Architecture
Low energy and very low energy houses do not need to distinguish themselves from traditional buildings in terms of appearance, but they require intelligent design. Some of the key elements in terms of architecture are the following:
These buildings are examples from Austria of very low energy buildings built according to the passive house concept.
- The building orientation must ensure optimum solar gain. In cold regions, large windows should face south
- Sunlight protection is necessary to prevent overheating on hot summer days
- The building must be compact; the smaller the surface of a building, the lower energy losses. However, it can still be designed with great elegance
- Large windows are a possibility, but not at the expense of a large energy loss or overheating
- The choice of building materials should provide structures that keep the heat inside in cold climates and keep the building cool in warm climates
Solar energy can be integrated in the architecture. As an example, it is now possible to have solar panels looking like roof light windows and solar cells which can contribute to a unique architectural expression.
