Energy - efficient home design: Learning from the past

Abstract

The paper is focusing on Energy?Efficient Home Design or how to design a house in order to reduce energy consumption. We will use the vernacular architecture as an example for good energy?efficient home design, the past experience serving as a base for future housing development. Green Architecture is the theme that surrounds our approach because it tries to articulate the past experience and innovative technology, considering different design features, such as: size of the house, insulation, ventilation, heating and cooling equipment, solar energy systems and other parameters which serve to obtain environment certification (e.g. Leed, Itaca, Breeam, CasaClima). Various examples of vernacular architecture in Italy and Romania will lead us to consider the importance of the climate, site, house orientation and shape and local materials in designing an energy?efficient house. Finally, new green house design should be seen as an investment in building a better community rather than a cost.