
Sustainability
Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency means to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services without affecting their quality. In Architecture, building’s location and surroundings play a key role in regulating its comfort without increasing the energy consumption. Through advanced computerized technology we analyze the contribution of each project’s environment and we turn it into design solution in order to create comfortable spaces to live and work in according to the best cost-effective strategy.
Comfort temperatures – annual distribution
Nnatural Light
Our projects aim to get the maximum benefit from the sunlight. This fact is usually critical to study and understand. The sun is the biggest source of energy on Earth, it basically provides energy in two forms: light and heat. These two factor must be precisely balanced in order to get the best natural illumination and to control heat gains.
Natural Ventilation
The study of natural ventilation is fundamental to design a comfortable space and decrease heat loads in summer. This topic is riddled with concepts like air-tightness, wind pressure and humidity which might be difficult to estimate without the proper tools. Using principles of the Aeronautic and Automobile science: CFD calculation (Computational Fluid Dynamics) we calculate the real contribution of natural ventilation in our projects and use it to create the most comfortable scenario, always giving the possibility to open the window and enjoy the outside air.
Materials and wastes
The choice of the right material is a matter of design quality, local availability and its intrinsic CO2 footprint. At the same time we take into account properties like durability, energy performance and criteria such as Cradle to Cradle. With a tight co-working with building industries, Roca among the others, we optimize prefabricated construction technologies and material use, simultaneously reducing waste and pollution.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Renewable energy installation cannot be considered an artifact added to a building, ending up being clumsy patches on roofs and façades. We design the most suitable installation (solar collectors, photovoltaic, geothermal…) from the aspect of the energy efficiency with a complete integration in the architectural design.
LEED & VERDE
Leed and Verde are the most acknowledged tools for rating buildings, the first one for the International scenario and the second for Spain. These systems were developed by Green Building Council to generate integral and transversal design strategies that guarantee sustainable and efficient projects. At B01 arquitectes we analyze projects under various aspects such as water use, ecological footprint and waste production. We consider them as a design tool, rather than a way to certificate what it has already done, even if there is no need for a certification.