English

“Energy Towers” is the name of a technology which was developed at the Technion--Israel Institute of Technology, to produce electricity in arid lands, taking its predicament - a lot of hot dry air - and turning it into an asset. “EnergyTowers” is an econo

The energy rehabilitation of listed buildings is of great importance as they are many limitations of the possibletechnical interventions. The paper presents the outcomesof a study concerning the possible interventions in an existing building focusing in the minimization of the energy consumption and the achievement of the desirablethermal and visual comfort.The building is located in the centre of the city of Athens,Greece with total heated area of approximately 896m2. The building has areas with different use, such as offices, seminar room, and restaurant.

The paper reports on a series of short projects undertaken in the course of the 2006-07 academic year as part of the AA School’s Masters Programme in Sustainable Environmental Design. The objective was to explore the architectural potential of adaptive co

The goal of this study was to suggest a low-density typologyfor commercial buildings to be applied in the cultural and climatic context of Athens, Greece, with minimal demand for conventional cooling. More specificallya typology of double enclosure was studied with self-contained structures sheltered within an outer shell. The research develops through studies of built examplesin Athens and analysis of the parameters affectingthermal comfort and adaptability. Dynamic thermal simulations were used to gain understanding of the energybehaviour of the double enclosure typology.

The paper provides a technical discussion on the developmentof zero energy building design strategies in the UK. Two building simulation software (TAS and TRNSYS) are employed to investigate various facade parameter studies as well as a solar service system. TAS building simulation is used to assess the effectiveness of passive strategies by taking building materials, window sizes and shading devices into consideration. TRNSYS is used for the investigation of the feasibility of using solar domestic hot water system in UK.

Commercial buildings with large exposed glazed façades require solar shading devices in order to protect occupants from uncomfortable direct glare. Automated window blinds can be used to reduce direct glare, while regulating the transmittance of daylight

Bioclimatic approach gives attention to the design of roof since it is commonly the building element which is most exposed. Some of the most favorable roof coolingtechniques are roof ponds which appear to influence the thermal behavior of roof through different processes including evaporation, radiation and conduction.

Sustainable development means that any encroachment into the ecosystem must be done in such a manner that the survival of future generations is not threatened in any way.In simple terms this means that we should leave the world for our children a better place that we found it.The notion of Sustainability in building and urban developmentrefers to the effects of building on the environmentin all their phases from the production of building materials to the use of ecologically sound and non-toxic substances in building and finally to the eventualdemolition of the buildings.It includes factors

Different types of thermal activation of building structuresare increasingly utilized in buildings including BIPV, multifunctional PV facades with controllable daylight/solar gain features and integrating thermal and electrical output.

This presentation projects the potential of mass interwovenwith other aspects of Bioclimatic Design, with the objective of energy conservation and utilization of renewable energy resources for indoor comfort.The variable of mass and its effect on other variables and parameters in building simulations are outlined and discussed.