E U R O P E A N

C O M M I S S I O N

The demonstration component of the Joule-Thermie Programme T H E R M I E

Bioclimatic
Architecture
R U E

Directorate General for Energy (DG XVII)

JOULE-THERMIE

The JOULE-THERMIE programme was launched in 1995 as the

European Union’s first ‘integrated’ programme, bringing together the
resources of the European Commission Directorates-General XII
(Science, Research and Development) and XVII (Energy). This
programme is funded by the European Union’s Fourth Framework
Programme for Research and Technological Development, one of the
most extensive research funding initiatives available to European
companies and research organisations.

The JOULE-THERMIE programme runs until 1998 and has a total

budget of 1,030 MECU of which 566 MECU are allocated to the
THERMIE demonstration component of the programme for the
support of projects and associated measures. THERMIE is focused
on the cost-effective, environmentally-friendly and targeted
demonstration and promotion of clean and efficient energy
technologies. These consist of renewable energy technologies;
rational use of energy in industry; buildings and transport; a clean and
more efficient use of solid fuels and hydrocarbons. Essentially,
THERMIE supports actions which are aimed at proving both the
technological and economical viability and validity of energy
technologies by highlighting the benefits and by assuring a wider
replication and market penetration both in EU and global markets.

Colour Coding
To enable readers to quickly identify those Maxibrochure relating to
specific parts of the THERMIE Programme each Maxibrochure is
colour coded with a stripe in the lower right hand corner of the front
cover, i.e.:

RATIONAL USE OF ENERGY - RUE

RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES - RES

SOLID FUELS - SF

HYDROCARBONS - HC

GENERAL - GEN

Reproduction of the Contents is subject to acknowledgement of the

European Commission.
Neither the European Commission, nor any person acting on its
behalf: a) make any warranty or representation, express or implied,
with respect to the information contained in this publication; b)
assumes any liability with respect to the use of, or damages resulting
from this information.
The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the
views of the Commission.
 Bioclimatic Architecture

THERMIE PROGRAMME ACTION NO DIS-0162-95-IRL

Univer sity College Dublin

Energy Research Group

University College Dublin
Richview, Clonskeagh
For the European Commission Dublin 14, Ireland
Directorate-General for Energy (DG XVII) Tel: +353.1-269 2750
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Authors: John R. Goulding and J. Owen Lewis,

Energy Research Group, University College Dublin

Published by: LIOR E.E.I.G.

Panoramalaan 7, B-1560-HOEILAART
Tel +32.2-657 5300 Fax +32.2-657 3640

Front cover image: Zero Energy Headquarters building for Hyndburn Borough Council, Accrington, UK.
Architects: Jestico & Whiles, London.
This project is supported by The Energy Commission DGXVII for Energy under the THERMIE programme.

Design and layout: John R. Goulding and Sinéad McKeon

INTERNET
This maxibrochure is available on the THERMIE World Wide Web site (http://erg.ucd.ie/thermie.html) in Portable Document
Format (pdf). Those interested can download the Acrobat Reader for their specific computer platform and then download the
maxibrochure for viewing on screen. Copies of the maxibrochure can then be printed. All World Wide Web links referred to
in this maxibrochure can be accessed through viewing the pdf document within the WWW browser Netscape.

Netscape can also be downloaded from the WWW site http://home.netscape.com/comprod/mirror/index.html. Follow
included instructions in each item of software for appropriate setup. These software are available to the user at no cost.

September 1997

Reproduction of the contents is subject to acknowledgement of the European Commission, 1997.

Neither the European Commission, nor any person acting on its behalf: (a) makes any warranty
or representation, express or implied, with respect to the information contained in this
publication; (b) assumes any liability with respect to the use of, or damages resulting from this
information.

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission.
CONTENTS

1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2 Bioclimatic Building Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2.1 Energy Conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.2 Passive Solar Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.3 Natural Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.4 Daylighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

3. Microclimatic Design and Urban Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

3.1 Urban Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.2 Urban Morphology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

4 Thermal Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4.1 Thermal Comfort Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4.2 Thermal Indices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.2 Bioclimatic Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

5. Selection of Sustainable Construction Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

6. Active Solar Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

7. Case Studies 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
7.1 Housing: Student Hostel, Windberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
7.2 Commercial: Irish Energy Centre offices, Dublin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
7.3 Institutional: Teaching Hospital, Thessaloniki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
7.4 Retrofit: Old Central Market, Athens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

8. Design Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
8.1 Sources of Further Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
8.2 Information via the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

9. Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

10. CD-ROM on Bioclimatic Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

10.1 CD-Rom Screen Images. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

11. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
1
1 INTRODUCTION seeks to provide buildings which are better suited to the
needs of occupants and kinder to the global environment.

‘Bioclimatic’, ‘Green’, ‘Passive Solar’, ‘Ecological’, and

Architecture has always involved the use of natural
‘Sustainable’ design are now familiar terms. Their
resources to serve human needs. There is a long and
meanings overlap and some have been around for longer
inventive tradition of making buildings that are sensitive to
than others. ‘Bioclimatic Architecture’ implies a design
place and to climate. Since the Industrial Revolution,
approach which embraces the principles of sustainability*,
technological developments affecting the building sector,
but which goes further than minimising the environmental
including electric lighting, central heating and air
impact of buildings; it seeks to create an architecture
conditioning, have allowed buildings to become
which is fundamentally more responsive to location,
progressively more detached from their environments.
climate and human needs and which gives expression to
Cheap fuels, new heating, cooling and lighting
soundly based, vital design parameters. Far from limiting
technologies and increased expectations of occupants have
architectural freedom, it offers a broad range of new
resulted in buildings that are designed and used with little
possibilities to enhance the design and function of our
regard to their location or their ambient environments.
future buildings and our delight in experiencing them.
Many of these buildings manage to provide acceptable
levels of thermal and visual comfort indoors, but at
* The UIA (International Union of Architects) Declaration
enormous and unsustainable cost to the environment; and
of Interdependence for a Sustainable Future, Chicago
there is a growing body of evidence that the artificially
1993, proclaims:
maintained conditions within many of our modern
buildings are not conducive to good health. “Sustainable design integrates consideration of resource
and energy efficiency, healthy buildings and materials,
However, with increasing awareness of the environmental ecologically and socially sensitive land use and an
impact of modern living, a new approach is emerging that aesthetic sensitivity that inspires, affirms, and enables.”

'Wings of Glass' - House in Regensburg, Germany. Architect: Thomas Herzog, Munich.

2
2 BIOCLIMATIC BUILDING
DESIGN
Bioclimatic buildings are characterised by the use of
building elements including walls, windows, roofs and
floors to collect, store and distribute solar thermal energy
and prevent overheating. Heat flows occur primarily by the
natural mechanisms of convection, conduction and
radiation rather than through the use of pumps and fans.
The objective is to manage energy flows and thus provide
comfortable conditions in the occupied parts of the
building at all times of the year and the day. The definition
also includes natural cooling and shading. The building is
cooled by rejecting unwanted heat to ambient heat sinks
(air, sky, earth and water) by means of natural modes of
heat transfer. But the cooling load is firstly minimised
through architectural design by reducing solar gains to the
building fabric or through its windows, and by reducing
internal gains. Thirdly, the use of radiant energy for
daylighting while maintaining standards of visual comfort
is also encompassed within the bioclimatic approach.
In most situations it is necessary to provide some
additional heating or cooling at certain times, and
similarly, daylighting cannot meet all lighting
requirements. The auxiliary inputs and their controls are
designed to supplement the climatic contributions.
The design and construction of a building which takes
optimal advantage of its environment need not impose any
significant additional cost, and compared to more highly
serviced ‘conventional’ buildings it may be significantly
cheaper to operate. Primarily a design strategy, bioclimatic
architecture permits a dynamic interaction between people,
their built environment and the outdoor conditions. It
requires a knowledge of climate, and awareness of the
available technologies and materials combined with an
understanding of comfort, and how these conditions can be
affected by changes in climate.
'The Green Building', Dublin. View of the atrium.
Architects: Murray O'Laoire, Dublin.
3
As a design approach it is relevant to all buildings and
locations though the relative importance of heating,
cooling or daylighting will vary by region and building
type.
Passive heating, natural cooling and daylighting represent
a spectrum of strategies whose applicability is modified by
region and building type, and whose contribution varies
from the modest fraction by which most European
buildings already benefit, to that in well-designed new
buildings where the solar contribution may represent more
than half of the energy conventionally required to provide
comfortable thermal and visual environments. A 1990
study for the European Commission [23] reported that
passive solar design then supplied the Community (of
twelve Member States) with 96 MTOE primary energy per
annum - equivalent to 9% of total fuel (and greater than
coal directly burnt for heating at 6%), or 13% of building
sector use. The report indicates the potential to greatly
increase this contribution, by 27% by the year 2000 and by
54% by 2010, if rigorous action is taken. Characteristically
a design-orientated and building-specific technology, at a
certain level bioclimatic architecture has already been
shown to provide in a cost-effective manner indoor
climates which occupants enjoy. However substantial
potential exists to increase its contribution, as noted above.
Irish Energy Centre, Dublin. Architects: Energy Research Group
University College Dublin.
The terms ‘bioclimatic’ and ‘passive solar’ have been in
use for not much more than a decade. Nevertheless, the
principles involved were known in ancient civilisations,
and exemplars of climate conscious design are to be seen
in vernacular buildings of various cultures throughout
history. As far back as the 5th century BC, Socrates
evidenced a clear understanding of climate-sensitive
design and of the principles governing the solar heating of
buildings.
The rich design potential of bioclimatic strategies coupled
with their economic attractiveness has determined that
these approaches are of fundamental importance in a more
energy-efficient architecture and sustainable design.
Bioclimatic design elements cannot be considered only in
their technical dimensions, as of their nature these systems
have profound architectural implications. As an aside, a
criticism which can fairly be levelled at some early solar
buildings is that they were diagrammatic in concept, in that
it would seem that sometimes practically all other
considerations were made subservient to energy collection.
A more holistic design approach is better suited to people’s
increased expectations of their buildings in terms of
environmental impact, energy efficiency, indoor health and
comfort conditions and architectural quality.
2.1 Energy Conservation
While passive solar energy can help to replace
conventional fuels with more environmentally benign
alternative sources of heating, cooling and lighting,
energy-efficient design and construction practices
(including appropriate use of insulation and thermal mass,
the prevention of unwanted air infiltration, effective,
energy-saving ventilation and optimisation of daylight to
minimise the use of electric lighting) are essential to make
the best use of the available energy. Energy conservation
techniques are, of course, of primary importance in energy
conscious design, but usually have relatively low impact
on the architecture of the building.

The building envelope can lose heat by infiltration, and by

transmission through thermal conduction, convection and
radiation. The addition of thermal insulation to the
envelope reduces thermal conduction. Barriers such as
aluminium foil can be placed behind radiators, and low-
emissivity glazing can be used, to reflect heat back into the
room by radiation. Double and triple glazings, sometimes
filled with low-conductivity gas, can reduce thermal losses
through windows.

It is not necessary to cut out infiltration altogether. The

aim should be to minimize it so that replacement of air can
be controlled easily. Thought should be given to
topography, building shape, and planting of wind shelter.
Workmanship should be good and attention paid to details
Solar Wall. such as joints and closing systems.
Daylighting must be the earliest and most natural
‘bioclimatic’ application, yet this is an approach in which
there is renewed interest as energy issues in non-domestic
buildings are studied. Architectural devices designed to
increase the penetration of natural light deep into the
interiors of commercial buildings and schools improve the
distribution by techniques such as clerestory lighting, light
shelves and so on, offer significant design potential.

Cooling is of particular (though not exclusive) relevance in

southern climates. Techniques include evaporative cooling
and night ventilation, and substantial thermal inertia will
usually form an important feature of such buildings. All
climate-sensitive or bioclimatic architecture will
incorporate solar protection and shading as appropriate to
regional circumstances.

Given that issues of energy-efficient building must form

part of a design strategy, to achieve change it is necessary
to motivate and inform professionals so that they modify
their behaviour, and to provide the necessary tools to Natural insulation for energy conservation.
support design and predict performance’. The perception
of the thermal and luminous implications of elements such
as walls and roofs is more difficult and less familiar to
most designers than concepts such as architectural space
and structure. Modern service systems have tended to
mask the direct experience of a building’s environmental
response to climatic change. It is interesting that
vernacular architecture often displays an exemplary
appreciation of the exigencies of local climate but
(apparently through a period of cheap energy) professional
building designers seem to have lost the skills of designing
in harmony with climate. Translucent Insulation Material.

4
2.2 Passive Solar Heating
DIRECT
Passive solar design represents one of the most important Non-diffusing Diffusing
strategies for replacing conventional fossil fuels and
reducing environmental pollution in the building sector.
Depending on the local climate and the predominant need
for heating or cooling, a wide range of passive techniques
is now available to the building designer for new and
retrofit building projects which, at little or no extra cost
compared with conventional construction, can result in
buildings which are both more energy-efficient and offer Direct gain sunspace Clerestory
higher standards of visual and thermal comfort and health
to the occupants.

Solar energy can make a major contribution to the heating

requirements of a building. For most parts of Europe it is
appropriate to use the following strategy:

• Solar collection, where solar energy is collected and

converted into heat.
• Heat storage, where heat collected during the day is
stored within the building for future use.
• Heat distribution, where collected/stored heat is INDIRECT
redirected to rooms or zones which require heat. Mass wall Sunspace
• Heat conservation, where heat is retained in the
building for as long as possible.

Direct Gain is the most common approach, with large,

south-facing glazed apertures opening directly into
habitable rooms in which are exposed appropriately-sized
areas of heavy materials to provide thermal storage.

Indirect Gain systems include Mass, Trombe and water Trombe wall Barra-Constantini
walls. Storage is in a south-facing wall, of considerable
thermal mass, whose external surface is glazed to reduce
heat losses. Movable insulation may be deployed at night-
time. The Trombe wall has vents at high and low levels to
allow convective heat transfer to the occupied space, while
the mass wall relies on conduction. Water replaces solid
masonry in the third type. A development is the Barra-
Constantini system which uses lightweight glazed
collectors mounted on, but insulated from south-facing
walls. Heated air from the collectors circulates through
Remote storage Black attic
ducts in the heavy ceilings, walls and floors warming these wall
before returning to the bottom of the collector.

The sunspace or conservatory is a glazed enclosure

attached to the south elevation, usually without auxiliary
heating and with storage either in a heavy separating wall
or elsewhere in the sunspace. It may be used to pre-heat
ventilation air for the building. There has been a recent
upsurge of architectural interest in glazed sunspaces and
atria, especially in larger buildings.
Roof pond Thermosiphon
In addition to special glazing materials (using special
coatings or which operate electrochromically or
photochromically), which can reject or help to retain heat,
depending on the circumstances, entirely new construction
materials are now being developed for the market which
are often ideally suited to passive solar buildings.

Transparent or translucent insulation materials (TIM) are a

new class of materials which combine the properties of
good optical transmission and good thermal insulation. Passive solar heating configurations.

5
One of the most obvious applications of TIM is on the
sunny facades of buildings, replacing conventional opaque
insulating materials. Well-designed TIM facades can
reduce the annual energy requirements for space heating in
new and retrofitted houses to one quarter that of
comparable buildings with conventional wall insulation.

;;;;; ;;;;;
Some transparent insulation materials are commercially
available while others are still undergoing development. It

;;;;; ;;;;;
is anticipated that large-scale production will significantly
reduce their cost in the near future [24].

Solar Control External Gains

;;;;;;;;;; ;;;;; ;;;;;

;;;;;;;;;; ;;;;; ;;;;;
Solar Collection Heat Storage

Ventilation Natural Cooling

;;;;;;;;;;
Heat Distribution Heat Conservation ;;;;; Internal Gains

Passive solar heating strategy.

Passive cooling strategy.

2.3 Natural Cooling

Strictly defined, the term ‘passive cooling’ applies only to
those processes of heat dissipation that will occur
naturally, that is without the mediation of mechanical
components or energy inputs. The definition encompasses
situations where the coupling of spaces and building
elements to ambient heat sinks (air, sky, earth and water)
by means of natural modes of heat transfer leads to an
appreciable cooling effect indoors. However, before taking
measures to dissipate unwanted heat, it is prudent to
consider how the build-up of unwanted heat can be
minimised in the first place. In this context, natural cooling
may be considered in a somewhat wider sense than the
strict definition above suggests, to include preventive
measures for controlling cooling loads as well as the
possibility of mechanically assisted (hybrid) heat transfer
to enhance the natural processes of passive cooling.
A useful design strategy for the overheating season is to
first control the amount of heat from solar radiation and
heated air reaching the building, then to minimise the
effect of unwanted solar heat within the building skin or at
openings, next to reduce internal or casual heat gains from
appliances and occupants and finally, where necessary, to
use environmental heat sinks to absorb any remaining
unwanted heat. In practice a combination of these cooling
techniques is almost invariably in operation.
External heat gains due to solar radiation can be minimised
by insulation, reduced window sizes, thermal inertia in the
building envelope, reflective materials and compact
building layout.
Infiltration gains can be reduced by cooling the incoming
air and by reducing its infiltration to a minimum necessary
for comfort and health.
Internal gains can be reduced by the use of more efficient
lighting and appliances and appropriate control strategies
for their operation and by the use of natural daylight
wherever possible to replace artificial lighting.
Ventilation using cooled fresh air driven through the
building by naturally occurring differences in wind or air
pressure can help to reduce internal temperatures.
Several methods of natural cooling, including increased air
speeds to maximise perceived levels of cooling, ground
and evaporative cooling to reduce the temperature of
ventilation air and night-time cooling of the building by
radiative heat loss to the sky and enhanced ventilation, can
help to maintain comfortable indoor conditions.

Fixed or adjustable shading devices, or shading provided

by vegetation and special glazing may be used to reduce
the amount of solar radiation reaching the building.
6
2.4 Daylighting

The optimal use of natural daylight, especially in buildings

used mainly by day, can, by replacing artificial light, make
a significant contribution to energy efficiency, visual
comfort and the well-being of occupants. Such a strategy
should take account of the potential for heat gain and
conservation, energy savings by replacing artificial light Light well Roof monitor

and the more subjective benefits of natural light and

external views enjoyed by the occupants.

A good daylighting system has a range of elements, most

of which must be incorporated into the building at an early
stage in its design. This can be achieved by consideration
of the following in relation to the incidence of daylight on
Light shelf External reflectors
the building:

• the orientation, space organisation, function and

geometry of the spaces to be lit

• the location, form and dimensions of the openings

through which daylight will pass
Atrium Light duct
• the location and surface properties of internal
partitions which will reflect the daylight and play a
part in its distribution

• the location, form and dimensions, etc., of movable or

permanent devices which provide protection from
excessive light and glare
Clerestory Reflective blinds
• the optical and thermal characteristics of the glazing
materials.

Good daylighting design will not only reduce energy costs

related to artificial lighting but will also diminish the need
for mechanical devices to cool rooms overheated by low-
efficiency electric lighting appliances.
Prismatic components Tilted / reflective surfaces
Achievement of comfortable lighting conditions in a space
depends on the amount, distribution and quality of the light
there. Enough illuminance, indicated by a sufficiently high
daylight factor, should be provided to allow relevant
objects to be seen easily, without fatigue.

The light distribution in the space should be such that

excessive differences in relative illumination which could Claustras External / internal shades
give the impression of inadequate lighting are avoided.
Sufficient contrast should, however, be retained for the
relief of each object to be brought out. Window openings
and artificial light sources should be placed in such a way
that glare is minimised.

Finally, particular care should be taken over the quality of

the light to be provided. Both the spectral composition and Coated glasses Transparent insulation
light consistency should be appropriate for the task to be
performed [7], [15], [25]. Daylighting devices.

Illuminance
Although the human eye is extremely adaptable, it can
nevertheless only perform visual functions within a small
range of illuminance levels. For a particular task, the range
is affected by the visual performance required, the light
distribution in the room and the luminance of the walls and
other surfaces. Recommended optimal illuminance values
for the workplace for different types of task, are given in
the Building Energy Code published by the (UK)
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
(CIBSE).

7
Contrast

Contrast is the difference between the visual appearance of

an object and that of its immediate background. It can be
expressed in terms of luminance, illuminance or
reflectance between surfaces. The amount and distribution
of the light (and hence the amount of contrast) in a room is
very dependent on the reflectivity of the walls and other
surfaces. Surface finishes should, therefore, be chosen with
regard to their reflectances (the ratio of overall reflected
radiant energy to incident radiant energy). In general, to
achieve good luminance distribution, light colours should
be used for large surfaces.

Glare

Glare is caused by the introduction of an intense light

source into the visual field. It can be mildly distracting or
visually disabling for the occupant. Whatever its level, it
always produces a feeling of discomfort and fatigue. Glare
can be caused directly, indirectly or by reflection. Direct
glare occurs when a light source with a high luminance
enters directly into one’s field of view. It can be
experienced with interior lighting or when the sun or clear
sky is seen through windows either directly or after
reflection from an exterior surface. Indirect glare occurs
when the luminance of walls is too high. Reflected glare is
caused by specular reflection from polished interior
surfaces. Glare can be reduced by careful design and
choosing light sources and backgrounds of suitable
luminances.

Light control Meeting area, Beresford Court office building, Dublin. Architects: A&D
Wejchert, Dublin.
Penetration of solar radiation into a building contributes
much to the quality of the lighting there - as long as the
sun’s rays do not reach the occupants’ eyes directly or by
specular reflection. The penetration of natural light can be
controlled by reducing the incident flow, the amount of
contrast and the luminance of the windows. Control of
direct or diffuse sunlight is important to comfort because it
reduces glare. It can be achieved either by incorporation of
permanent or movable exterior devices into the building
design to reduce the view of the sky or by using movable
interior screens to reduce the luminance of the window.

Health effects

Besides being needed for visual perception, light also

regulates metabolic processes in the human body, and
affects the immune system and psychological and
emotional states. Daylight is involved in setting the
"biological clock" and its associated rhythms. A lack of
light (particularly in winter at high latitudes) can lead to
seasonal affective disorder (SAD) with symptoms of
lethargy and depression. This effect could be enhanced in
the occupants of deep-plan buildings where artificial light
levels are insufficient to trigger physiological responses.
Daylight also provides clues for spatial and time
orientation which, when removed, lead to psychological
discomfort and loss of productivity. Humans evolved in an
environment of purely natural daylight and it seems likely HQ for Legal & General Assurance, Kingswood, Surrey, UK. Arup
that it has other, hitherto unknown effects on the human Associates, Architects + Engineers + Quantity Surveyors.
mind and body.

8
3 MICROCLIMATIC DESIGN AND
URBAN PLANNING
To take best advantage of and to build in harmony with the
environment, a good knowledge of the local climate and a
detailed analysis of the chosen location are desirable
before a strategy for bioclimatic design is embarked upon.
General climatic factors such as solar radiation, air and
ground temperatures, precipitation, wind, and humidity
can be established using data from national meteorological
services and other publications [10], [11] & [12].
Local knowledge of the climate can also be useful,
although it should be taken in context with an analysis of
the microclimate at the site. Various publications give
general guidance on site analysis techniques and some
include tools and methods to aid the process: [4], [7] & [9].
Urban form is the result of the complex interaction of
many pressures and influences: economic; social; political;
strategic; aesthetic; transportation systems; municipal
ordinances, etc. In the past, climate has been a strong
influence on urban planning; but in recent decades, cheap
road and rail transport and specialised land-use zoning
have encouraged dispersed settlement patterns which have
resulted in increased energy consumption.
Cities and energy use interact on three levels: urban
planning, urban morphology, and building design.
Microclimatic design for outdoor cooling at the World Fair, Seville. Architect: Jaime Lopez de Asiain, Seville.
9
3.1 Urban Planning
In the past, climatic considerations have informed the
location of urban settlements: for example the availability
of cooling winds in Perugia, Italy, and the shelter from
wind and rain provided by the hills of many Welsh and
northern English valley towns. Today, transport facilitates
the ‘suburban dream’, while in many regions
contemporary city planning imposes limitations on
development which force the same suburban model.
Conventional land-use planning is influenced by obsolete
zoning concepts, distancing work, recreation and home
from each other and increasing transport demand. The
amount of land covered by contemporary cities continues
to grow with consequences for energy consumption,
pollution, and loss of amenity.
New planning directions are needed to reduce energy
consumption in existing cities: for example, the integration
of living and working places and improvements in the
energy efficiency of public transport. In the design of a
few totally new towns, such as Ecolonia in The
Netherlands and Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium, it has been
possible to integrate energy, environmental, and wider
social considerations in a more holistic urban plan.
As concepts of bioclimatic design penetrate deeper into
society, urban planning should become more responsive to
site, climate and nature, in existing settlements as well as
new ones.
3.2 Urban Morphology

The interaction between urban form, space, climate and

energy is complex. Different layouts result in differing
microclimates with greater or lesser comfort, energy use
and environmental impact. Urban and building
morphologies may be moulded for solar access or shade,
for shelter from or exposure to winds depending on the
requirements. In winter, because buildings impede wind
flow and give off heat, the urban microclimate is generally
warmer than the surrounding countryside. In the cooling
season, cities also tend to be warmer than surrounding
areas because of impeded ventilation and large areas of
hard surfaces of high thermal mass which retain heat.

Favourable orientations for solar access can, where

possible, improve urban temperatures and comfort in the
heating season. Care must be taken to maintain solar
access, when needed, and to provide shelter from cooling
winds and rain by the use of topographical features,
vegetation and neighbouring constructions. Street
orientation can dramatically influence solar gain and the
effects of winds. At southern latitudes, westerly
orientations should be avoided, as it is difficult to achieve
solar shading because of the lower altitude of the evening
sun, and air temperatures tend to be high at this time of
day. Canal, Prague city centre, Czech Republic.

Studies by ETSU in the UK have shown that simple site
re-planning and housing re-orientation can result in
significant energy savings. Tall buildings interfere with
winds by creating undesirable turbulence and down-
draughts to the detriment of the microclimate at ground
level. Information on design tools and guidelines are
provided in [4], [5] and [9].
Where cooling is required, deciduous vegetation can offer
shade, cooling of the air by evapo-transpiration and
filtering of dust and airborne pollutants, while permitting
solar access in winter. Where hard surfaces must be used,
pale colours can more effectively reflect solar radiation, as
seen in the whitewashed streets and buildings of some
Mediterranean towns. Where the need for summer cooling
is greater than for winter heating, streets and public spaces
may be oriented to take advantage of prevailing summer
breezes and buildings configured to provide mutual
shading. Vegetation may also be arranged to direct cooling
breezes to where they are most needed.

Dense city planning of Athens showing mutual shading of buildings.

10
4 THERMAL COMFORT
The internal temperature of the human body is constant
and, as the body has no means of storing heat, heat
generated by it has to be dissipated. An individual’s
feeling of thermal comfort is optimal when the production
of internal heat is equal to the thermal losses from the
body. The actual balance between the two depends on
seven parameters outlined below.
4.1 Thermal Comfort Parameters
It is impossible to specify precise values for the seven
comfort parameters which would give an environment
suitable for everyone. The interactions between the
parameters have, however, been described by a number of
thermal indices (such as the optimal operative temperature,
comfort zones, the predicted mean vote and predicted
percentage of dissatisfied) which can be used to establish
the conditions under which a percentage of occupants will
be comfortable - or dissatisfied. Comfort charts are also
available to enable a quicker assessment of the comfort
zones, for a predicted percentage of the population
(typically 75%), to be made. These show given values of
certain comfort parameters as a function of the other
comfort parameters. Bioclimatic charts also show the
influence on thermal comfort zones of changing building-
related parameters.
A sunspace in the ‘Green Building’, Dublin. Architects: Murray
O'Laoire, Dublin.
Three of the seven comfort parameters relate to the
individual: metabolism, clothing and skin temperature. The
other four are linked to the surrounding environment:.
Metabolism is the sum of the chemical reactions which
occur within the body. The aim is to maintain the body at a
constant internal temperature of 36.7 degrees C. Because
the temperature of the body is usually higher than that of
the room, metabolic reactions occur continuously to
compensate for loss of heat to the surroundings.
Production of metabolic energy depends on the level of
activity in which the individual is engaged. Office work,
for instance, generates approximately 0.8 met whereas
11
playing squash produces approximately 7.0 met. The met
is the unit of metabolic energy and is equivalent to 58
watts per square metre. The surface area of the human
body, on average, is 1.8 square metres.
The thermal resistance of ordinary summer clothing is 0.5
clo while that of indoor winter wear is 1 clo. The clo is the
unit of thermal resistance due to clothes and is equal to
0.155 square metres K per watt.
Skin temperature is a function of metabolism, clothing
and room temperature. Unlike internal body temperature, it
is not constant.
Room temperature, measured with an ordinary dry bulb
thermometer, is very important to thermal comfort since
more than half the heat lost from the human body is lost by
convection to the room air.
Relative humidity is the ratio (expressed as a percentage)
of the amount of moisture in the air to the moisture it
would contain if it were saturated at the same temperature
and pressure. Except for extreme situations (when the air is
absolutely dry or it is saturated), the influence of relative
humidity on thermal comfort is small. In temperate
regions, for instance, raising the relative humidity from
20% to 60% allows the temperature to be decreased by less
than 1K while maintaining the same comfort level.
Generally, the relative humidity in a room should be
between 40%, to prevent drying up of the mucous
membranes, and 70%, to avoid the formation of mould in
the building.
The average surface temperature of the surfaces
enclosing a space is the mean radiant temperature. As a
simplification, this can be taken to be the mean of the
temperatures of the surrounding surfaces in proportion to
their surface areas. If a building is well insulated, the
temperature of the internal surface of the outer walls is
close to room temperature. This reduces the radiative heat
losses and therefore increases the feeling of thermal
comfort. It also diminishes the occurrence of convective
draughts.
The velocity of the air relative to the individual influences
the heat lost through convection. Within buildings, air
speeds are generally less than 0.2 metres per second. The
relative air velocity due to the individual’s activity can
vary from 0 to 0.1 metres per second for office work to 0.5
to 2 metres per second for someone playing squash.
It is crucial to remember when designing spaces for human
occupancy that people are not best suited to entirely
“comfortable” conditions. In fact, we are conditioned to
adapt to quite major changes in our environment, and the
absence of these can create a feeling of discomfort. The
pattern of variation is also important. People are more
tolerant of changes which they understand, such as a
sunbeam or a draught, and particularly those which can be
controlled. Causes that are not obvious, or with which the
occupant has little sympathy, such as those caused by a
faulty air conditioning system, cause the most stress. Thus,
it is more important to design spaces in which people can
influence the conditions they experience that to try to
maintain complete stability.
4.2 Thermal Indices Vapour Pressure Relative Humidity (%)

100
90
80

60
70
4000 30
25

mm Hg
Thermal indices have been developed which describe the

50
Pa
interactions between the seven parameters above to
25
evaluate the occupants’ likely feeling of thermal comfort.

°C)
5

re (
3000 20 3

40
atu
The optimal operative temperature is defined as the

per
20

T em
uniform temperature of a black radiative enclosure in

ulb
which the occupant exchanges the same quantity of heat

30
15

tB
2000 15
through radiation and convection as he or she would in a

We
non-uniform, real space. When the air velocity is 0.2
10

20
1
metres per second or less, the operative temperature can be 10
taken to be the mean of the room temperature and the 2
1000 2
5
mean radiant temperature. The optimal value of the

operative temperature corresponds to the comfort
temperature in the room. Thus, if the comfort temperature
has been established as 20 OC, then for a mean radiant
temperature of 19OC, the room temperature must be set at
21OC.
Comfort Zones: The human body involuntarily regulates
its production of internal heat to the thermal conditions of
the environment, eventually creating a situation where the
metabolic generation of heat is offset by the heat losses so
the individual experiences only very small variations in the
feeling of thermal comfort and thereby feels at ease.
The predicted mean vote (PMV) is a thermal sensation
scale. The mean opinion of a large group of individuals
expressing a vote on their thermal feeling under different
thermal circumstances has been used to provide an index
to thermal comfort. A PMV value of zero provides the
optimal thermal comfort conditions. A positive PMV value
means that the temperature is higher than optimal and a
negative value means that it is lower. The comfort zone is
generally regarded as stretching from a slight feeling of
cold (termed ‘fresh’, when the PMV is -1) to a slight
feeling of warmth (termed ‘mild’, when the PMV is +1).
The predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) is an
indication of the percentage of people susceptible to
feeling too warm or too cold in a given thermal
environment. It can be deduced from the PMV. If, for
instance, the PMV is in the range -1 to +1, then the PPD
index shows that 25% of the population will be
dissatisfied. To reduce this figure to 10%, then the PMV
has to be in the range -0.5 to +0.5.
4.3 Bioclimatic Charts
Bioclimatic charts have been prepared by Givoni [18]
which make it possible to determine the effect on thermal
comfort of changing building-related parameters such as
thermal inertia and ventilation rate. They show that by
changing these parameters the comfort zone can be
extended a considerable amount even when the external
climate conditions are unfavourable - thus showing that, by
applying the concepts of climate-sensitive architecture, the
effects of climatic variation on the interior environment
can be minimised to the extent that they become
negligible.
10
5
6
4
0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Dry Bulb Temperature (°C)
Graph of hygrothermal conditions showing indoor thermal comfort
conditions [18].
1. Comfort zone
2. Zone of influence of thermal inertia
3. Zone of influence of ventilation
4. Zone of influence of occupant behaviour
5. Air conditioning zone
6. Heating zone
5 SELECTION OF SUSTAINABLE
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
The reasons for selecting sustainable building materials are
compelling: half of all the raw materials extracted from the
Earth are for building-related purposes; over half of the
waste we produce comes from the building sector; and
almost 50% of all energy used in Europe is building-
related. A strategy which focused only on the minimisation
of fossil fuel use and its replacement in buildings with
renewable energies would ignore a hugely significant
opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of modern
living.
Building designers play a key role in the selection of
materials. However, reliable, detailed information on the
environmental impacts of the materials they commonly
specify is not yet available on a basis which facilitates
direct comparison. For example, a brick fired in an electric
kiln in one country which uses oil for the production of
electricity might involve the release of two or three times
as much CO2 as a brick made in an identical kiln in a
country which mainly uses hydro-electricity.
The environmental profiles of many individual products
and processes have been identified by means of life cycle
analysis (LCA) which outlines the environmental effects
from extraction, through production, use, demolition and
recycling. However, there is substantial agreement that
LCA is not wholly adequate for the comparison of building
materials and few building materials have been
investigated. Furthermore, LCA studies do not take
account of one type of environmental impact compared

12
 contained within the EPM strategy. The development of
new products and markets can also be stimulated by the
choices of materials being made by building designers who
are taking environmental issues into account. Similarly,
increased demand is likely to lead to greater availability
and quality and reduced prices of some currently
expensive materials which have acceptable levels of
environmental impact.

Life Cycle Stage 1

Raw material extraction and
processing into raw materials
Energy Life Cycle Stage 2 Emissions into
Fuels the atmosphere
Production of building materials

INPUT
Raw Life Cycle Stage 3 Emissions into
materials Construction and re-building /
water
extension of buildings
Water Life Cycle Stage 4 Emissions into
Operation and maintenance
soil (solid waste)
Planet Earth. of buildings
Life Cycle Stage 5 Others

with another. For example, which is more important in the Demolition and disposal

long and short term - the destruction of tropical rain forests

or the destruction of the ozone layer? Definitive answers to
these issues covering a range of commonly used building
Building product life-cycle flow chart.
materials are unlikely to become available in the near
future, but a pragmatic approach, based on such
information as is currently available has been devised and Decisions made by building designers and those who
its use throughout Europe is increasing. commission buildings will largely determine the future of
the construction materials supply industry. In some
The building-related Environmental Preference Method countries, policy instruments such as regulations and
(EPM), developed in 1991 by Woon/Energie, was subsidies are absent, and it may not yet be possible to lay
originally prepared for application in The Netherlands down comprehensive statutory conditions for sustainable
where it is used by most of the municipalities. It has now building. However, this does not reduce the responsibility
been edited and published in English for wider use of all involved in building specification to reduce the risks
throughout Europe [21], and offers a good basis for the their choices impose on people and the environment.
comparison of many building materials and products
which are in common use. These are ranked according to
their environmental impact, and the environmental issues START
associated with each material featured are also briefly
discussed. The result is not an absolute assessment, but a Ra MA
L min w mat NU
relative ranking based on environmental impact: an SA osit
ion
ing/ er
prim arve ial FA
H
O Dep eration ary s
environmental preference. In brief, the Environmental ene ting
P

C
Incin
S

rgy
TU Pro cessing
DI

Preference Method considers environmental impact L, F, R P, A

ER duction

throughout the whole life-cycle of a material taking

Pro ibution
Rec se or

E
dist
g

1
yclin

account of the following main issues: 8

r
u
Re-

Test Nr:
S, W
/

Shortage of raw materials 7 Date/ Validity: 2

Test institute:
Ecological damage caused by material extraction
Product:
O nstallatiotion

Energy consumption at all stages (including 6 Producer: 3

Re-
Dem ucturin

R, T
n
truc
str

transport)
oliti

4
s

5
Con
on
M

Water consumption
I
N
g
AI

H, S
N

TI

Noise and outdoor pollution EN Ren

anin
g
T

Re ovat Cle
A

AN habilitat ion Use

/ IZ
Harmful emissions ion IL
C E UT
Global warming and acid rain
Green: Low environmental impact
Health aspects
Yellow: Medium environmental impact
Risk of disasters Red: High environmental impact
Repairability A = Air impact T = Transportation
W= Water impact R = Refuse / waste
Re-usability E = Earth impact H = Health of the people
P = Power consumption S = Social aspects
Waste L = Landscape picture TR = Trouble risk
F = Flora and fauna £ = Economic aspects
The Environmental Preference Method is not final. While
based on available information, new research and product
development may affect the environmental preferences The ‘Swiss Roll’ eco-label system.

13
6 ACTIVE SOLAR SYSTEMS
As well as being used passively for lighting and heating,
the sun’s energy may be harvested, distributed and stored
using a variety of active systems. These include
photovoltaics, which convert sunlight into electricity, and
solar thermal systems, which use solar energy to heat air or
water.
Photovoltaic (PV) cells are used to convert the energy of
the sun directly into electricity, without noise or pollution
and with little visual impact. Arrays of PV cells are
typically arranged in panels on south-facing areas of roof
or wall. The electricity they generate can be used
immediately in some applications, such as cooling fans;
otherwise, it can be stored in batteries or supplied to the
national grid. Connecting the PV panels to the grid means
there is no need for costly battery installations; stand-
alone, battery-driven systems are generally appropriate
where there is no existing grid connection, or for
emergency supply.
Costs of PV systems are falling dramatically, and many
thousands of systems are in use in buildings in Europe and
worldwide; before long PV should be able to compete with
other forms of electricity generation. Lifespans are
estimated at 20 years, and reliability is high. The cost of
glazing, roof or facade elements can be offset against that
of the PV systems that replace them. Architectural
integration of PVs offers interesting possibilities, including
the installation of opaque panels on roofs, facades and
shading devices, and semi-transparent systems replacing
glazing.
Solar thermal systems are the most widely used and
economical form of active solar energy, with over a
million square metres of collectors produced in the EU in
1997. Solar thermal systems trap solar energy and deliver
it as sensible heat without conversion into any other form
of energy. Because heat is difficult to store or transport,
solar thermal systems tend to be decentralised, with energy
collection near to the point of use. The most common use
is for domestic hot water; other applications include space
heating, district heating, cooling, and industrial processes.
Because solar energy is unevenly distributed over time,
Roof-mounted solar thermal collector.
14
with most energy (in temperate zones) arriving during the
summer months, matching energy supply and demand is
the major challenge for system designers. A typical system
consists of south-facing collectors, usually roof- or
ground-mounted; a distribution network carrying a fluid,
usually water-based; a storage tank, or other heat store,
sometimes the building fabric or the ground; and usually a
back-up conventional heat source for periods when the sun
isn’t shining.
There are three main types of solar collector in widespread
use. The simplest is an uninsulated black plastic or metal
tube through which water is circulated. These unglazed
collectors are limited to producing temperatures in the heat
transfer fluid about 20 K above ambient. The next, and
most common, type is the flat plate collector in which an
absorbent black plate or tube, sometimes with a special
selective coating, is enclosed in a flat insulated box, one
side of which is transparent glass or plastic. The glazing
and insulation reduce heat losses so that fluid temperatures
up to 70 K above ambient can be reached. Finally, the
most sophisticated type in widespread use is the evacuated
tube collector. It consists of an array of evacuated glass
tubes each containing a flat absorber plate which conducts
heat to the transfer fluid. The insulating properties of the
vacuum mean heat losses are low, and these collectors can
reach temperatures of more than 100 K above ambient.
Solar thermal is probably the most environmentally benign
form of energy in widespread use. Solar thermal systems
are made from relatively harmless materials which can be
recycled after use (CFCs, once used in some evacuated-
tube collectors, have been eliminated), have little or no
visual impact, and while in use emit no greenhouse gases,
particulates, toxins, or noise; nor do they significantly
impact ecosystems. The past quarter-century has seen solar
thermal grow from an "alternative" movement to a mature
industrial sector. A network of experienced installers and
maintainers exists throughout Europe. Collectors can often
be integrated into the building envelope. Visual intrusion is
not great, and in many cases owners and occupants are
happy to be visibly using solar energy. Solar thermal
energy is one of the easiest and most economical ways to
put the sun to work.
7 CASE STUDIES
7.1 Student Hostel, Windberg, Germany.
Architect: Thomas Herzog, Munich
Completed in 1991 and situated in the rural Bavarian town
of Windberg, this low-energy hostel provides sleeping
accommodation and ancillary rooms for 100 guests, in
particular youth groups attending the adjacent 12th century
monastery and education centre which it serves. A
particular requirement of the brief was that spatial
divisions in the hostel should be flexible and capable of
future change, some recreation and common room
facilities having been previously provided in the
monastery. The design brief also included the treatment of
external spaces around the monastery.
The design of the building and its energy systems have,
from an early stage, been strongly influenced by a
thorough analysis of the patterns of use of the various
spaces; rooms which are used for several hours at a time
are separate from those used for short periods. These
differences are evident from an analysis of the space
planning, structural systems and materials used in the
building.
All bedrooms face south giving views of the surrounding
countryside and allowing solar radiation to be optimised
during the heating season. Used for only a few hours
during daytime, but continuously during night time at a
relatively low temperature, they benefit from direct solar
radiation through the ample, high specification windows,
transparent insulation which heats up the massive external
walls, and a high level of thermal mass in the internal
walls which modulates day-night temperatures in the
building. In summer, the bedrooms are protected from
Student Hostel, Windberg.
15
excessive solar gain by a large overhanging roof.
The intermittently used spaces are located behind the north
facade and include circulation, storage, entrance and
bathroom areas. The bathrooms need higher temperatures
than other spaces, but only for a few hours per day. The
external wall facing north is of a thermally lightweight
construction, incorporating 140mm of insulation, and
features timber cladding reminiscent of local Bavarian
barns. Indeed, timber is used extensively for structural roof
members, for the frame structure of the northern zone of
the building and for internal finishes. Profiled metal
decking elements are used for the roof covering.
Water for showers and other domestic purposes is heated
by evacuated-tube solar collectors located in the south-
facing roof and stored in six large tanks situated internally.
When required, two gas-fired boilers with a total capacity
of 92 kW provide auxiliary domestic hot water and also
space heating via small radiators in the southern part of the
building and a warm-air ducted heating system in the
northern part. The latter can respond quickly to provide
both heating and the requisite air changes to the shower
rooms located in the thermally lightweight northern zone.
To minimise heat losses due to ventilation, a non-
recirculating heat recovery unit is fitted in the roof space.
The overall heating energy used by the building is only
45kWh/m2y. Lighting energy is also low, and no energy is
used for HVAC other than a few small fans in bathrooms
and similar areas.
In addition to its primary function, the hostel also serves as
a working demonstration of the principles of bioclimatic
architectural design. The students are made aware of the
passive and active energy systems and environmental
performance of the building and these presentations are
facilitated by a digital information board in the entrance
area showing energy performance, and visible service runs,
solar collectors and storage elements.
7.2 Irish Energy Centre, Dublin,
Ireland.
Architects: Energy Research Group
University College Dublin

The architects’ brief was to design an office building for

thirty occupants, with ancillary spaces, which would be
architecturally responsive to climate, context and function,
while using proven energy-efficient strategies to satisfy
heating, lighting and ventilation requirements, thus placing
minimal demand on non-renewable energy sources.

The objectives were as follows:

• To exemplify an awareness of energy efficient design
and construction
• To respond architecturally to climate, context and
function
• To incorporate innovative applications of
conventional materials and energy systems
• To make a positive contribution to the existing
campus.
The IEC site, located among twenty buildings of various
ages and forms on the campus of the State development
agency, Forbairt, was formerly a car park. The elongated
form of the building screens a work-yard and reinforces a
principal pedestrian route through the campus, while the
design of the building section allows light to penetrate the
core areas of the 410m2 building and provides views to the
north. The building was completed in 1996.
Four open-plan offices are grouped around a small double-
height atrium which accommodates the entrance,
exhibition and meeting area and assists the natural lighting
and ventilation of the building. The atrium is the public
face of the building, and the intention was that its natural
lighting and finishes should reflect an external quality and
emphasise the relationship with the external public route.
From the top floor corridor there are views back via the
bright atrium to the green space beyond.
Irish Energy Centre offices, Dublin.
and views for all of the occupants. Average room height in
the offices is 3m.
There is an emphasis on the use of natural, low embodied-
energy and recyclable materials, for example: timber for
roof trusses, windows and partitions; natural stone for floor
coverings and external paving; and mineral-fibre insulation
in the roof space. CFC-free insulation is used in wall
cavities and under the ground floor, and structural walls
are of locally-made concrete blocks, gypsum plastered to
the inside with a self-finish to the exterior. These and the
reinforced concrete upper floor contribute significant
thermal mass. Windows use low-emissivity, argon-filled
double-glazed units and careful attention has been paid to
the draught sealing of door and window openings.
Monitoring has shown daylight factors on the working
plane to be between 5% and 10%, under overcast
conditions, providing ample natural light. Total primary
energy consumption is 140 kWh/m 2 y, or 57% of
consumption for a comparable new Irish office building
with no air conditioning.

The organisation of the building breaks naturally into The result is a building which provides a natural, healthy,
small-scale cellular spaces and larger open-plan office well lit and comfortable environment for the occupants
spaces on both floors. All of the open-plan offices have while consuming a fraction of the energy which would be
windows on four sides which results in optimum daylight used by a similarly-sized conventional office building.

Floor plan of the Irish Energy Centre, Dublin.

16
7.3 Papageorgiou Foundation General
Teaching Hospital, Thessaloniki,
Greece.
Architects: Meletitiki - A. N. Tombazis and
Associates Architects Ltd., Athens.
Located seven kilometres to the north west of Thessaloniki
on a 150,000m2 site adjacent to a busy dual carriageway,
this 735 bed hospital occupying 70,000m2 of floor area has
been designed to function using less than three-quarters of
the energy used in a conventionally designed hospital of
similar size. The building is organised around a large
central entrance hall from which the main vertical and
horizontal circulation axes lead to wings of different
heights, the highest of which has seven storeys. The
L-shaped nursing wards are to the south-east with patients’
rooms in a quiet zone away from traffic noise, while the
diagnosis and therapy units are to the north-west.
Detailed thermal, lighting and construction materials
analyses made possible by the EC JOULE ‘Solar House’
programme and carried out during the design phase of the
project have helped to optimise natural forms of energy for
heating, cooling and daylighting while the energy use in
the extensive mechanical and electrical plant essential in a
modern hospital has been minimised by careful design and
Energy CO2 Pay back
Saving
MWh tonnes years
Energy conscious
architectural design 2940 3822
Intelligent lighting
controls 1340 1794
Enhanced efficiency in
mechanical processes
and heat recovery 2160 2808
Total estimated annual energy savings for three main categories of
energy saving measures.
specification (see table). Design emphasis, from an early
stage, has been placed on the bioclimatic use of
landscaping for cooling and to reduce traffic noise; passive
cooling; indoor air quality and comfort; the use of natural
ventilation, where possible; heat recovery and reduction of
heat losses; daylighting; shading; and efficient energy
management control information via a Building Energy
Management System (BEMS).
The building thermal simulation studies have, among other
detailed measures, led to the incorporation of ceiling fans
in most nursing wards and areas of similar function; the
specification of thicker insulation; and modifications in the
design of the shading devices.
Daylighting studies, which concentrated on the nursing
wards and the main entrance hall under overcast sky
conditions and involved the use of scale models and full-
scale physical simulations using a PASSYS test cell, have
led to improved design of the window shading devices.
In general, following the thermal and lighting studies,
three main categories of energy saving measures were
incorporated in the final design: those concerning the
architectural elements such as insulation, ventilation
patterns, shading, and use of ceiling fans, etc; those
associated with the lighting design such as the
incorporation of 'intelligent' lighting controls; and those
measures applied to the mechanical installations, the most
important being major heat recovery in two main parts of
the mechanical installation - the air handling units and the
chillers.
5.5 A BEMS, which may be operated from a central point,
controls electricity demand via time-programmed
commands; equipment duty cycles; optimum start and stop
9.3 times; night cycles; and an 'economiser' for night cooling
using ambient air.
To explain and facilitate the operation of the different
4.0
energy saving design features of the hospital, users'
guidelines have been prepared as a manual and in poster
form for display.

Model of Papageorgiou Foundation General Teaching Hospital, Thessaloniki, viewed from the North.

17
7.4 Rehabilitation of Old Central • The installation of thermostatically controlled
adjustable louvres at openings on the terrace level and
Market, Athens, Greece. at the upper part of the inclined roof.
Co-ordinator: Talos Engineering, Athens
Architect: Synthesis and Research Ltd. • The installation of ‘air curtains’ at the main entrances
to the market.
The Old Central Market, located in the congested centre of
• Photovoltaic panels to supply electricity to the
Athens, is a 19th-century building of significant
automated control system.
architectural interest which is in daily use. Winters are
mild while summers are hot and conditions in the market
• The incorporation of a hybrid system for cooling
are far from comfortable or suitable for the display and
and heating, consisting of an earth-to-air heat
sale of produce. The renovation study focused on the need
exchanger, a series of solar air heaters, and an air
to improve lighting through better use of daylight; reduce
distribution system incorporating ducts, filters, fans
heat losses in winter; reduce solar gains in summer; and
and air diffusers.
improve natural ventilation, while preserving the
architectural integrity of the building. Scale models and
The incorporation of these measures is projected to
computer simulations have been employed to evaluate the
achieve the following results:
energy and environmental effects of a range of thermal and
daylighting proposals with support from the EC JOULE
• Internal temperatures of 20 oC in winter and 28 oC
‘Solar House’ programme.
in summer.
The market consists of a large rectangular hall with top
• An average internal illuminance of 800 lux.
and side lights (the fish market with 74 shops and 109
stalls) and three surrounding arcades along the perimeter
• Effective air filtration thus improving indoor air
of the building (the meat market with 75 shops and 192
quality and protecting the outdoor environment.
stalls). Various passive and active features were
considered for incorporation in the design and, after
• Improvement of the local microclimate and creation of
exhaustive evaluation, the following were selected:
a ‘green’ image for the building which will encourage
• Four symmetrical ‘air chimneys’ at the corners of the users to consider the environmental effects of their
building incorporating waste heat recovery and actions.
filtration units for the supply and exhaust of air to and
from the building. • The retrofit is projected to save 55% of heating and
cooling energy and 70% of lighting energy when
• Increasing the area of roof glazing and the use of compared with existing or conventional systems. The
diffuse glazing to increase the penetration of daylight total estimated savings are 240 MWh, worth about
and reduce solar gains during summer. 21,000 ECU, a year.

• Installation of an ‘environmental panel’ shading
device which is covered with deciduous plants. Its
upper frame contains water pipes and injectors (with a
water recycling system) to irrigate the plants and
assist cooling by evaporation.
• The introduction of an insulated, opaque roof panel to
reduce thermal losses in winter.
The requirement for local lighting above the fish and meat
stalls has been met by the installation of high-frequency
fluorescent lamps which can provide the required
illuminance while consuming less electricity, and
producing less heat than the incandescent lights they
replace.

View of existing conditions in Old Central Market, Athens. Electric Computer simulation of improved lighting conditions in Old Central
Lighting is needed at each stall. Market, by Fraunhofer Institute Freiburg.

18
8 DESIGN TOOLS

After more than two decades of research, we have a broad

understanding of building energy use and strategies to
improve the efficiency of its utilisation.

However, these strategies and technologies have not been

widely adopted by the building design community. Most
buildings, whether new or rehabilitation projects, are still
designed without any energy-related considerations
beyond those enforced by building regulations. One reason
this situation exists is because building designers often do
not have the means to assess the impact of new energy
strategies and technologies efficiently and reliably.
Assessing a building’s energy performance in detail
requires complicated calculations to estimate year-round
performance. This has led to the development of building
energy design tools, both manual and computerized.
A wide range of design tools is now available to help
architects and engineers design more energy-efficient
buildings. They range from quite simple written
assessment procedures to advanced computer applications.
Some software packages, such as dynamic simulation
methods of which ESP-r is an example, can produce very
detailed predictions of a building's performance under a
range of closely defined operating conditions. But such
tools require a considerable amount of information on the
design of the building and are generally best suited to fine
tuning the design at an advanced stage.
Simpler tools, whether manual or automated, can offer
extremely useful guidance early on, when the design is still
fluid and major changes can be easily made. These
simplified tools frequently depend on a range of
assumptions, some of which can be refined as the design
progresses.
The value of these simplified tools should not be
underestimated. Although less accurate than high-level
dynamic simulation tools, they are capable of correctly
indicating appropriate design directions at a stage when
strategic and major tactical decisions about the building
form, orientation, materials and operating conditions can
be made at little or no cost.
Many tools have been developed to determine the
behaviour of physical phenomena which would otherwise
have been too complex to examine. In some cases this
extends to assessing interactions between design elements
previously treated in isolation. These tools make it easier
and quicker to study questions that may not have been
considered in the design process, leading to more thorough
consideration of energy issues.
3D solid rendering of building CAD model.
Design tools can sometimes assist where specialist or
expert knowledge of a topic is not available or where the
required study of an issue would be prohibitively complex
or time-consuming. Applications now available include
tools which indicate the energy related aspects of an
emerging design where only an outline of information is
available, and three-dimensional modelling software which
allow the architect to study lighting distribution in spaces
or to predict ventilation in buildings.
However, tools also have their limitations. They are often
mistakenly used with the assumption that they can predict
reality often the basis for serious misuse of design tools.
While some tools can achieve quite accurate predictions,
they are based on assumptions and approximations which
introduce errors. Similarly, users will bring to a tool their
own assumptions and simplifications of the design
problem. Awareness of the assumptions and
simplifications made within the tool’s theoretical analysis
method is crucial.
With simple tools, it is likely that once the use of the tool
is understood, re-use at a later date may only require a
brief review of the user documentation. The more
complicated the tool the more the user will need to remain
familiar with all aspects of its application or re-training
will be required. This is certainly true for complex
dynamic simulation tools. The users of these design tools
will tend to be trained staff and they will often be part of
several project teams with the specific task of carrying out
these simulation studies. Often, the smaller practice can
not afford to dedicate staff in this way and so consultants
can be employed to provide these specialist services.

Design tools are not always calculation methods; many

other types have been developed. Handbooks, tabulated
data, and physical tools, have been created to help with
energy efficient design. The computerisation of
information sources allows designers to locate required
information quickly. The introduction of CD-ROM
technology over the past few years and the emergence of
the Internet are examples of this. Here, we focus on
manual and computer-based calculation procedures. Daylight factor profile (coarse and fine) results.
19
8.1 Sources of Further Information on
Design Tools
Resource Guide
Contains numerous references to design tools and energy-
related publications. Available on disk (for Macintosh)
from the Energy Research Group University College
Dublin, Richview, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14, Ireland
Fax:+353.1-283 8908, e-mail: jolivetp@richview.ucd.ie
Web site: http://www.erg.ucd.ie
Info Energie - Liste der Software/Liste des Logiciels
A comprehensive listing (in German and French) of
internationally developed software with contact details for
each design tool included. Available from Bundesamt für
Energiewirtschaft, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland,
Fax:+41.31-352 7756
Guidance on Selecting Energy Programs
This guide, produced by the UK Construction Industry and
Computing Association, provides detailed information on
the selection of energy software. Contact CICA, Guildhall
Place, Cambridge CB2 3QQ, UK, Fax: +44.1223-62865
BSRIA - Software for Building Services - a selection
guide
Information on a wide range of energy software. Contact:
The Building Services Research and Information
Association, Old Bracknell Lane West, Bracknell,
Berkshire RG12 7AH, UK, Fax: +44.1344-487575
International Building Performance Simulation
Association
IBPSA’s objective is the advancement and promotion of
the science of building performance simulation to improve
the design, construction, operation and maintenance of
buildings. Contact: IBPSA, Department of Architecture
Texas A & M University, College Station, TX 77843, US,
Fax 409 845 4491, e-mail larry@archone.tamu.edu
http://www.mae.okstate.edu/ibpsa/IBPSA.html
8.2 Information via the Internet
RADIANCE - Daylighting simulation
http://radsite.lbl.gov/radiance/
ADELINE
http://www.ibp.fhg.de/wt/adeline/adeline.htm
PASSPORT - Simplified
http://erg.ucd.ie/passport/passport.html
ESP-r - Energy Systems Research Unit, University of
Strathclyde
http://www.strath.ac.uk/Departments/ESRU/ esru.html
BATMAN, a computer aided learning module for
architecture students
http://lesowww.epfl.ch/anglais/Leso_a_software_batman.htm
l
PASCOOL Passive cooling of buildings
http://www.dap.uoa.gr/pascool.htm
The World-Wide Web Virtual Library: Energy
http://solstice.crest.org/online/virtual-library/VLib-
energy.html
Computer-Based Design Tools
http://eande.lbl.gov/CBS/NEWSLETTER/NL3/EDA.html
Centre for Building Science, Lawrence Berkeley
Laboratory
http://eande.lbl.gov/CBS/CBS.html
Energy Science and Technology Software Center
http://apollo.osti.gov/html/osti/estsc/estsc.html
Energy Ideas Clearinghouse - Software
http://www.energy.wsu.edu/ep/eic/
Building Design Advisor
http://eande.lbl.gov/BTP/BDA/BDA.html

Building Environmental Performance Analysis Club Yahoo - Science: Energy

BEPAC aims to improve building performance by http://www.yahoo.com/Science/Energy/
encouraging the use and development of environmental
analysis and prediction methods. Contact: BEPAC IVAM Environmental Research
Administration, 16 Nursery Gardens, Purley on Thames, http://www.ivambv.uva.nl/welcome.html
Reading RG8 8AS, United Kingdom, Fax: +44.1734-
842861. e-mail: 100572.3163@compuserve.com Solar Energy Laboratory
Web site:http://www.iesd.dmu.ac.uk/bepac/ http://sel.me.wisc.edu/

Energy Research Group UCD

http://erg.ucd.ie/

20
9 GLOSSARY
Active solar system: A system in which mechanical
equipment is used to collect, store and distribute solar
energy for the building.
Biofuel: Any fuel (solid, liquid or gas) produced from
organic material.
Biomass: Organic materials; also, use of such (crops,
human, animal or commercial wastes, for example) to
generate energy.
Combined heat and power (CHP): The use of a single
source to generate and both electricity and heat. Some-
times called ‘cogeneration’.
Daylight factor: Illuminance at a specified point indoors,
expressed as a percentage of the simultaneous horizontal
illuminance outdoors under an unobstructed sky.
Degree days: The product of the number of degrees below
a given base temperature (15.5°C is a common figure) and
the number of days when that temperature occurs. The
heating degree day value for a year is calculated by taking
the sum of the differences between the base temperature
and the mean daily temperature for each day of the heating
season. The base temperature of 15.5°C assumes a design
temperature of 18°C, with a 2.5°C allowance for internal
gains and heat stored in the fabric of a building.
Direct radiation: Solar radiation coming directly from the
sun.
Diffuse radiation: Solar radiation which is scattered by
reflection from or transmission through a diffusing
material (such as the atmosphere).
Embodied energy: The total amount of energy used in
bringing a product or material to its present state and
location (including harvesting/mining, processing,
manufacture, and transport).
Groundwater: Water found within the earth, in soil or in
the crevices or pores of rock, which may feed springs and
wells.
Heat pump: A thermodynamic device that transfers heat
from one medium to another. The first medium (the
source) cools, while the second (the heat sink) warms up.
Heat exchanger: A device whereby heat is transferred
from a medium flowing on one side of a barrier to a
medium flowing on the other. Often used to reclaim heat
from outgoing ventilation air or waste water.
Heat recovery: Reclaiming heat which would otherwise
be wasted (see Heat Exchanger).
Hybrid system: A predominantly passive solar system in
which some external power is used to move naturally
heated or cooled air or water around a building.
Illuminance: The light striking a unit area of a specified
surface, measured in lux.
21
Infiltration: Unwanted leakage of outdoor air into a
building through cracks, joints, around door and window
openings, etc.
Internal/Casual gains: Heat gains within a building
resulting from occupants, lighting, and equipment
(domestic appliances, office equipment, process
machinery).
Life cycle analysis: Assessment of the total environmental
impacts associated with a products manufacture, use and
disposal.
Luminance: Light emitted by unit area of matt surface, or,
more generally, the intensity of light per unit area of
surface seen from a given direction. It is expressed in
candelas/m2.
Luminous efficacy: The ratio of the light emitted by a
lamp to the energy consumed by it. It is expressed in
lumens/W.
Macroclimate: The general climate of a region.
Mass wall: A solid south-facing wall that absorbs solar
radiation and transmits some of its heat into the building
by conduction. The outer surface is generally given a matt
black surface to increase absorption of solar radiation, and
glazed to reduce heat loss to the outdoors.
Microclimate: The climate of a specific site or of a small
area, influenced by local topography.
Out-gassing: Emission of gases or volatile organic
compounds from a material (solvents, off-gassing from
paints, for example).
Passive solar systems: Systems which use building
elements to collect, store and distribute solar energy
without artificial inputs of energy.
Possible sunshine: Amount of time between sunrise and
sunset when the sun is shining (expressed as a percentage).
Photovoltaic (PV) energy: Use of solar cells to generate
electricity from solar radiation.
Primary energy: Energy value of a fuel at source. For oil
this includes the energy costs of extraction and processing.
For electricity it includes heat wasted in generation and
distribution losses. In an oil or coal fired power station
about one third of the primary energy emerges in the form
of electricity. The remainder is waste heat vented to the
atmosphere or lost in transmission. One unit of electrical
energy saved in a building represents 3 units of energy
saved at the power plant.
Reflectance: Ratio or percentage of the quantity of light
reflected by a surface to the amount of light striking that
surface.
Shading coefficient: A measure of a windows ability to
transmit solar radiation, relative to the transmittance of a
single sheet of 3mm clear glass. Expressed as a value
between 0 and 1, the lower the shading coefficient, the less
energy the window transmits.
Sinks (out-gassing): Materials which first absorb, and
then release over an extended period, airborne substances
(typically indoor pollutants).

Smart windows: Windows which respond to changes in

thermal or lighting conditions. Windows with
electrochromic or photochromic glazing are two
examples.

Super windows: Double or triple-glazed windows, gas

filled and with a low-emissivity coating.

Sustainability: Activities are sustainable if they will not

contribute to irreversible damage to or depletion of natural
systems or resources within a foreseeable period.

Thermo-circulation: Natural circulation of air induced by

temperature-related changes in its density.

Transmittance: Ratio of the radiant energy transmitted

through a substance (e.g. glass) to the total radiant energy
incident on its surface.

Trombe wall: Similar to a Mass Wall, but with vents at

top and bottom. Air between the wall and glazing is heated
by the wall and rises, entering the living space through the
upper vent, and drawing cool air from the living space
through the bottom vent. Some heat is transmitted into the
living space by conduction.

Turbidity: Lack of clarity or purity, usually with reference

to air or water quality. Air turbidity is generally due to
smoke, haze (moisture) and/or dust.

Utilisation factor: The percentage of useful incoming

solar energy which displaces conventional or fossil fuelled
heating.

Visible transmittance: A measure of the light in the

visible portion of the spectrum which passes through glass.
It is expressed by a number between 0 and 1.

Water wall: Similar in action to a Mass Wall, but

constructed of water-filled metal, glass or plastic tubes or
drums. Convection currents set up in the water transfer
heat more rapidly through the wall.

22
10 CD-ROM ON BIOCLIMATIC Energy) and will be updated on a regular basis. It is part of
a growing family of CD-ROMs on energy efficiency and
ARCHITECTURE environmental topics titles include:

• Biogas from Waste & Waste Water Treatment

This Maxibrochure gives a brief overview of the main
• Biomass Combustion
topics covered in an associated interactive CD-ROM on
Bioclimatic Architecture which is now available from the • Wind Energy Technologies
address below.
• Rational Use of Energy in Road Transport
The CD-ROM operates on IBM PC compatible platforms
• Composting
and provides opportunities to explore a wide range of
easily applied energy-saving, environmentally friendly • Photovoltaics
technologies for the building sector. Basic principles,
design guidance, and a range of exemplary solutions • Organic Farming
combining good architecture and sound energy practice are
• Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management
provided. The material is presented in highly graphical
forms to suit various levels of users’ experience and Systems
knowledge while allowing complete freedom to efficiently
navigate through the material to find relevant information The CD-ROMs are available at 150 ECU each
to the task in hand. (plus 10 ECU for post and packaging) from:

A very large quantity of information is presented in a LIOR E.E.I.G.

visually appealing format on the CD-ROM which is fully Panoramalaan 7
illustrated with photographs, architectural drawings, tables, B-1560 Hoeilaart
graphs, video and animated graphical sequences, Belgium
background music and spoken information. The first
Tel +32.2-657 5300
edition is in English with additional menus, help facilities
Fax +32.2-657 3640
and keywords in seven EU languages. Only minimal
computer skills are required to use the package effectively. E-mail: info@lior.be
Website: http://www.lior.be/
It is envisaged that the CD-ROM will be a convenient,
practical tool for architectural teachers, students,
architects, builders and planners, and all those who wish to
explore an architecture which is responsive to the
environment - a sustainable architecture.

This new CD-ROM on Bioclimatic Architecture has been

created as part of a THERMIE Programme action of the
European Commission (Directorate-General XVII for

ORDER FORM
(Please photocopy and send to LIOR E.E.I.G at the above address)

Name: Organisation:

Address*:

Country: Tel: Fax:

Please supply copies of the CD-ROM on Bioclimatic Architecture

Method of Payment: ❑ Eurocheque ❑ Bank draft ❑ Visa or Mastercard / Access credit card (please tick)

Credit card number: Signature:

Expiry date: Date:

* NB: Please state credit card billing address where different to that above.

23
10.1 CD-ROM Screen images

Bioclimatic Architecture CD-ROM screens

24
11 REFERENCES
[1] The Climatic Dwelling - An Introduction to Climate-
Responsive Residential Architecture, Eoin O’Cofaigh,
John A. Olley and J. Owen Lewis (Eds), James & James
Science Publishers, London for the European Commission
DGXII,1996. ISBN 1-873936-39-7
[2] Living in the City - An Architectural Ideas Competition for
the Remodelling of Apartment Buildings, Vivienne Brophy,
John Goulding and J. Owen Lewis (Eds), Energy Research
Group University College Dublin for the European
Commission, Directorate General XII for Science, Research
and Development, 1996. ISBN 1-898473-30-7
[3] Green Design - Sustainable Building for Ireland, Ann Mc
Nicholl and J. Owen Lewis, Office of Public Works, Dublin
for the European Commission DGXVII, 1996.
ISBN 0-7076-2392-8
[4] Solar Geometry, Steven V. Szokolay, PLEA & Department
of Architecture, University of Queensland, Brisbane 1996.
[5] A series of four booklets (Passive Solar Heating; Energy
Management; Solar Water Heating; Energy Efficient
Lighting) and 16 illustrated posters (Bioclimatic Urban
Design; Lighting / Daylighting; Thermal Comfort; Solar
Heating; Passive Cooling), prepared within the
INNOBUILD (Innovative Mechanisms for the
Dissemination of Energy-Efficient Building and Product
Research) project of the European Commission DG XII
co-ordinated by the Energy Research Group, University
College Dublin, 1996
[6] The European Directory of Sustainable Energy-Efficient
Building 1997 - Components, Materials and Services,
J. Owen Lewis, John R. Goulding (Eds), James & James
Science Publishers, London, 1997 (annual publication since
1993). ISBN 1-873936-71-0
[7] Daylighting in Architecture - A European Reference Book,
N.V. Baker, A. Fanchiotti, K. Steemers (Eds), James &
James Science Publishers, London for the European
Commission DG XII, 1993. ISBN 1-873936-39-7
[8] Energy Conscious Design - A Primer for Architects, John R.
Goulding, J. Owen Lewis, Theo C. Steemers (Eds), B.T.
Batsford for the Commission of the European Communities,
1992, 135pp. ISBN 0 7134 69196, EUR 13445
[9] Energy in Architecture - The European Passive Solar
Handbook, John R. Goulding, J. Owen Lewis, Theo C.
Steemers (Eds), B.T. Batsford for the Commission of the
European Communities, 1992, 352pp.
ISBN 0 7134 69196, EUR 13445
[10] European Wind Atlas, Risø National Laboratory, Denmark,
for the Commission of the European Communities, 1989,
656pp. ISBN 87 550 1482 8.
[11, 12] European Solar Radiation Atlas: Solar Radiation on
Horizontal and Inclined Surfaces, W Palz, J Greif (Eds).
Springer-Verlag (for the Commission of the European
Communities), 333pp. ISBN 3-540-61179-7
[13] Buildings, Climate and Energy, T.A. Markus and E.N.
Morris, Pitman, 1980. ISBN 0-2730-0268-6
[14] Conception thermique de l’habitat, Guide pour la région
Provence - Alpes - Côte d’Azur, SOL A.I.R., Edisud, 1988
25
[15] Daylighting, Design and Analysis, C.L. Robbins, Van
Nostrand Reinhold Company - New York, 1986.
ISBN 0-442-27949-3
[16] Estalvi d’Energia en el dissery d’edificis, Aplicacio de
sistemes d’aprofitament solar passiu, Dapartament
d’Industria i Energia - Generalitat de Catalunya, 1986.
ISBN 84-393-0670-9
[17] Guide d’aide à la conception bioclimatique, Cellule
Architecture et Climat, Universite Catholique de Louvain
Services de Programmation de la Politique Scientifique de
Belgique, 1986
[18] Man, Climate and Architecture, B. Givoni, Science
Publishers, London, 1976. ISBN 0-8533-4108-7
[19] Passive and low energy building design for tropical island
climates, ECD Partnership, London, U.K.; N.V. Baker et
al, Commonwealth Science Council, 1987
[20] Passive Solar Energy Efficient House Design, Architectural
Association School of Architecture; Graduate School,
Energy Studies Programme, Department of Energy Solar
Programme - London, 1988
[21] Handbook of Sustainable Building - An Environmental
Preference Method for Use in Construction and
Refurbishment, David Anink, Chiel Boonstra and John Mak,
James & James Science Publishers, London, 1996.
ISBN 1-873936-38-9
[22] Renewable Energy - Power for a Sustainable Future,
Godfrey Boyle (Ed), Oxford University Press (in association
with the Open University), 1996. ISBN 0-19-856452-X
/ 0-19-856451-1 (Paperback).
[23] Passive Solar Energy as a Fuel, ECD Partnership, London
for the Commission of the European Communities, DGXII
1990, EUR 13445
[24] Transparent Insulation Technology, Energy Technology
Support Unit (ETSU), Harwell, UK, for the European
Commission, Directorate General XVII for Energy, June
1993, in Maxibrochure format.
[25] Daylighting in Buildings, Ann McNicholl, J. Owen Lewis,
Energy Research Group University College Dublin for the
European Commission, Directorate General XVII for
Energy, 1994, in Maxibrochure format.
[26] Contact: Michael Brown, European Association for the
Promotion of Cogeneration (COGEN Europe), Brussels.
Tel +32 2 772 8290, Fax +32 2 772 5044.
ORGANISATIONS FOR THE PROMOTION OF ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

Within each Member State there are a number of organisations recognised by the European Commission as an Organisation for the Promotion of Energy Technology
(OPET). It is the role of these organisations to to help to coordinate specific promotional activities within Member States. These include staging of promotional events such
as conferences, seminars, workshops or exhibitions as well as production of publications associated with the THERMIE programme.

ADEME Energy Centre Denmark Institut Wallon OPET Luxembourg

c/o ADEME-BRIST c/o DTI Boulevard Frère Orban 4 c/o Luxcontrol
27, rue Louis Vicat P.O.Box 141 B-5000 Namur Avenue de Terres Rouges 1
F-75737 Paris - Cedex 15 DK-2630 Taastrup Belgium L-4004 Esch-sur-Alzette
France Denmark Tel: +32 81 25 04 90 Luxembourg
Tel: +33 1 47 65 20 41 Tel: +45 43 50 70 80 Fax: +32 81 25 04 90 Tel: +352 547711282
Fax: +33 1 46 45 52 36 Fax: +45 43 50 70 88 E-mail: iwallon@mail.interpac.be Fax: +352 547711266
E-mail: ademcepi@imaginet.fr E-mail: ecd@dti.dk E-mail:
Irish Energy Centre 106030.2752@compuserve.com
ASTER-CESEN ETSU Glasnevin
c/o Aster, Agency for the Technological Harwell - Didcot IRL-Dublin 9 OPET Norrland
Development of Emilia-Romagna GB OX11 0RA Oxfordshire Ireland c/o The Association of Local Authorities
Via Morgagni, 4 United Kingdom Tel: +353 1 8082073 in the County of Vasterbotten -
I-40122 Bologna Tel: +44 1235 432014 Fax: +353 1 8372848 Vasterbotten Energy Network
Italy Fax: +44 1235 432050 E-mail: opetiec@irish-energy.ie Norrlandsgatan 13, Box 443
Tel: +39 51 236242 E-mail: lorraine.watling@aeat.co.uk S-901 09 Umea
Fax: +39 51 227803 IRO Sweden
E-mail: opet@aster.it EVE Association of Dutch Suppliers in the Tel: +46 90 77 69 06
c/o Ente Vasco de la Energia Oil and Gas Industry Fax: +46 90 16 37 19
BEO Edificio Albia I planta 14 - C. San P.O. Box 7261 E-mail: france.venet@swipnet.se
c/o Projekttrager Biologie, Energie, Vicente, 8 NL-2701 AG Zoetermeer
Okologie (BEO) Froschungszentrum E-48001 Bilbao Netherlands Orkustofnun
Julich GmbH (KFA) Spain Tel: +31 79 3411981 c/o The National Energy Authority of
Postfach 19 13 Tel: +34 4 423 50 50 Fax: +31 79 3419764 Iceland
D-52425 Julich Fax: +34 4 424 97 33 E-mail: iro@xs4all.nl Grensasvegi 9
Germany E-mail: ente0001@sarenet.es IS-108 Reykjavik
Tel: +49 2461 61 3729 LDK Iceland
Fax: +49 2461 61 2880 FAST c/o LDK Consultants Engineers and Tel: +354 569 0105
E-mail: d.ullerich@kfa-juelich.de c/o Federation of Scientific and Planners Ltd. Fax: +354 568 8896
Technical Associations 7, Sp. Triantafyllou St. E-mail: ete@os.is
BRECSU 2, P. le R. Morandi GR-113 61 Athens
c/o Building Research Establishment I-20121Milano Greece PARTEX-CEEETA
Bucknalls Lane Italy Tel: +30 1 8563181 Rua Gustavo de Matos
Garston Tel: +39 2 76 01 56 72 Fax: +30 1 8563180 Sequeira 28-1∞ Dt∞
GB WD2 7JR Watford Fax: +39 2 78 24 85 E-mail: idk@mail.hol.gr P-1200 Lisbon
United Kingdom E-mail: eurofast@icil64.cilea.i Portugal
Tel: +44 1923 664540 NIFES Tel: +351 1 395 6019
Fax: +44 1923 664097 GEP c/o NIFES Consulting Group Fax: +351 1 395 2490
E-mail: crooksm@bre.co.uk c/o Groupement des Enterprises 8 Woodside Terrace - Scotland E-mail: ceeta@mail.telepac.pt
Parapétrolières et Paragazières GB G3 7 UY Glasgow
CCE 45, rue Louis Blanc United Kingdom PSTI
c/o Centro para a Conservaçao de F-92038 Paris La Défense Tel: +44 141 332 4140 c/o Petroleum Science and Technology
Energia France Fax: +44 141 332 4255 Institute
Estrada de Alfragide, Praceta 1 Tel: +33 147 17 68 65 E-mail: Offshore Technology Park Exploration
P-2720 Alfragide Fax: +33 147 17 67 47 101361.2700@compuserve.com Drive - Scotland
Portugal E-mail: gep@gep-france.com GB AB23 8GX Aberdeen
Tel: +351 1 4718210 NOVEM United Kingdom
Fax: +351 1 4711316 ICAEN c/o Nederlandse Onderneming voor Tel: +44 1224 706600
E-mail: dmre.cce@mail.telepac.pt c/o Institut Catala d'Energia Energie en Milieu BV Fax: +44 1224 706601
Avinguda Diagonal, 453 bis, atic Swentiboldstraat 21 - P.O. Box 17 E-mail: j.kennedy@psti.co.uk
CLER E-08036 Barcelona NL-6130 AA Sittard
c/o Association Comité de Liaison Spain Netherlands RARE
Energies Renouvelables Tel: +34 3 4392800 Tel: +31 46 42 02 326 c/o Agence Regionale de l'Energie
28 rue Basfroi Fax: +34 3 4197253 Fax: +31 46 45 28 260 Nord-Pas de Calais
F-75011Paris E-mail: edificis@icaen.es E-mail: nlnovade@ibmmail.com 50 rue Gustave Delory
France F-59800 Lille
Tel: +33 1 46590444 ICEU NUTEK France
Fax: +33 1 46590392 c/o Internationales Centrum für Energie National Board for Industrial and Tel: +33 3 20 88 64 30
E-mail: cler@worldnet.fr und Umwelttechnologie Leipzig GmbH Technical Development - Department Fax: +33 3 20 88 64 40
Auenstrasse 25 of Energy and Environmental
CORA D-04105 Leipzig Technology SODEAN
c/o Saarlaendische Energie-Agentur Germany S-117 86 Stockholm c/o Isaac Newton s/n
GmbH Tel: +49 341 9804969 Sweden Pabellon de Portugal - Edificio
Altenkesselerstrasse 17 Fax: +49 341 9803486 Tel: +46 8 681 95 14 SODEAN - Isla de la Cartuja
D-66115 Saarbrucken E-mail: krause@iceu.manner.de Fax: +46 8 681 93 28 E-41012 Sevilla
Germany E-mail: anders.heaker@nutek.se Spain
Tel: +49 681 9762 174 ICIE Tel: +345 4460966
Fax: +49 681 9762 175 c/o Istituto Cooperativo per NVE Fax: +345 4460628
E-mail: sacca@sea.sb.eunet.de l'Innovazione c/o Norwegian Water Resources and E-mail: sodean@lander.es
Via Nomentana, 133 Energy Adminstration
CRES I-00161 Roma P.O. Box 5091 - Majorstua SOGES
Centre for Renewable Energy Sources Italy N-0301 Oslo c/o SOGES S.p.A.
19 km Marathonos Ave. Tel: +39 6 8549141 Norway Corso Turati, 49
GR-190 09 Pikermi Fax: +39 6 8550250 Tel: +47 22 95 93 23 I-10128 Torino
Greece E-mail: icie.rm@agora.stm.it Fax: +47 22 95 90 99 Italy
Tel: +30 1 60 39 900 E-mail: hbi@nve.no Tel: +39 11 3190833 / +39 11 3186492
Fax: +30 1 60 39 911 IDAE Fax: +39 11 3190292
E-mail: c/o Instituto para la Diversificación y OPET Austria E-mail: soges@mbox.vol.it
mkontini@cresdb.cress.ariadne-t.gr Ahorro de la Energía c/o Energieverwertungsagentur - The
Paseo de la Castellana, planta 21 Austrian Energy Agency (E.V.A.) VTC
Cross Border OPET - Bavaria - Austria E-28046 Madrid Linke Wienzeile 18 c/o Vlaamse Thermie Coordinatie
c/o ZREU Spain A-1060 Vienna Boeretang 200
Wieshuberstr. 3 Tel: +34 1 456 5024 Austria B-2400 Mol
D-93059 Regensburg Fax: +34 1 555 1389 Tel: +43 1 586 15 24 ext: 21 Belgium
Germany E-mail: idae@teleline.es Fax: +43 1 586 94 88 Tel: +32 14 33 58 22
Tel: +49 941 46419 0 E-mail: lechner@eva.wsr.ac.at Fax: +32 14 32 11 85
Fax: +49 941 46419 10 IMPIVA E-mail: vdbergh@vito.be
E-mail: fenzl.zreu@t-online.de c/o Instituto de la Pequeña y Mediana OPET Finland
Empresa Industrial de Valencia c/o TEKES (Technology Development Wales OPET Cymru
ENEA C. Colón 32 Centre) c/o Dyfi Eci Parc - Dulas
CR Casaccia - Via Anguillarese n. 301 E-46010 Valencia P.O.Box 69 - Malminkatu 34 The Old School - Eglwysfach -
I-00060 S Maria di Galeria - Roma Spain FIN-00101Helsinki Machynlleth - Wales
Italy Tel: +346 386 7821 Finland GB SY20 8AX Powys
Tel: +39 6 3048 3686 Fax: +346 386 9634 Tel: +358 105215736 United Kingdom
Fax: +39 6 3048 4447 E-mail: Fax: +358 105215903 Tel: +44 1654 781332
E-mail: cariani@casaccia.enea.it ximo.ortola@impiva.m400.gva.es E-mail: marjatta.aarnilia@tekes.fi Fax: +44 1654 781390
E-mail: opetdulas@gn.apc.org

These data are subject to possible change. For further information please contact: OPET - CU, Fax: +32 2 743 8931
‘The overall objective of the Community’s energy policy is to help ensure security of
energy supplies for European citizens and businesses at competitive prices and in
an environmentally compatible way. DG XVII initiates, coordinates and manages
energy policy actions at European level in the fields of solid fuels, oil, gas, electricity,
nuclear energy, renewable energy sources and the rational use of energy. The most
important actions concern the security of energy supply and international energy
cooperation, the integration of energy markets, the promotion of sustainable
development in the energy field and, finally, the promotion of energy research and
technological development through demonstration projects. DG XVII manages
several programmes such as Synergy, SAVE, Altener and THERMIE. More
information is available in DG XVII’s pages on Europa, the Commission’s server on
the World Wide Web.’

Produced by:
Energy Research Group
University College Dublin,
School of Architecture, Richview,
Clonskeagh, Dublin 14, Ireland
Tel. +353 (1) 269 2750
Fax. 353 (1) 283 8908

for
LIOR E.E.I.G.
Panoramalaan 7
B-1560 Hoeilaart
Belgium
Tel +32 (2) 657 5300
Fax +32 (2) 657 3640

With the support of:

The European Commission
Directorate-General for Energy DG XVII
200 rue de la Loi
B-1049 Brussels, Belgium
fax: +32 (2) 295 05 77
E-Mail: info@bxl.dg17.cec.be

URL:
http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg17/dg17home.htm