GC: n
CT: Nowadays, different research projects in Spain focus on the convergence of construction, bioclimatic and domotics systems (17). However, for significant results, these studies should be carried out in environments with similar conditions to those in standard houses. Therefore, the system presented in this work has been installed in a solar bioclimatic house previously used for the Solar Decathlon 2005 competition (18), organized by the Department of Energy of the United States of America. In this workshop, universities compete to design, build, and operate the most effective and energy-efficient solar-powered house. The project of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid raised these aspects (i.e., technology, sustainability and diffusion) in a proposal for the creation of a prototype of a potential house for the XXI century. The aspects related with the technology and diffusion are reflected in the later application of the first prototype, which after having been in the Solar Decathlon, become a real laboratory and technology demonstrator in Spain.
S: NCBI – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3292103 (last access: 5 December 2014)
N: 1. bio- (prefix): word-forming element, from Greek bio-, comb. form of bios “one’s life, course or way of living, lifetime” (as opposed to zoe “animal life, organic life”), from PIE root gweie– “to live”. The correct usage is that in biography, but in modern science it has been extended to mean “organic life.”
climatic (adj): 1828, from climate (late 14c., “horizontal zone of the earth,” Scottish, from Old French climat “region, part of the earth,” from Latin clima (genitive climatis) “region; slope of the Earth,” from Greek klima “region, zone,” literally “an inclination, slope,” thus “slope of the Earth from equator to pole,” from root of klinein “to slope, to lean”) + -ic (adjective suffix, “having to do with, having the nature of, being, made of, caused by, similar to” (in chemistry, indicating a higher valence than names in -ous), from French -ique and directly from Latin -icus, which in many cases represents Greek -ikos “in the manner of; pertaining to.” ). There is a 1650 citation for climatical in OED. Related: Climatically.
house (n): Old English hus “dwelling, shelter, house,” from Proto-Germanic husan (cognates: Old Norse, Old Frisian hus, Dutch huis, German Haus), of unknown origin, perhaps connected to the root of hide (v.) (Oxford English Dictionary). In Gothic only in gudhus “temple,” literally “god-house;” the usual word for “house” in Gothic being razn.
2. Bioclimatic consists of two words, ‘bio’ meaning the natural form of living things and ‘climate’ the regular pattern of weather conditions of a particular place (Hornby, 2000). Bioclimatic architecture according to Proharam optimizes interactions between a building and its environment, thus reducing heating and cooling needs and improving inhabitant comfort by the same means (Proharam, 2008). It is defined by Martinez as the architecture of a place, taking into consideration the specific climatic conditions of the place, using free resources to reduce environmental impacts and energy consumption (Martinez, 2012). Houses are, therefore, expected to be in tune with the local climate of the region where they are built, incorporating the environment into them. Its focus is to integrate buildings into their natural environment considering the climatic factors of the location for a particular design.
A bioclimatic home is a building (individual or communal) designed and built on the basis of local climate and resources (energy and materials). Bioclimatic buildings make efficient use of solar radiation (energy from the sun) and make less use of concrete and aluminum materials that involve lots of energy production, favoring stone, earth and wood materials. (Universcience, 2006). The essence of any bioclimatic design is to be able to attain a degree of thermal comfort within any structure.
3. A building (for human habitation) designed and built on the basis of the climate and the local resources (energy and materials).
4. The terms “bioclimatic home” and “bioclimatic house” are generally considered as near synonyms for “passive solar home” and “passive solar house”.
S: 1. OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=bio&searchmode=none; http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=climatic&searchmode=none (last access: / December 2014); http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=house&searchmode=none (last access: 7 December 2014). 2. file:///Users/Fer/Downloads/8871-11142-1-PB%20(1).pdf (last access: 7 December 2014). 3 & 4. TERMIUM PLUS (last access: 7 December 2014).
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CR: ecology, environment, thermal insulation.
