Passive and Active Solar Systems for Buildings
15 June 2009 | Green Technology | 1 Comment
The adaptation of urban buildings to the specific environmental conditions of cities in order to incorporate efficiently solar and energy-saving measures and couterbalance the radical changes and transformations of the radiative, thermal, moisture and aerodynamin characteristics of the urban environment is a major priority.This incorporates appropriate sizing and placing of the building openings, to promote solar energy utilization, enchance air flow and natural ventilation and improve daylight aviability, integration of photovoltaics and also the use of passive cooling tedhniques to decrease cooling energy consumption and improve thermal comfort. (more…)
How To Improve the Urban Microclimate
11 June 2009 | Green News | No Comments
Improvement of the ambient microclimate in the urban environment involving the use of more appropriate materials, increased use of green areas, use of cool sinks for heat dissipation, appropriate layout of urban canopies, etc., to counterbalance the effects of temperature increase, is among the more efficient measures.An increase in the energy consumption in urban areas, because of the heat island effect, places great stress on utilities that have to supply the necessary additional load. (more…)