Return to the Basics

Abstract

Buildings use a substantial amount of primary energy, and as a consequence, they are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming and climate change. A considerable change in building design ideas, methods, technologies, and design and construction systems is necessary in light of the oncoming worldwide energy and environmental concerns. Vernacular architecture is a valuable resource that has the ability to contribute significantly to the definition of sustainable design principles. It is distinguished by a particular style of formal expression that has evolved in reaction to a variety of elements—geographical, climatic, social, and economic—that describe the local location or region in question. The purpose of this chapter is to examine instances of vernacular architecture that have been used to combat climate change and to qualitatively appraise the bioclimatic design solutions that have been applied.