Implementing low energy design principles and measures in buildings depends on a series of architectural, structural and legal parameters. A buildings design, as well as its operational patterns, has increasingly to comply with tightening comfort, health and aesthetic requirements. And all this in view of the fact that the application of techniques like natural and evaporative cooling, sun protection and hybrid energy production systems based on renewable energy sources, are not always easily applicable in the densely built and environmentally burdened urban ambient.

Forward of the shortage of energy resources, the rational use of the energy started to be a subject of great relevance. In the last years, the countries come taking conscience of this and searching alternatives to optimise the energy use. For constructed buildings, the alternative is to use installations efficiently. In this purpose, a posoccupation evaluation becomes necessary to know the building performance and then helps an energy management. In countries of hot climate, the external temperature affects the thermal building performance and its energy consumption.

An in-dept analysis of a large office building built in the 60s (occupied by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, chosen for its representativity of buildings built in the 50s and 60s) has been performed. A software model of the building has been created and used to simulate its behaviour in the climate zone of Rome, using a dynamic simulation software.

This paper is an introduction into the architectural tradition of India from a climatic point of view for the PALENC 2005 1st International Conference. Most architects who visit India notice the sensitivity of the traditional architecture to the varied climatic comfort requirements. The traditional architectural skill has always achieved an aesthetic out of the climate sensitive forms. This paper is outlines that approach.

The integration of solar thermal systems, in buildings has been an aim of intense research over the last thirty years. Solar thermal systems have become the most widespread, and certainly the best-known RES system, being a commonly accepted solution for hot water production. Still, the integration of RES in the urban built environment remains limited, despite a series of ambitious demonstration projects carried out in the 1980s and 1990s and despite the significant progress monitored in the efficiency and performance of these systems.

A glazed space adjacent to an air-conditioned room is an innovative architectural solution to use the energy contribution of solar radiation in the winter and in the intermediate months, whereas in the summer adequate shading systems are needed. The sunspace is separated from the said room by a wall, generally in part opaque in part glazed, which acts as a collection system and directly removes the solar energy to the internal room through the glazed surface, and indirectly through the opaque surfaces.

The Sino-Italy Environment & Energy Building (SIEEB) is an intelligent, ecological and energyefficient building and seen as a model for a new generation of sustainable buildings. This paper describes the integrated design procedure for the SIEEB building design and the methodologies adopted for sustainable architecture and energy saving measures by using advanced technological solutions and control strategies. The results on the building energy simulation, plant optimisation and first estimation of CO2 emission reduction potential through SIEEB are also presented.

Envelope design as a means of passive cooling is the integrated design of building form and materials as a total system to achieve optimum comfort and energy savings. This paper aims at highlighting the role of envelope design in determining the efficiency of passive cooling in the building. The paper consists of two major parts. First, the theoretical part, illustrates the main elements of design for passive cooling, and particularly the elements related to envelope design.

The main goal of this paper is to explore the design principles and the orientation of traditional buildings of the 19th century in the town of Florina, which is situated in north-western Greece. This analysis is based on a sample of forty traditional buildings. The orientation analysis deals with the design of the buildings in respect of shading, minimisation of the thermal loads and exploitation of the prevailing winds, during the summer period.

The main goal of this paper is to explore the summer thermal comfort conditions in traditional buildings of the 19th century in the town of Florina, which is situated in north-western Greece. This exploration is based on the analysis of the construction methods and the building materials, as well as on analysis using the Ecotect software.