Bioclimatic Strategies—A Way to Attain Climate Adaptability

Abstract

Climate analysis using bioclimatic potential calculations described in Chap. 4defines the extent to which buildings at a certain location can use the environmental conditions to provide for the occupants' indoor thermal comfort. However, these potentials are merely guidelines or reinterpretations of climate data, pointing to the appropriate design solutions defined by the four bioclimatic design strategies and executed by the implementation of appropriate bioclimatic design measures. In other words, translating bioclimatic potentials into actual building design necessitates knowledge regarding appropriate technological solutions for passive heating and cooling in buildings. With this intention in mind, the present chapter will firstly discuss the definition, relative importance and objectives of the heat retention, heat admission, heat exclusion and heat dissipation bioclimatic strategies. These are followed by a structured overview of most commonly used bioclimatic design measures, comprising the mentioned strategies. At the end of the chapter, results of bioclimatic potential analysis and the presented information regarding bioclimatic design measures will be employed to define exemplar archetypical climate adapted buildings for the selected locations of the cold, temperate, Mediterranean, hot-arid and hot-humid climates.