Energy-saving apartments in a semiarid region in Argentina

2. FILIPPIN, C., BEASCOCHEA, A., FLORES LARSEN, S. AND LESINO,G.

Orlando, Estados Unidos

Congreso; ISES 2005 (International Solar Energy Society); 2005

ISES (International Solar Energy Society)

ABSTRACT   During the year 2000, energy-efficient buildings for low-income students at La Pampa University were designed and constructed. Buildings are  located at the center of La Pampa province,  in a temperate semi-arid region of Argentina. Energy conservation devices, passive solar heating, natural ventilation and solar protection were the main design strategies. The resulting design comprises two blocks of apartments  with a useful floor area of  700 m2. Solar windows are provided  for all main spaces. Northern shading devices and metallic pergolas  protect all windows in summer. This paper shows the results of the thermal and energy  behaviour  of the apartments. The evolution of internal temperature was different in each apartment. Considering apartments use passive solar heating, the consumption of  conventional energy (natural gas) varied among dwellers, but the volume consumed  was lower than that of conventional dwellings. Without extra building cost dwellers live under good higrothermal  conditions at 50% of the auxiliary energy consumed  by conventional dwellings.