This paper is a synopsis of the results of a research on form of wind towers. Wind tower is an architectural element in traditional architecture of Iran. It can be seen in cities with hot-dry and hot-humid climates. This analysis demonstrates wind towers' characteristics with emphasis on their morphology.
The present paper describes a process for designing and applying several techniques based on bioclimatic architecture criteria and energy conservation principles in order to improve the microclimate in an outdoor space located in the greater Athens area. The thermal comfort conditions were used as an indicator for the microclimatic improvements in the tested area. For that reason, the thermal comfort conditions in twelve different outdoor space points have been calculated using two different thermal comfort bioclimatic indices developed to be used for outdoor spaces.
In the 6th Framework Programme of the European Union, Politecnico di Milano is participating in an Integrated Project related to energy and environmental efficiency in buildings. This project (BRITA in PuBs) aims to increase the market penetration of innovative and effective retrofit solutions to improve energy efficiency and integrate renewables in buildings. The project includes exemplary retrofit of 9 demonstration public buildings in the four participating European regions (North, Central, South, and East).
This paper summarises a series of design proposals, which aim at exploring in an architectural way, the implementation of PDEC in the urban open spaces of Athens. These design proposals refer to the larger scale of the typical urban block, as well as the intermediate scale of the urban square, and attempt to increase convective and evaporative cooling within the dense city fabric. For a city with a hot and relatively dry climate, like Athens, the effect of enhanced air circulation at pedestrian level can significantly improve thermal conditions during the summer.
A multi-stage down-draft evaporative cool tower (DECT) was developed as an improvement to an existing single-stage design. The new tower incorporates a secondary air inlet, added to increase the cooling output and reduce the water consumption in a tower of given cross-section and primary inlet geometry. The secondary air, which may be drawn from the interior space being cooled, is cooled by evaporation in the lower section of the tower.
A multi-stage down-draft evaporative cool tower (DECT) was developed as an improvement to an existing single-stage design. The new tower incorporates a secondary air inlet, added to increase the cooling output and reduce the water consumption in a tower of given cross-section and primary inlet geometry. The secondary air, which may be drawn from the interior space being cooled, is cooled by evaporation in the lower section of the tower.
To evaluate wind pressure distribution on a building by using CFD (computational fluid dynamics), it has been generally practiced to use k-? models. However, it is known that the use of the standard k-? model has disadvantages such as overestimation of wind pressure coefficient and turbulent kinetic energy on the windward surface where wind impinges on the building. To overcome these problems, various modifications of the k-? model have been proposed. In the present study, a number of modified k-?
This work is concerned with the exploitation of solar energy in the buildings with the use of passive and active systems. The system in study is an energy-efficient residence in Nikaia, near Larissa. The house consists of two apartments that have been both fitted with active and passive solar systems. The climate in Larissa is well known for its high temperatures during the summertime and for that the application of solar energy cooling becomes very appropriate. The work contains analysis of the climate and energy requirements of a typical residence house in the region of Larissa.
Abandoned and flooded mines are present high potential for geothermal utilization of low-temperature water from remaining underground spaces. Some examples of use of mine water in heat pumps installations are known fron Germany, Scotland and Canada. Further development of this technology is ongoing in face of restructuring of coal mining industry in Europe causing closure of mines in may regions.
The architectural and technological design of buildings needs a performance-based approach that takes into account the wider needs of the sustainability-oriented approach. Generally, building codes concerning the rational use of energy, set limits for the energy needs in winter that are evaluated by using simplified conventional conditions. In the Mediterranean area the energy needs in summer are significant and therefore energy saving strategies require the evaluations of building energy loads to be extended to cover the whole year.
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