SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATIVE PROJECT, UNIQUE AND STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT FOR DEMONSTRATING THE TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE CHALLENGE OF GREEN BUILDING – PLAN E. SUBSIDISED BY THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND INNOVATION WITHIN PLAN E, AND HOSTED BY THE EU EDRF FUNDS.
FILE PEN-120000-2009-32
BACKGROUND:
In a century marked by the depletion of energy resources and environmental problems arising from excessive energy consumption, Sotavento Galicia Foundation has made available to all interested parties, through this project, a real example of the possibilities that the bioclimatic house offers to save energy and improve our quality of life.
To achieve this goal, the Sotavento Galicia Foundation has built a house of about 240 m2 that takes into account weather and environmental conditions, using its own design and architectural elements such as the principal assets for optimising conditions for the habitability and comfort inside. The low energy demand of this house is provided by renewable or efficient energy systems.
The house has been fitted with a comprehensive management system, offering visitors all the information concerning its performance.
OBJECTIVES:
The main objective is to show the basics of bioclimatic buildings and the various phenomena that occur in them which are designed to achieve comfort within, and how this well-being can be achieved in a simple way, thus saving energy and being environmentally friendly.
To achieve this, guided tours are given that cover the following aspects of the bioclimatic house:
- The importance of the establishment on the ground and in the shape of the building to control the sources and drains of heat (solar radiation, air temperature and ground heat)
- The importance of orientation for a good bioclimatic performance
- Optimisation and management of sunlight in summer and winter
- The heat transfer modes matching our interests and habitats within the house for ultimate comfort
- The thermal properties of the construction materials employed
- Heating comfort conditions: temperature and relative humidity
- Energy use in the house (types of appliances, classes of lighting, water management, etc.)
- Integrated energy operation of your own home, i.e. the management of bioclimatic conditions with contributions from necessary renewable energy sources connected to home automation. Possibilities and effects of these interventions
- Expected and measured energy results
- Possibility of result extrapolation to other bioclimatic buildings (house, flat, etc.)
- The use of natural and local materials as important elements of a sustainable architecture
INSTALLATIONS:
The energy demand of the house is provided by renewable and /or efficient energy systems such as:
- Solar photovoltaics
- Solar heating
- Small wind turbine installation
- Biomass boiler
- Geothermal heat pump
ARCHITECTS:
This project was carried out by a company with extensive experience in bioclimatic architecture: ALIA, Architecture, Energy and Environment, S.L., leading project architect D. Emilio Miguel Mitre, professionally renowned for his reputation with bioclimatic buildings.
CURRENT SITUATION:
The house is finished and has been able to be visited since it opened on June 21, 2010. Currently, various projects and analyses are in development relating to its energy performance, and regular training courses are given in the field of energy, energy saving and energy efficiency.
