Traditional Techniques To Build Sustainable Buildings Today

Peter, content writer | Wednesday, 01 February 2023

Some old constructions worked efficiently with the environment and used simple and intuitive mechanisms for energy use, such as the orientation of facades or the use of cisterns to store rainwater. Beyond home automation and technology, traditional architecture also integrated the resources of a true smart home into the homes of Hawks Melbourne City; simple bioclimatic strategies that today are used more and more in the construction of houses.

The orientation of the house. Knowing the bioclimatic data of the area, passive energy-saving and production measures can be incorporated. For example, a suitable orientation will make the most of daylight hours. By building a house from scratch, and orienting it according to the movement of the sun, energy is captured for as long as possible in the cold months, as well as protecting it from the heat in the warm ones.
Passive Houses: Do you know what they are?

Cross ventilation: natural air conditioning at zero cost. Cross ventilation is a traditional strategy used to prevent houses from overheating. This cooling system works in two ways: on the one hand, it replaces the air inside the building, renewing it; on the other, it moves the inside without renewal. Result? The thermal sensation inside is reduced.

Ventilation occurs when there are pressure differences between inside and outside; therefore, it will improve by opening various holes on opposite facades, so that the pressure differences are greater. It is convenient to analyze the distribution of the façade openings and see if it is interesting to build others; better of different sizes to modify the speed of the air.

Pure Architecture
Hot air tends to settle in the upper layers. The best strategy to cause cross ventilation is to open holes in the roof.

Alvaro Viera | ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY
The volume. The optimal shape of a house will be one that has a lower index of thermal losses in winter and thermal gains in summer. There are solutions for every type of climate and region.

In cold regions with a compact design, the facade surface in contact with the outside is reduced, especially in orientations that do not receive sunlight or are very exposed to the winds.

In traditional architecture, it is sometimes even resorted to burying part of the building or increasing the thermal resistance of these facades. For the rest of the exterior faces of the house, it is best to take advantage of solar radiation by opening large holes.

Harquitectes
In very hot and dry climates, the façade surface in contact with the outside is reduced in the orientations most exposed to the sun. Taking Andalusian popular houses as an example, it is best to resort to the creation of interior patios with vegetation, thus generating a pleasant and cool microclimate in summer and protection in winter.

Gus Wustmann Architects
In hot and humid climates, buildings should be built with very open volumes that allow cross ventilation. The elongated buildings, oriented with an east-west axis, are the ones that work best. It is also advisable to raise the building with respect to the ground.

Ecoproject
Optimize facades. The facade manages the use or protection of solar radiation, natural lighting, and ventilation. In cold climates, large windows (with double or triple glazing) on the exterior face of the façade will allow the entry of solar radiation and prevent the escape of interior heat. In the north of Spain, it is common to find glazed viewpoints, as they enhance solar capture and generate a very comfortable space during winter.

MariàCastelló, Architecture
In hot climates, however, shade is the goal. The holes must be protected to prevent the entry of solar radiation and the greenhouse effect. In addition, the windows must be placed on the interior face of the façade.

Anna Noguera
Canopies, pergolas, awnings, Venetian blinds, shutters, Majorcan shutters, friars, or latticework, are construction elements that have survived the passage of time due to their relevant function in the thermal behavior of a home. The typical wooden roller shutters, which can be seen on many balconies in our cities and towns, prevent the sun from entering in summer and, hung outside the balconies, facilitate the passage of fresh air into the interior.

Abathon
The wooden friars with adjustable slats, in addition to controlling the amount of solar radiation in winter, create an air chamber between the outside and the window that reduces heat loss.

Gus Wustmann Architects
Lattices have always been used to filter light and preserve privacy, generating ventilated spaces, protected from the sun and lit naturally.

B720 Fermin Vazquez Architects
In the Mediterranean tradition, porches are the protagonists of outdoor spaces. Materials such as reeds, fabrics, esparto grass, or simply natural vegetation are solutions that prevent the interior from overheating.

Bluetime Collaborative
The color of the materials. In traditional architecture, color is used to improve the thermal behavior of homes. When sunlight strikes a surface it is either absorbed or reflected depending on its color. Thus, a white surface reflects all colors, while a black one absorbs all light and therefore heat. A light cover versus a dark cover can reduce heat absorption by 50%.

Harvest Timber Specialty Products
The cover is an energy-saving element. A green or ecological roof increases the insulation of the building and absorbs CO2. In the Nordic countries, they have always been used. They eliminate noise, and retain dust and polluting substances in the plant layer, protecting from solar radiation.
Characteristics, installation, and drawbacks of green roofs

Watt Architects
In hot climates, it is best to leave an air chamber between the roof and the living area, to avoid excessive heating.

MöhringArchitekten
Use ecological and local materials. For a sustainable house, the best are durable, reusable materials that come from the area where the house is going to be built because its ecological footprint and environmental impact will be less.

Regarding materials for insulation, the best is cork, cellulose, or vegetable fibers (bamboo, coconut, or straw) mixed with cement.
How to get the best thermal insulation at home.

Arboretum
Integrate plant elements in outdoor spaces. Green areas help create a healthier environment. In a house with a garden, it is best that the trees are native and deciduous to provide shade in summer and let the sun and light stop in winter. If the house has a patio, a vegetable or gravel floor will help it not absorb heat and retain cool night air.

Recycle and reuse water. In Andalusian farmhouses, the cisterns were placed near the boulevards and ravines with the aim of collecting and storing water for later use. Nowadays, with current techniques, it can be channeled to a tank to be used later in toilet tanks, car washes, irrigation, or even in the washing machine and dishwasher.