Bioclimatic Architecture

This paper aims to analyze an office building energy performance at Rio de Janeiro. Electrical power consumption profile of a building, resulting from a simulation using building energy-use simulation software, is obtained during a typical year and is shown on an hourly basis and pursuant to final uses. Thus, power consumption figures are obtained through the following final uses: lighting, office equipments, air conditioning and others.

The Singular Strategic Project called Bioclimatic Architecture and Solar Cooling, ARFRISOL (ARquitectura bioclimática y FRIo SOLar, in Spanish), has been promoted and supported by Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (MEC). This project plans to save

Natural cross ventilation to take advantage of air velocity in getting comfort, and solar protection, are the main design criteria traditionally proposed for warm humid climate. Usually, priority is given to natural ventilation related to design decisions such as orientation and windows (size, location and type). However, the wind is the most variable climatic factor, also affected by the urban context, the architectural shape and even, opening and closing windows and doors.