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Passive Design Strategies for Residential Buildings in Different Spanish Climate Zones

Author

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  • Maria-Mar Fernandez-Antolin

    (Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Montepríncipe Campus, 28668 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain)

  • José Manuel del Río

    (Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Montepríncipe Campus, 28668 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain)

  • Vincenzo Costanzo

    (Department of Electric, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 6495123 Catania, Italy)

  • Francesco Nocera

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 6495123 Catania, Italy)

  • Roberto-Alonso Gonzalez-Lezcano

    (Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Montepríncipe Campus, 28668 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The Passive House (PH) concept is considered an efficient strategy to reduce energy consumption in the building sector, where most of the energy is used for heating and cooling applications. For this reason, energy efficiency measures are increasingly implemented in the residential sector, which is the main responsible for such a consumption. The need for professionals dealing with energy issues, and particularly for architects during the early stages of their architectural design, is crucial when considering energy efficient buildings. Therefore, architects involved in the design and construction stages have key roles in the process of enhancing energy efficiency in buildings. This research work explores the energy efficiency and optimized architectural design for residential buildings located in different climate zones in Spain, with an emphasis on Building Performance Simulation (BPS) as the key tool for architects and other professionals. According to a parametric analysis performed using Design Builder, the following optimal configurations are found for typical residential building projects: North-to-South orientation in all the five climate zones, a maximum shape factor of 0.48, external walls complying with the maximum U-value prescribed by Spanish Building Technical Code (0.35 Wm −2 K −1 ) and a Window-to-Wall Ratio of no more than 20%. In terms of solar reflectance, it is found that the use of light colors is better in hotter climate zones A4, B4, and C4, whereas the best option is using darker colors in the colder climate zones D3 and E1. These measures help reaching the energy demand thresholds set by the Passivhaus Standard in all climate zones except for those located in climates C4, D3 and E1, for which further passive design measures are needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria-Mar Fernandez-Antolin & José Manuel del Río & Vincenzo Costanzo & Francesco Nocera & Roberto-Alonso Gonzalez-Lezcano, 2019. "Passive Design Strategies for Residential Buildings in Different Spanish Climate Zones," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-22, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:18:p:4816-:d:263902
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    9. Miren Juaristi & Thaleia Konstantinou & Tomás Gómez-Acebo & Aurora Monge-Barrio, 2020. "Development and Validation of a Roadmap to Assist the Performance-Based Early-Stage Design Process of Adaptive Opaque Facades," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-27, December.
    10. Maria-Mar Fernandez-Antolin & José-Manuel del-Río & Fernando del Ama Gonzalo & Roberto-Alonso Gonzalez-Lezcano, 2020. "The Relationship between the Use of Building Performance Simulation Tools by Recent Graduate Architects and the Deficiencies in Architectural Education," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-20, March.
    11. Helena Monteiro & Fausto Freire & John E. Fernández, 2020. "Life-Cycle Assessment of Alternative Envelope Construction for a New House in South-Western Europe: Embodied and Operational Magnitude," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    12. Maria Rosa Trovato & Francesco Nocera & Salvatore Giuffrida, 2020. "Life-Cycle Assessment and Monetary Measurements for the Carbon Footprint Reduction of Public Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-25, April.
    13. Sahar Falegari & Ali Akbar Shirzadi Javid, 2024. "Integrating building information modeling and life cycle assessment to analyze the role of climate and passive design parameters in energy consumption," Energy & Environment, , vol. 35(4), pages 2087-2106, June.
    14. Małgorzata Cygańska & Magdalena Kludacz-Alessandri, 2021. "Determinants of Electrical and Thermal Energy Consumption in Hospitals According to Climate Zones in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-24, November.
    15. Balali, Amirhossein & Yunusa-Kaltungo, Akilu & Edwards, Rodger, 2023. "A systematic review of passive energy consumption optimisation strategy selection for buildings through multiple criteria decision-making techniques," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    16. Yuang Guo & Dewancker Bart, 2020. "Optimization of Design Parameters for Office Buildings with Climatic Adaptability Based on Energy Demand and Thermal Comfort," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-23, April.
    17. Valeria Palomba & Emiliano Borri & Antonios Charalampidis & Andrea Frazzica & Sotirios Karellas & Luisa F. Cabeza, 2021. "An Innovative Solar-Biomass Energy System to Increase the Share of Renewables in Office Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-25, February.

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