roofs, where plants are maintained in pots, are not generally
considered to be true green roofs, although this is debated. Rooftop ponds are another
form of green roofs which are used to treat greywater.
Green roofs serve several purposes for a building, such as absorbing rainwater,
providing insulation, creating a habitat for wildlife, and helping to lower urban air
temperatures and mitigate the heat island effect.
In general, green roof systems may be modular, with drainage layers, filter cloth,
growing media and plants already prepared in movable, interlocking grids, or, each
component of the system may be installed separately.
Green roof technologies not only provide the owners of buildings with a proven return
on investment, but also represent opportunities for significant social, economic and
environmental benefits, particularly in cities.
In general, there are three types of green roofs, depending on the depth of planting
medium and the amount of maintenance they need:
-intensive roofs: Traditional roof gardens require a reasonable depth of soil to grow
large plants or conventional lawns. They are considered intensive because they are
labour-intensive, requiring irrigation, feeding, and other maintenance. They are
thicker and can support a wider variety of plants but are heavier and require more
maintenance. Intensive roofs are more park-like with easy access and may include
anything from kitchen herbs to shrubs and small trees.
-semi-intense roofs: They are a mix between intensive and extensive roofs.
-extensive roofs: They are covered in a light layer of vegetation and are lighter than
an intensive green roof. They are designed to be virtually self-sustaining and should
require only a minimum of maintenance, perhaps a once-yearly weeding or an application
of slow-release fertilizer to boost growth. Extensive roofs are usually only accessed for
maintenance.
Another important distinction is between pitched green roofs and flat green roofs.
Pitched sod roofs, a traditional feature of many Scandinavian buildings, tend to be of a
simpler design than flat green roofs. This is because the pitch of the roof reduces the
risk of water penetrating through the roof structure, allowing the use of fewer
waterproofing and drainage layers.
36

Other roofing techniques:
A building can cope up with seasonal weather changes by tuning itself to the heat
sources or heat sinks with which it is coupled. The heat sources should be at
temperatures higher than the temperatures inside the building, whereas the heat sink
must be at a lower temperature. Usual heat sources are sun or the earth, while the
heat sinks are the ambient air, radiant sky and the earth.
-
Shading of roof and walls: Surface shading can be provided as an integral part
of the building element or by the use of a separate cover. Highly textured walls
have portions of their surfaces in the shade. The radiation absorbing area of
such a textured surface is less than its radiation emitting area and therefore it
will be cooler than a flat surface. The increased surface area will also result in
an increased coefficient of convective heat transfer, which will permit the
building to cool down faster at night when the ambient temperature is lower
than the building temperature.
An alternative method is to provide a cover of deciduous plants or creepers.
Because of the evaporation from the leaf surfaces, the temperature of such a
cover will be lower than the daytime air temperature and at night it may even
be lower than the sky temperature.
An effective roof-shading device is a removable canvas cover. This can be
mounted close to the roof in the daytime and at night it can be rolled up to
permit radiative cooling.
Reflecting Surfaces: If the external surfaces of the building are painted with
such colors that reflect solar radiation (in order to have minimum absorption).
Building Surface Cooling: Cooling of building surfaces by evaporation of water

provides heat sink for the room air for dissipation of heat. Maintenance of
water film over the surface of building element especially the roof brings down
its temperature below the wet-bulb temperature of the ambient air even in the
presence of solar radiation thus making the roof surface to act as a means of
heat transmission from inside the building to the ambient air without
increasing the humidity of the room air.
Roof Ponds: Water stored on the roof acts as a heat source and heat sink both
during winter and summer climatic conditions. The thermal resistance of the
roof in this system is kept very small. In summer during the day, the reflecting
insulation keeps the solar heat away from water, which keeps receiving heat
through the roof from the space below it thereby cooling it. In the night, the
37

insulation is removed and water, despite cooling the living space below, gets
cooler on account of heat losses by evaporation, convection and radiation.
Thus, the water regains its capacity to cool the living space. In winter, the
insulation is removed during the day. Water and black surface of the roof
absorb solar radiation; the living space continues to receive heat through the
roof. During night water is covered with insulation to reduce heat losses.
5.
Comparison of two examples in different climates
A) INTRODUCTION
The bioclimatic buildings are based on an efficient design that allows a perfect
utilization of natural energies, thus avoiding the use of conventional energies. It
involves saving money and energy.
To achieve it, the building must have very special characteristics which we must to
consider before starting the construction. They are focused to achieve a perfect
heating system and a soda and ventilation system of the building. The proper
functioning of the building depends on several factors: orientation, location, internal
distributive, insulation, etc.
It has been abundantly clear for some time that the Building Sector is a primary
contributor of climate-changing pollutants, and the question is asked: How do we best
square our building energy needs with those of our environment and of our
pocketbook? In the realm of super energy efficiency, the Passive House presents an
intriguing option for new and retrofit construction; in residential, commercial, and
institutional projects.
So, firstly, we need to know the climate where we are going to built. We must take
into account the area that will be built house. We have to know the average
temperatures of this area in summer and winter, humidity, prevailing winds
We also should study in detail the nearby natural features such as mountains, rivers,
wetlands, vegetation and the artificial ones, such as buildings. It is because they also
create a microclimate that affects the wind, humidity and solar radiation that the
house will receive.
As we have mentioned before, the bioclimatic architecture depends on the climate of
the specific area.
Now, we can speak deeper about two examples. We will consider the design features
according to their climates. We have chosen two different cases:
38

B) FIRST CASE:
The worlds first Passive House, Darmstadt-Kranichstein, Germany (1990)
This Passive House in Darmstadt Kranichstein has been constructed in 1990/91 on
design plans by architects Prof. Bott/Ridder/Westermeyer for four private clients.
Climate:
Darmstadt is placed in Germany, (49520N 8390E). According to the Kppen
climates classification, this city is found in the temperate climate. (Previously, we had
described its characteristic, in the point 2: Adaptation to climate).
Traditional design for temperate climates:
The milder winters and warmer summers of temperate climates mean that traditional
buildings are freed from the need to have a compact, low surface area form. Openings
can be larger and orientated to enjoy solar gains in winter, spring and autumn.
Provisions must be made for shading and openings in summer to avoid overheating.
This may be in the form of an overhanging roof, which will also be pitched to allow rain
to run off. The thermal capacity of the building is normally high so that day time heat
gains can warm internal spaces at night.
Temperate climates wary from warm Mediterranean type temperate climate to cool
Northern Europe temperate climates and so the range of architectural solutions is
quite broad.
For warm climates, adobe or rammed earth walls and thatched roofs were a traditional
design. In the UK, which has a wet and windy temperate climate the use of tiled
pitched roofs is a sensible response to the weather. The pitch helps with the run-off of
rain while roof tiles come away in storms as small parts of the roof rather than whole
roof being damaged.
39

For groups of buildings in temperate climates it is important to allow sufficient spacing
to ensure good solar access whilst offering sheltering protection from cold winds. [12]
Some design features:

As we said before, this climate is a temperate climate. And there are some general
things that we can consider to build a bioclimatic building in this area, to take more
advantage of the natural energy resources:
-
To have the roof and the facades of the house with light colors. (We have
mentioned it before too in point number 2: Adaptation to climate).
To put awnings over the windows which are looking at the south. We have the
possibility of take down or up them, so, in winter and no too much sunny days,
the awnings can be up, and in very hot days, we can take down them. Thereby,
we are avoiding that the sun heat our home too.
To have sunscreens. They are very useful for windows which are looking at the
south or windows which are placed on the roof or for skylights. They consist on
some blinds placed in such way that prevent too much sun in the months of
summer, but they led some in the months of winter.
In the case of using a cooling system, we must isolate the housing. In this
situation, we are keeping all the cold in our home. We would not have heat
gains.
To have special glasses such as double glazed. They prevent that the hot from
the inside goes to the outside through the window. Usually, between the two
glasses, we have air, which is not very good conductor of the heat. But,
sometimes, we can put a special gas between them. This gas could be a mixture
of heavy gasses, whose thermal transmittance is very low.
40

-
To have, in front of a house, a large deciduous tree which covers the sun in
summer, and in winter, it would allow the sun light.
However there are more specific solutions that this specific house has as the pioneer
Passive House:
-
Roof: It has a grass roof with humus, non-woven filter, root protective membrane.
Also it has a wooden light-weight beam, sealing with polyethylene sheeting
bonded, gypsum plasterboard, wood-chip wallpaper, emulsion paint coating,
entire cavity filled with blown-in mineral wool insulation.
U-value W/(mK): 0.1
External walls: Fabric reinforced mineral render with expanded polystyrene

insulation, sand-lime brick masonry, continuous interior gypsum plastering, woodchip wallpaper, and emulsion paint coating.
U-value W/(mK): 0.14
Basement and ceiling: Surface finish on fiberglass fabric, with polystyrene

insulation boards, concrete, polystyrene acoustic insulation, cement floor finish,
adhesive parquet, and sealing solvent-free.
U-value W/(mK): 0.13
Windows: Triple-pane low-e glazing with Krypton filling, with wooden window
with polyurethane foam insulated framework.
U-value W/(mK): 0.7
Ventilation: Heat recovery:

Thus in Kranichstein a balanced supply air and exhaust air ventilation system with
a highly efficient counterflow air-to-air heat exchanger was used - but it had to be
41

specially adapted for this purpose because at the time, the fans used had a very
high electricity consumption. They are located in the cellar (approx. 9C in the
winter), carefully sealed and thermally insulated.
During operation, a heat recovery rate of over 80% was measured after
optimization of the flow geometry.
The hot water is heated using solar vacuum tube collectors. And natural gas is used for
secondary heating. The flat-collector thermal system covers about 66% of the
consumption in the Passive House in Darmstadt-Kranichstein.
Because the provision of domestic hot water represents the greatest energy
requirement of this house, an efficient domestic hot water system is of great
importance. The heat distribution and circulation pipes have therefore been placed
inside the thermal envelope and are well insulated.
-
Airtightness and air quality: The Passive House in Kranichstein was finished in
October 1991 and has been inhabited by four families since then. The interior
finish materials were selected to create as little indoor air pollution as possible.
The insulating materials are airtightly separated from the interior by continuous
interior plaster or vapour retarders without any gaps as appropriate from a
building physics perspective. The good air quality was confirmed by a separate
investigation within the context of a social science study, which objectified user
acceptance. [13]
Building envelope
House
Wall
Basement wall
Roof
Floor
Window
Doors
W/mK
W/mK
W/mK
W/mK
W/mK
W/mK
Air tightness
n value
l/h
0,6
Ventilation
Heat recovery
80
Darmstadt
0,14
0,13
0,1
0,1
0,7
0,7
42

C) SECOND CASE:
Pilot Project of a Passive House: a wooden single family house in Valkeakoski,
Finland.
Climate:
Valkeakoski is placed in Finland, (6116N 02402E). According to the Kppen climates
classification, this city is found in the polar/cold climate. (Previously, we had
described its characteristic, in the point 2: Adaptation to climate).
Traditional design for polar/cold climates:
For polar and very cold regions the key aim is to minimize heat loss from external
surfaces. The ratio of internal volume to expose surface area is an important
parameter. Geometrically, the sphere or hemisphere has the highest value of ratio,
and so it is not surprising that the most famous traditional form of shelter in polar
regions is the dome-shaped igloo.
The domed construction is also very stable structurally and presents a smooth
aerodynamic shape to the polar winds. Snow is the only major building material
available. The snow blocks used to make the igloo contain trapped air and act as a
good insulator. They typically measure 900 mm long by 450 mm high and 150 mm
width and they are laid in a continuous spiral from floor to roof.
Openings are kept to a minimum and entrances are located away from prevailing
winds or linked to the living area via a tunnel. Inside the igloo snow platforms are
covered with insulating fur skins. Heat from lamps and people slightly melts the
internal snow surface and this refreezes to give a coating of ice that acts as a barrier to
air infiltration.
Ventilation is provided by a very small opening in the roof. The effectiveness of igloos
as shelter is demonstrated by a study of air temperatures inside and outside the igloo
by Cook (1996).
43
Cold climate areas outside the polar regions are able to support the growth of vast
forest and so timber is the key traditional building material. Heavy wooden structures
with small openings are used in the construction and the form is compact. Roofs are
covered in shingle, turf or logs and have a low pitch to encourage snow to lie evenly.
The snow layer, particularly when freshly fallen and not compacted, acts as a good
insulator and stops heat escaping through the roof. [12]
The first Finnish Passive Houses:

The first Finnish Passive houses have to tackle some challenges that other Passive
Houses in other climates dont have to. In brief, they are:
1) Performance of the structures:
- Frost protection of the foundations: during a cold winter the ground may
freeze down to 1.5 meters in Southern areas. , in a typical building the floor
heat loss is used for reducing the frost heave risk. As the thermal transmittance
of the floor is very low, the heat loss is not applicable any more.
- Drying capacity of insulated structures.
- Avoidance of thermal bridge effects.
- Long term performance of the airtight layers.
- More accurate U-value calculations than required by the building code.
2) In case that there would be a heat recovery unit, there is a risk of freezing of it.
Some design features:

Since this climate is cold, the main things that we can consider to build a bioclimatic
building here are opposite things than in the last case:
44

-
To use dark colors to paint the exterior of the house.

To try to have as less windows as possible looking at the north, (at the northern
hemisphere).
To have very good insulation, which avoids the heat losses.
To have special glasses such as double glazed. They prevent that the hot from
the inside go away to the exterior the window.
Dont have anything in front of the windows because they could cover the
sunlight.
Now, specifically talking about this Pilot Project of this Passive House, we have to say:
-
It has a ground preheating system for the ventilation fresh air. Estimated
energy gain from the ground loop system net energy gain from the ground is
roughly 1 000 kWh.
It has a ventilation heating system. The room based heating power demand
varies from 2 W/m2 up to 36 W/m2 in different spaces of the house. [14]
Building envelope
House
Wall
Basement wall
Roof
Floor
Window
- South
- East
- West
- North
Doors
W/mK
W/mK
W/mK
W/mK
W/mK
m
m
m
m
W/mK
Air tightness
n value
l/h
0,6
Ventilation
Heat recovery
80
Spaces
Gross floor area
Gross volume
m
m
Valkeakoski
0,08
--0,07
0,1
0,75
30
2
1
42
0,7
290
1200
45
However, there are some issues that restrict the use of existing passive house systems
in cold climates:

-
Demonstrated concepts do not fulfill the energy demand requirement in a cold

climate.
Hygrothermal performance of typical passive house building systems may not
be appropriate.
The frost conditions of the foundations.
Ventilation heat recovery efficiency could be affected by defrosting.
Traditional Nordic heat supply systems are not applicable to passive houses due
to a high heat release power.
The pilot projects show that the suggested specifications for the Finnish climate can
meet. However, the research results show that there are specific problems initiating
from the thick insulation layers especially in the floor structures and floor external wall
connections. In the phase of this study, also the building physical performance of the
building systems of the pilot houses will be studied.
6.
Working Process & Research Methodology
This dissertation has been based on Analytical Research and Empirical Research
Methodologies, specifically directed at my future within the building and construction
profession. And I have based it on my own observations and experience too. I have
analyze existing facts and information that I have found from different sources,
although the most part of this information was new for me.
7.
Conclusion
Nowadays everybody is more aware about the environment, dont contaminate,

pollution, etc, even the architects. Because of that is why Bioclimatic Architecture is
getting more and more important.
Actually, we take care about the design of buildings taking into consideration the
specific climatic conditions of the specific place where they are constructed. We use
free resources (such as: sun, vegetation, rainfall, wind) to reduce the environmental
pollution, and to try to reduce energy consumption. (Passive Design).
Today, many people in the building sector have applied this concept to design, and
build towards a carbon-neutral future. Over the last 10 years more than 15,000
buildings in Europe - from single and multifamily residences, to schools, factories and
office buildings - have been designed and built or remodeled to the passive house
46

standard. Even governmental agencies have adopted passive house standards in their
policy-making.
The passive houses have higher construction cost than the conventional buildings type.
But, from my point of view, it is worth of make them. Because in the long term they
obtain important savings (of money and energy), they give major safety and comfort to
the occupants, and in addition they contribute to the respect to the environment.
With this dissertation, I have realized the direction or the trends of the bioclimatic
design, with all these techniques applied to the architecture, we can advance towards
a sustainable future of comfort.
It is important to be conscious of only taking a good design, we could improve the
fulfilment of our demands. We should to take as much advantage as we can of the
natural resources. There are a lot of things that we can do depending of the climate,
and they arent so difficult. So, why dont do that? Even, we have seen that long time
ago, the people were used to take care of the orientation, using natural resources, and
using the sun to heat the houses everybody could win if bioclimatic architecture
would be more integrated in our lives.
8.
References and Bibliography
[1] Hocine Bougdah and Stephen Sharples. Technologies of Architecture, Volume 2:

Environment, Technology and Sustainability. 2010, 1st edition, Abingdon by Taylor & Francis.
(Chapter 1.3, Climate classification).
[2] http://repositorio.bib.upct.es/dspace/bitstream/10317/153/4/Cap%C3%ADtulo%202.pdf
[3]http://pci9elufin.blogspot.com/2009/09/sistemas-generadores-de-movimiento-de.html
[4] http://www.passivehouse.us
[5] "A Theory of Power" ISBN 0-595-33030-4 Vail, Jeff (2005-06-28). "Passive Solar &
Independence". Retrieved 2007-03-10.
[6] Murti Nugroho, Agung; Mohd Hamdan bin Ahmad, Makmal Sain Bangunan. "Possibility to
Use Solar Induced Ventilation Strategies in Tropical Conditions by Computational Fluid
Dynamic Simulation" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-03-10.
[7] Mazria, Edward (1979). The Passive Solar Energy Book. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press. ISBN 087857-237-6.
[8]http://www.ecowho.com/articles/17/What_is_a_Trombe_Wall_and_how_can_you_use_on
e?.html
47

[9] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombe_wall
[10]http://www.ecowho.com/articles/17/What_is_a_Trombe_Wall_and_how_can_you_use_o
ne?.html
[11] Amjad Almusaed. Biophilic and bioclimatic architecture : analytical therapy for the next
generation of passive sustainable architecture. 2011, 1st edition, Springer, London, New York.
(Chapter 35.4: Heating technique).
[12] Hocine Bougdah and Stephen Sharples. Technologies of Architecture, Volume 2:

Environment, Technology and Sustainability. 2010, 1st edition, Abingdon by Taylor &
Francis. (Chapter 1.4, Traditional climate design).
[13]http://passipedia.passiv.de/passipedia_en/examples/residential_buildings/single__family_houses/central_europe/the_world_s_first_passive_house_darmstadtkranichstein_germany
[14] Jyri Nieminen and Riikka Holopainen. VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF
FINLAND: Concepts and market acceptance of a cold climate Passive House. 2008, 1st
edition, Business from Technology, Helsinki.
Linda Reeder. Guide to Grenn Building rating systems. 2010, 1st edition, Canada by John Wiley
& Sons, Inc, Hoboken, New Jersey.
48

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Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management

VIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012

DISSERTATION TITLE: Bioclimatic Architecture

CONSULTANT: Jesper Saxgren

AUTHOR: Maria Pilar Sols

DATE/SIGNATURE: May 2012

VIA Student number: 123706

Number of copies: 2 Copies

Number of pages: 43 pages

All rights reserved no part of this publication may be reproduced without

BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012

3. Passive Design: ..9

a.2. Inertia systems..11

4. Some specific elements: ..18

BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012

Insulation and thermal mass.21

5. Comparison of two examples in different climates...38

8. References and Bibliography.47

BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012

Introduction & Problem Statement

Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management | PILAR SOLIS MARTINEZ

BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012

However, world climates, as studied by meteorologists, display a wide range of

BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012

Polar/cold climates: This type of climate is typically found at high latitudes

Temperate climates: This type of climate is usually found at latitudes between

Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management | PILAR SOLIS MARTINEZ

BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012

A comparison of the four climates types is given in this picture:

BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012

Passive Design: Passive House

Passive design is the key to sustainable building. It is a method used in architecture in

The key elements of passive design are:

Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management | PILAR SOLIS MARTINEZ

BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012

A) TYPES OF BOICLIMATIC SYSTEMS

Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management | PILAR SOLIS MARTINEZ

BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012

Semi-direct systems: In these systems, a space is interposed between the

A) 3. Ventilation systems and air treatment:

BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012

Crossed ventilation: It is a ventilation system of a space or a run of

Sketches of some crossed ventilation systems

Chimney effect: It is a system that makes an air extraction by placing

In these pictures, red arrow does not mean hot air

BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012

Sketches of some solar chimney systems

Thermosyphon collector, Heat siphon, or Glazed solar chimney: They are

In these pictures, red arrow does not mean hot air

Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management | PILAR SOLIS MARTINEZ

BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012

Sketch of a static suction system

- Wind tower: It is a system which introduces air in a building, through a

In this pictures, red arrow does not mean hot air

Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management | PILAR SOLIS MARTINEZ

BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012

Sketch of a wind tower system

- Evaporative tower: It consists of a treatment system that also produces a

Sketch of an underground ventilation system

In this pictures, red arrow does not mean hot air

Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management | PILAR SOLIS MARTINEZ

BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE 2012