Built environment is a manifestation of the technological innovation. The way technologies are applied in design and construction of buildings, have direct implications on the amount of energy consumed. In modern context buildings represent enclosed, isolated boxes/systems where environment is artificially controlled. This requires considerable energy. A problematic relationship between architecture and technology is evident. A large part of Indian Subcontinent has for majority of year ample Sun- renewable, nonpolluting, abundant and direct source of all present natural cycles on earth.

To gain access to the energy use in office buildings, the German Federal Ministry for Economy 1995 launched an intensive research and demonstration programme. In advance of the 2002 EU energy performance directive a limited primary energy coefficient of about 100 kWhm-2a-1 as a goal for the complete building services technology was postulated (HVAC + lighting). Further condition was that active cooling be avoided.

A single family detached dwelling was partly renovated for structural reasons. This was an opportunity to rethink the concept of the living space with adjacent sunspace. The new structure is flexible, to take account for the varying occupation, by a sliding separation wall. A balanced ventilation system with heat recovery must guarantee good indoor air quality at a minimal energy cost. The external construction is equipped with a sloped green roof, a high glazed facade with innovative framework and triple Argon filled glazing (U 0.8 W/mK) with warm-edge spacer.

A first Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) study on a solar neighborhood in Israel shows there are certain discrepancies between the planner’s intentions and the final outcome. These stem from each specific resident’s acquaintance with the local climate and

This paper reports field investigation of the hygrothermal performance of autoclaved aerated concrete blocks (ACC) compared to other wall construction materials. The study was conducted under the tropical climatic conditions of Thailand where this debatable issue had not been yet seriously investigated. To this end, three small houses were built. The dimensions of each were 2.4 m x 2.4 m x 2.3 m.

Shading provision should be considered as an integral part of fenestration system design for commercial and office buildings, in order to balance daylighting requirements versus the need to reduce solar gains. Utilization of daylight in buildings may result in reduction in electricity consumption for lighting but also in high cooling demand if excessive solar gains are admitted in the working space. Moreover, visual comfort should be ensured especially for perimeter office spaces. Shading devices can control solar gains and simultaneously allow adequate daylight to the interior.

of innovative daylighting systems and passive cooling techniques implemented in a typical commercial building. The main objectives are the application of innovative daylighting and passive cooling systems to obtain energy savings and to provide thermal and luminous comfort conditions for the occupants. The case study building selected for investigation is located in Mexico City.

The fresnel lens concept is suggested for solar control of the building in order to keep the illumination and the interior temperature at the comfort level. The collection of 60%-80% of the transmitted solar radiation through the fresnel lens on linear absorbers leaves the rest amount to be distributed in the interior space for the illumination and thermal building needs. The fresnel lenses can be combined with Thermal, Photovoltaic, or hybrid type Photovoltaic/Thermal small width absorbers to extract the concentrated solar radiation in the form of heat, electricity or both.

The spatial and material configuration of a building, its dimensions, orientation and fabric are crucial for the choice of the environmental retrofitting strategies to be used. These include innovative daylighting, cooling and control systems, as well as different types of space-related ventilation systems, such as transition spaces, stack devices, ventilation shafts and faadeventilation, including double-skin faade.

Solar radiation is an important source of heat gain into the building and plays an important role as far as thermal comfort in a dwelling is concerned. In summer and in hot climate regions, the thermal gain of a building exceeds the thermal comfort level of the inhabitants and cooling is desirable. The high insolation may be utilized to provide the necessary ventilation cheaply.