Windows for a Bioclimatic House: How to Choose the Most Efficient Enclosures

Designing a bioclimatic house is not following a trend: it is betting on a more efficient, comfortable and respectful way of living with the environment. And in that design, windows and doors cease to be a simple construction element to become key pieces of energy efficiency.

On the Costa Blanca, with a Mediterranean climate of mild winters and intense summers, bioclimatic architecture has enormous potential. The sun is our main ally… and also our main challenge.

What is a bioclimatic house?

A bioclimatic home is designed to make the most of the natural resources of the environment (sun, wind, vegetation) and minimize energy consumption. It does not impose a specific style, but rather an intelligent way of designing that can be applied to any type of housing.

Main features

• Use of passive solar energy, especially in winter
• Protection against overheating in summer
• Excellent thermal insulation throughout the building envelope
• Well-planned natural ventilation
• Efficient, durable materials with a low environmental footprint

The importance of windows in bioclimatic design

Windows are the most sensitive link in the envelope. They are the ones that allow the entry of light and solar heat, but also the ones that can generate the most energy losses if they are not well chosen.

What to look for in a window for a bioclimatic house

Orientation and windows: the key combination

In the Mediterranean climate of the Marina Alta, orientation is a strategic decision:

• South facade: Large windows to capture heat in winter. In summer, the inclination of the sun allows protection with overhangs or blinds. Ideal for the system KÖMMERLING Xtrem 76MD with low-emissivity glass.
• West facade: Essential solar control. Glass with solar control treatment and motorized blinds LinePlus Könect.
• North facade: Smaller windows with maximum insulation. Triple glazing recommended.
• East facade: Direct morning light. Double glazing with low-emissivity.

Natural ventilation with operable windows

Ventilating well does not mean opening windows without criteria, but creating controlled air currents. Kömmerling tilt-and-turn windows allow safe and adjustable ventilation, ideal for renewing indoor air without compromising thermal comfort.

Cross ventilation (windows facing each other on opposite facades) combined with adjustable blinds allows heat to be evacuated naturally in summer, reducing dependence on air conditioning.

Sustainability: beyond insulation

The new systems AluNext MD and AluNext AD from Kömmerling are made with a core of 100% recycled PVC and a process that reduces embedded energy by 82%. They are the most coherent option for a bioclimatic project that seeks to minimize its environmental footprint throughout the life cycle.

If you are planning a bioclimatic home in the Marina Alta or Costa Blanca, at ventana.plus we advise you on the most suitable enclosures to maximize the efficiency of your project.

Technical Requirements for nZEB Housing

Bioclimatic Strategy by Orientation

• South: Maximum glazed surface + seasonal solar protection (overhang or awning). In winter the low sun penetrates and heats; in summer, the overhang casts shade.
• North: Minimum but sufficient glazed area for cross ventilation. Triple glazing recommended.
• East/West: Mandatory solar control. Exterior shading systems (blinds, slats).