Impact of bioclimatism and passive solutions on thermal performance: Feedback from an experimental wood-concrete house in a Mediterranean climate

Abstract

This article is based on the analysis of the thermal behavior of an experimental house in a Mediterranean climate. This well insulated house presents 3 specificities: inertial elements mainly in the heart of the house with a wood frame envelope, large bay windows, and an interior patio facilitating the safe opening at night. The work focuses on the contribution of passive solutions: the valorization and management of solar gain, natural ventilation at night, thermal inertia and thermal insulation. Dynamic thermal simulations complete the analysis of the measurements. The concept has demonstrated its interest in the summer period with a comfort that can be maintained provided that the available passive solutions are used adequately. The thermal inertia coupled with the natural night ventilation allows to maintain a stable maximum daily indoor temperature lower than the outdoor temperature with a daily thermal amplitude up to 13 °C. The concrete slab of the ground floor exchanges with the indoor air up to 10 W/m2 during the day and up to 25 W/m2 with the natural night ventilation. The flow rate of the latter is estimated at 3.5 to 5.5 vol/h. In winter, the thermal inertia of the slab allows to make better use of solar gains, with for example a thermal flux penetrating the slab that can reach up to 60 W/m2, and represents, cumulated over the day, an energy transferred to the slab up to 300 Wh/m2. This energy is diffused throughout the night with an intensity of about 10 W/m2.