The densely developed urban space as an environment for energy-efficient buildings

Katarzyna Zielonko-Jung

doi:10.5277/arc140205

Abstract

In the urban setting, natural environment including climatic conditions is strongly transformed. The more urbanised is the area, the more complex are physical processes which infl uence its microclimate. In consequence, the buildings focused on energy savings from renewable resources, and which are located in urban settings, are conditioned by other factors than those located in open areas. Taking into consideration that city keeps on expanding and makes more intense use of the land, the problem of shaping energy-saving building structures in a typical urban environment is very pertinent. This article points at interrelations between the shape of the buildings’ settings and conditions of the micro climate, which have direct bearing on the possibility to lower their’ demand for energy. This analysis is based on the research coming from various literature sources, as well as own research and selected environmental building designs in urban context. The objective of this study is to investigate the possibility of applying well known energy-saving solutions in buildings that create a dense urban tissue. Some principles governing their selection and modifi cation were delineated, pointing to the right direction in shaping energy-saving urban architecture.

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