The energy saving effect of incorporating an ATRIUM into a building
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24084/repqj13.291Keywords:
Air accumulator, energy saving, atrium, bioclimatic architecture, passive solar gain, almost zero consumption buildings, energy efficiency, buffer space, reducing CO2, building sector, air circulation in buildingsAbstract
The member states of the European Union have set a 2020 target to reduce energy consumption by 20% relative to figures for 1990. In 2011, the total energy consumption of the building and installation sector in Spain was 299,558 gigawatt hours, accounting for 29.9% of the total national consumption for other uses of 1,000,720 gigawatt hours [1].
Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of May 19th, 2010, on the energy performance of buildings, establishes the objective of promoting energy efficiency in buildings located in the EU, through the consideration of factors such as outdoor climatic and local conditions as well as indoor climate requirements and cost-effectiveness in heating costs.
This article, based on data collected during a 12 month study of a real building, shows that an energy saving heating and cooling of 19.62% can be achieved through the incorporation into buildings of atrium-style open spaces with energy functions.
