FAQ

Bioclimatic Architecture & Buildings

Bioclimatic design capitalizes on the characteristics of the site (climate, vegetation, topography and geology of the soil) in order to minimize the energy needs of the building and to create a more comfortable environment (hygro-thermal, acoustic, natural light) adapted to the ways and lifestyles of the inhabitants. In addition, special attention is paid to respect the existing landscape and integrate the building within it.

The positioning and orientation of the building as well as the interior distribution are calculated to profit as much as possible from the solar gain but not interfere with summer comfort.

But beyond this, the success of a bioclimatic design lies in the quality of coherence between: the options to take advantage of the place (1), the specifics of the casing (2) and additional technical solutions (3).

• Solar gain, using natural ventilation flows, using the basement of the site;
• The nature of walls, floors and roof, the characteristics of the insulation, woodwork and windows, as well as the positioning of inertial mass in the building;
• Mechanical ventilation, ground-coupled heat exchanger, heating solution...

• How is this different from a passive house ?

  For simplicity, we say that the approach of a classic Passive house seeks primarily to insulate the building from its environment in order to protect it from its nuisances and to rely on a highly technological ventilation system, while the so-called bioclimatic design, encourages direct contributions between the environment and the natural airflow. The objectives are more or less the same and finally, it is the bioclimatic context that dictates the final decision.

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Useful links :

• The bioclimate
• Bioclimatic architecture by Hespul : Association specialized in the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency
• Bioclimatic architecture presented by APERE : Recommended Association in Belgium for renewable energy
• The House of Charmeau: A realization without compromise by the Association of Regional Eco-builders of the Southwest in France

Suggested literature :

"La conception bioclimatique des maisons confortables et économes"
by Jean-Pierre Oliva and Samuel Courgey, éditions Terre Vivante

"L’habitat bio-économique"
of Pierre-Gilles Bellin, éditions Eyrolles

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Frequently asked questions

• Passive House (Passivhaus)
• Low-energy House (BBC Effinergie)
• Bioclimatic Architecture & Buildings
• High energy performance labels in France
• Regulatory framework: thermal regulations (RT 2005)
• HPE label (2005)
• HPE EnR label (2005)
• THPE label (2005)
• THPE EnR label (2005)
• BBC - BBC Effinergie ® label
• Energy-plus Building (BEPOS)
• HQE® approach
• Ecolabels
• Constructive methods
• Outside Insulation
• Thermal bridges
• Inertia of the building
• Airtightness
• Wood manufacture & timber frame construction
• Clay blocks for monolithic walls & autoclave cellular Concrete (ACC), or autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC)
• Window performance
• Green Insulation (cellulose wadding, hemp, wool & wood fibers, straw...)
• Ventilation of the building
• Energy Recovery ventilation (EVR)
• Ground-coupled heat exchanger
• Natural Ventilation
• Windcatcher
• Renewable Energy
• Photovoltaic system
• Solar thermal energy
• Geothermal energy and heat pumps
• Biomass-wood heating
• Wind turbine
• Hydroelectricity
• Primary Energy
• Energy performance certificate (DPE)
• Carbon assessment (Bilan Carbone®)

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