Passive Design in Local Government Offices, Ireland

Fingal County Council's new headquarters building uses approximately one quarter of the energy that an equivalent air-conditioned office would consume and cost less in capital terms. Total energy use was calculated at approximately 100kWh/m² per year. In addition to producing energy and environmental savings, the building provides a natural working environment that many consider to be more healthy and productive.

http://www.managenergy.net/download/nr102.pdf

SOS children's village in Brno-Medlanky, Czech Republic

A low-energy housing development with a significant reduction of operating costs was achieved at the SOS children's village in Brno-Medlanky in the Czech Republic. Ten family homes and one administration building were constructed, and two existing single-family units were converted.

The task was to construct a low-energy social housing building in Graz, Austria within the framework of state funding for social housing. Passive solar housing principles were applied, including a compact shape and uniform height, integration into the slope, a green roof, a southern glass facade with automatic blinds, and zoning within the apartments (the living rooms face south, the bedrooms north), with solar collectors for water heating.

The Olympic Village in Athens, Greece

The Olympic Village of Athens has been built following the principles of bioclimatic and energy-saving design, aiming to attain improved microclimate, energy saving, effective temperature control and improved conditions both indoors and outdoors.

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Careful attention to the aspect of new buildings, especially windows and roofs, using natural ventilation and cooling and optimizing the use of natural light reduced space heating needs by between 33 and 47% in two new urban settlements in Zoetermeer.

http://www.energie-cites.org/BD/PDF/zoe001en.pdf

Bioclimatism refers to the passive use of the sun's energy, i.e. its direct utilisation without transforming it into another form of energy, either electric, thermal or mechanical energy.

Bioclimatic design is based on an analysis of the microclimate, building siting, window orientation and roof ventilaton, the use of natural ventilation and air-conditioning and the optimisation of natural light. The Municipality of Kalamata in Greece applied this concept when rebuilding one of its districts with mixed results.

http://www.energie-cites.org/BD/PDF/kal-bio-en.pdf