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Measured by ISO comfort standards, the Holcim Costa Rica office building provides a comfortable indoor climate during working hours (see table below). The indoor climate is comfortable but slightly hot during the dry season, and comfortable but slightly humid during the rainy season.
| Environmental variable |
Dry season |
Rainy season |
Mean temperature (oC)
actual conditions, indoors) |
24.19 ± 0.11 |
24.80 ± 0.28 |
Mean temperature (oC)
(‘Comfort’ model, indoors) |
24.90 |
24.40 |
Relative humidity (%)
(actual conditions, indoors) |
53.07 ± 1.13 |
72.90 ± 1.45 |
Maximum temperature (oC)
(actual conditions, indoors) |
26.04 ± 0.33 |
27.47 ± 0.87 |
Maximum temperature
(‘Comfort’ model) |
26.60 |
25.90 |
Comfort conditions
(ISO norms) |
Comfortable,
slightly hot |
Comfortable,
sightly humid |
Indoor environmental and comfort conditions in the Holcim Costa Rica office building during the dry and rainy seasons.
Even in a highly seasonal tropical climate, a comfortable indoor climate can be achieved in buildings with ecological and economical passive cooling and humidification systems instead of expensive and energy-intensive mechanical air-conditioning systems. Occupants of bioclimatic buildings must actively operate the building’s mechanisms (e.g. windows, louvers, and blinds) to regulate the indoor climate and maintain comfort.
Optimal control of these devices requires an understanding of some simple principles of physics, awareness of one’s environment, and an active attitude instead of a passive one.
Landscape design plays an important role in bioclimatic buildings, functioning to make the indoor climate more comfortable. Plants and trees can create shade, reduce thermal gain, reduce the air temperature, and moderate humidity. Trees can serve as windbreaks; in groups and in green corridors they can greatly reduce wind problems year round. Besides creating habitats and supporting biodiversity, plant materials beautify buildings and views from indoors. Intelligent use of plant materials is one of the many skills architects must learn in order to design sustainable buildings in harmony with nature.
The misting-cooling system in the courtyard is activated for ten seconds every ten minutes during the dry season. The courtyard air flows into the building, providing humidity and cooling.
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| Technical report:
Measuring up to the criteria of sustainable construction |  | Read more about how each element of sustainability is measured
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