The building and its systems

The considered building was designed following the typical requirements for sustainable bioclimatic constructions to adapt the building to its surrounding environment (e. g., study of on­site climatic conditions, correct building orientation, adapted solar protection, rational use of natural resources, environmental integration). Being located in the Tabernas desert in Almeria, the building will have to deal with rather drastic weather conditions, with very high temperatures observed in summer and relatively low ones at night and in winter, which involves a high energy demand both in summer and winter in order to maintain satisfying indoor thermal conditions. However, thanks to bioclimatic design and integration of the various passive heating and cooling techniques, the total energy demand for this building is expected to be as low as 35 kWh/m2.

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Being part of a national R&D program, this building was designed to be a test platform for the integration of various active and passive HVAC techniques and systems. As such it integrates both active and passive solar heating and cooling systems alongside with conventional HVAC installations. The purpose was to make it possible to compare the performance of unconventional systems with regard to conventional ones in a building continually occupied throughout the year.

Given the particular location of the building in one of the hottest and driest region of Europe, efforts were centred on cooling techniques. With regard to thermal comfort in summer, both passive and active solar cooling techniques are combined so that indoor thermal comfort can be ensured while minimizing energy expense, even at high ambient temperatures. As a result, the following systems were integrated: