Bioclimatic architecture, efficient and ecological houses

The sun, rain or wind are natural resources that everyone knows and that within the world of architecture can become an important source of energy that should not be wasted. There are many architects who are considering all these resources when making their designs. An example is found in the study 3 architects where we can find some examples of bioclimatic housing, homes that are designed according to the weather conditions in their environment.

What is bioclimatic arquitecture?

When we talk about bioclimatic homes we are referring to the design of buildings where the climatic conditions of the area where it will be built are taken into account so that all natural resources can be used available such as sun, rain, wind or vegetation. What is usually sought with the use of these natural elements is to reduce the environmental impact and thus reduce energy consumption.

At present, it is possible to design a bioclimatic house that is completely sustainable. It may be that this type of construction raises the construction budget somewhat, but In the long run it can be profitable since over time it ends up being amortized. It is also important to note that in the case of having to consume external energy, these constructions usually have a production based on renewable energies such as solar panels, for example.

Elements to consider in bioclimatic architecture

When designing such a building, a series of elements must be taken into account. Let's see the most important:

Soil conditions

The high thermal inertia of the soil produces a climatic effect that can be used in this type of architecture since it is responsible for delaying the temperature variation that occurs between day and night.

Here we could highlight the use of Canadian wells, which are constructions of geothermal systems, which allow the use of underground energy.

The orientation

Orientation is another of the most important factors in this type of construction. What you are looking for is make the most of natural sunlight as a source of air conditioning. Here it is important that the transparent envelopes are oriented to the south, allowing solar radiation to pass through them. On the other hand, opaque facades should be in the northern part to minimize heat loss.

Insulation and materials used

The use of adequate thermal and acoustic insulation is one of the most important factors in any type of construction. In the case of bioclimatic architecture, also we must bear in mind that the materials are sustainable and respectful with the environment.

The use of heavy building materials such as concrete, natural stone or brick can act as an effective thermal mass.

Ventilation system

The traditional thermal draft system with flow and temperature control makes sense in this type of housing, but it is difficult to design and limiting at the time of construction. Instead, controlled mechanical ventilation can provide optimal conditions to the bioclimatic house for users in terms of renovation and air quality with the aim of achieving high levels of health.

It is also important to establish a cross ventilation system in order to create good ventilation in all areas of the home.

Evaporative cooling systems

In the event that the house is located in a place with a warm and dry climate, it could be very useful to use a system that is responsible for cooling the environment. In this sense, evaporative cooling systems work very well to cool the air in homes since they use water as a refrigerant.

What do you think of bioclimatic architecture? Do you think that the future goes through this type of construction? Encourage and share with us all your comments. We are waiting for you!