G. Lesino1*, A. Hernandez1, S. Flores Larsen1, J. W. Ramirez2,

E. Quiles3, G. Lesino1, E. Quiles3, R. Ferioli, A. Gaido

1 INENCO, National University of Salta — CONICET, Avda. Bolivia 5150 — CP 4400 — Salta Capital —

Argentina

2 Social Development Subsecretariat of the General San Martin Town Council 3 SECyT, Science and Technology Secretariat * Corresponding Author, lesino@unsa. edu. ar

Abstract

The transient thermal behaviour of an Integrating Community Center (CIC) to be built in

Villa Zagala, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is presented. The building was divided in two independent sectors, (Health and Development) that were simulated for winter and summer. Due to its orientation, the Development Sector is the most uncomfortable both, in winter and summer. The original project was a conventional building designed by the Ministry of Social Development. This project was improved in order to minimize the thermal losses through the building envelope and avoiding overheating in summer through solar control devices. In summer, natural cross ventilation and the use of ceiling fans, and aeolian extractors in the roofs are suggested in order to remove the warm air. The general objective of this study is to spread the application of passive strategies and solar equipment in public buildings of social use, in order to minimize the impacts on the climate and the environment caused by the consumption of conventional energy.

Keywords: bioclimatic architecture, thermal simulation, public buildings, energy efficiency

1. Introduction

This paper presents the transient thermal behaviour of an Integrating Community Center (CIC) to be built in Villa Zagala, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The general objective for this project is to spread the application of passive strategies and solar equipment in public buildings of social use, in order to minimize the impacts on the climate and the environment caused by the consumption of conventional energy. The solar improvement of this building is a special project supported by the Energy and Transport Program of the Science and Technology Secretariat (SECyT) for the General San Martin Town Council. The specific aim of the project is the transfer and application of available technological developments related to energy efficiency, renewable energies, building envelope improvement and solar equipment of Integrating Community Centres, with demonstrative and learning purposes. The following subjects will be covered:

a) Installation of solar and special equipment: solar thermal, for sanitary hot water production; photovoltaics, for electric energy generation; and efficient lighting. The photovoltaic system that supplies energy to a part of the emergency light system has didactic and learning purposes.

b) Improvement of the standard envelope of CICs buildings: reduction of the thermal loses through the building envelope (thermal insulation, airtightness, etc.), reduction of cooling loads in summer (overhangs, shading devices, etc.), increase of solar gains in winter and control of warm air flows, improvement of natural and forced ventilation in summer, improvement of daylighting.

c) Training of the Ministry technical staff and of the personal in charge of operation and mainteinance of the equipment in this building and in future buildings where this technology will be used.