Bioclimatic Village Tenerife - the first of its kind in the world

bioclimatic village tenerife

This unique "village" is a collection of houses built as a project to create the most eco-friendly environments on the planet, involving generation of energy from the sun and wind, plus energy conservation within the units themselves - and it's in Tenerife!

The village is run by the Instituto Tecnologico de Energias Renovables, otherwise known as ITER. In English, this is the Technological Institute of Renewable Energy and it is this organisation that controls the wind turbine farms you can see on either side of the TF-1 motorway, just a bit further north from El Medano. These turbines form part of the project, as do huge solar panels set into the ground in the area. The 25 houses were all individually designed, so that, as well as being as near to 100% energy efficient, they blended in with the environment.

These turbines form part of the project, as do huge solar panels set into the ground in the area.

The 25 houses were all individually designed, so that, as well as being as near to 100% energy efficient, they blended in with the environment.

The Houses

Design of these houses was initially an international contest for architects, run jointly by the Council of Tenerife and the Architectural Association of the Canary Islands and resulted in around 400 entries from all over the world. The best 25 were chosen and built, using only recycled and recyclable materials.

As well as having to blend into the surroundings, the buildings had to be designed to make maximum use of the available solar and wind power. This accounts for the strange shapes of some of them.

Each house is thermally insulated and is equipped with low consumption lightbulbs which are connected to movement sensors, so that they switch themselves off if there's no-one about. Water taps have flow reducers, toilets have quick flush buttons and there are plenty of water features, such as ponds and fountains, to keep the air damp.

Gardens are rigorously controlled, too, using only native vegetation.

These houses are lived in by the scientists who work for ITER and, for this reason, are equipped with sensors to detect wind speed, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide and dust levels. All these data are combined with constantly gathered information on solar radiation, air pressure and outside humidity and temperature, so that any ongoing improvements and adjustments can be made.

OTHER FEATURES OF ITER

The Visitors' Centre

This project is open to the public and the first port of call is the Visitors' Centre. Itself a bio-climatic building, it offers several terraces where you can view the Wind Farm and the Montaña Pelada National Park in the distance.

There is an exhibition featuring a scale model of the whole of the ITER project.

The Visitors' Centre also features a cafeteria.

The Technological Walkway

From the Visitors' Centre, you can access this outdoor walkway, which is intergated into the barranco next to the main building.

It features all the different kinds of renewable energies and is in themed areas. Some of the exhibits here are interactive and visitors are encouraged to try them out.

It is easily possible to negotiate the Visitors' Centre and the Walkway in your own time, without supervision, but guided tours are also avaliable, by prior arrangement.

All other installations must be accompanied by a guide.