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Score - Sustainable Construction in Rural and Fragile Areas for Energy efficiency

Guidelines for Integrated territorial Planning:
Microclimatic and environmental control through vegetation

The following guidelines come from a deep analysis of case studies, norms and regulations, in relation to the both national and regional level. This analysis is summarized in a card that can be downloaded in Spanish language. 

The link between architecture and vegetation is not a new one. In fact, throughout history it has always been there, with only the degree of this relationship changing to suit different needs. These functions have ranged from being purely representative, to ones that promote health and wellbeing, and others to be just fun and for retreat purposes. Of course, one of the main features related to the integration of plants has got to do with the control of environment, however techniques for just how they are integrated is ever evolving. If a few decades ago, vegetation and construction were viewed as separate entities, which were in some way linked, separating the natural and artificial, the modern trends have moved this alliance to be closer and more radical. So nowadays it is relatively easy to find green surfaces parasitizing building roofs of façades in such a way that both realities are blended together in the shape.

The use of plants in architecture provides a reduction of direct solar radiation on the building enclosure, providing increased of thermal isolation by reducing the heat transfer to the inner layers of the envelope. This means lower needs for both air conditioning and ventilation, and consequently an important reduction of electricity consumption. The environmental benefits are also valuable, as vegetation use CO2 during the breathing process, expelling O2, which reduces emissions that provokes greenhouse effect. During this transformation, foliage also absorbs the pollutant compounds found in the air, cleaning and improving the health conditions of the environment. Plants implementation in urban contexts increases the biodiversity, as well, minimizing the loss of vegetal and animal species on territory.

Greened roofs and façades have a better acoustic isolation than conventional solutions, so they can be used to protect inner spaces from the urban noise.

During their life cycles, plants are able to reduce the temperature of the air that surrounds them, in a phenomenon known as “evaporative cooling”. This process can also be used in the conditioning of built spaces. In this case, the energy savings can reach the percentage of 70%. In a wider scale, vegetation in squares and streets helps to avoid the “urban heat island effect”, produced by the lack of plants and soil moisture.

The increase of the visual appeal of green spaces is also a remarkable aspect to consider, as there is a proved relationship between the use of vegetation and the psychological perception that users have of urban environments. This has a direct consequence over the health of the population which can be seized in degraded contexts.

Modern and innovative technologies in green enclosures are not spread widely enough in Andalusia, although construction and vegetation combination is traditional in the architecture of the region. The cost and the high maintenance level are probably some of the reasons why. The experimental or development stages in which some of this solutions can be found also affects to this situation. Consequently there is not a solid network of companies specialized in this matter.

This technology is not explicitly described in laws as a sustainable practice, even though calculation procedures for efficiency of buildings closures are quite well developed. There is no need to go deeper in the improvement of these regulations.

Despite this, there is no experimental research, and consequently no objective data, about subjects such as influence of different vegetal species in the thermal features of a building; which kind of plants are better depending on the requirements of the project; irrigation needs for every variety, options to avoid the uncontrolled grow of biotic agents, etc.

The diffusion of sustainable works with building enclosure improvement could be facilitated following some advices such as:

·         Creation of a catalogue of different vegetal species, with the objective of collecting characteristics, such as suitability for green enclosures in the Andalusia area, irrigation needs, shading profiles during the seasons, etc. With this database it would be easier to esteem the thermal transmission of a roof/wall including vegetation.

Indication for the Bio-construction Action Plan

Pursuant to the guidelines written above, here are synthetically reported the criteria/examples for pilot projects to be financed in MED territory, in relation with the specific treated theme.

These criteria/examples, together with the ones resulting from all the themes of eco-construction tool matrix, will make up a Bio-construction Action Plan for each partner countries.

Possible criteria for MED bio–housing quality certificate

The current Spanish certification system for new buildings enclosure is defined in the Royal Decree 47/2007. These rules also consider aspects such as façade facing, external environment conditions, passive or protection solar systems, thermal conditioning systems, natural ventilation, etc. It isn’t considered necessary that green building certifications should be made more complicated. However we think it would be recommended to have the possibility to include aspects like vegetation influence on shading or isolation in the certification process.

Case studies

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