This paper presents the optical and thermal performancesof different glazed surfaces coupled with a shading system struck by solar radiation. The mean monthly values of the total solar energy transmittance g are determinedand of the transmission coefficient ? of the window area, the shading system, the compound windowshading system, with the shading placed externally,inside and in the glazing interpane. The effect of the shading system on the solar contributions to heating and cooling is determined with reference to a case study.

Following the study by V H C Crisp and P J Littlefair (CIBS, 1984)1 on Average Daylight Factor Prediction, the arguments for the use of average daylight factor as a design criterion are reviewed in light of new experimentalassessments.

The sensation of comfort in buildings depends on externaland internal variables: the well-known PMV method relates the expected temperature with the physiological behavior of the human body. Some models have discussedthe relevance of adaptation factors, in order to explainthe higher expected good temperature of users living in warm climates. The same PMV method has been modified for these climatic situations.

The building and construction sector is a key sector for sustainable development. In response to the demand for evaluation and management of buildings environmental performance several tools and methodologies have been developed and implemented to building construction aiming sustainable performance. The paper is focusing on rating systems analysis, comparison and implementationfor buildings environmental performance. Criteriafor rating systems evaluation are set, while the most representative rating systems such as BREEAM and LEED were implemented to office building in Greece.

Despite of Brazil not being among the major world energy consumers, the consumption of electricity has significantly increased in the last years. The National Energy Balance of 2005, published by the Brazilian Ministry of Energy, showed that buildings consume 45% of the electric energy generated in the country. Standards and codes on energy efficiency can represent 12% of energy consumption savings in twenty years for developing countries according to a global survey developed by Duffie (1996).

This document presents the theoretical study of evaporativecooling designed for the outdoor spaces in the Spanish pavilion of the coming International Exhibition in Zaragoza 2008.

New Academic direction- threat or opportunity Industrial academics or sponsorship of higher education Across the world there is a new ‘breed of academics’ emerging, one’s that are closely linked to practice or the industry. Industry or practice sponsored

The aim of this paper was to study the natural ventilation by the stack effect in a reduced model of a building to obtain the night ventilation. A vessel, with double wall, built using glass and metal and filled with water worked as a chimney. It was installed in a building with reduced scale (scale 5:1). Due to the high specific heat of the water, after its heating, a difference of the air temperature in a great part of the night is produced in the inside of the chimney. This way, the natural ventilation of the internal environment is obtained.

Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) is a platform developedin recent years to allow the systematic study of buildings once occupied, so that lessons may be learnt that will improve future design. The tools employed in POE include plan analysis, monitoring of Indoor Environmentand Air Quality (IEQ, IAQ) and thermal performance, and surveys including walk-through, observations,and user satisfaction questionnaires.

The paper describes a proposal for low-cost, low embodiedenergy, passively-cooled social housing in Limassol, Cyprus, using a simple universally available recycled prefabricationsystem. This system, using redundant shipping containers, has already been developed by the authors.The systems strategies, with regard to the choice of materials and their consequent transportation; its simpleconstruction method and very short time of erection and its provision for recycling and minimum waste, are inherently sustainable.