BIOCLIMATIC design refers to the design of buildings and spaces (interior – exterior – outdoor) based on local climate, aimed at providing thermal and visual comfort, making use of solar energy and other environmental sources. Basic elements of bioclimatic design are passive solar systems which are incorporated onto buildings and utlilise environmental sources (for example, sun, air, wind, vegetation, water, soil, sky) for heating, cooling and lighting the buildings.
BIOCLIMATIC design takes into account the local climate and includes the following principles:
+ Heat protection of the buildings in winter as well as in summer
+ Use of solar energy for heating buildings in the winter season and for daylighting all year round
+ Protection of the buildings from the summer sun, primarily by shading but also by the appropriate treatment of the building envelope
+ Removal of the heat which accumulates in summer in the building to the surrounding environment using by natural means
+ Improvement – adjustment of environmental conditions in the interiors of buildings
+ Ensuring insolation combined with solar control for daylighting of buildings, in order to provide sufficient and evenly distributed light in interior spaces
+ Improvement of the microclimate around buildings
