Energy Efficient Buildings

Discussion

Energy efficient buildings require less energy for construction and maintenance, heating and cooling, lighting and ventilation.

A building's operating energy can be conserved through passive heating and cooling features such as insulation, double-glazing, thermal mass, shading, and ceiling fans.

A building's embodied energy can be reduced by constructing it from locally sourced and/or recycled materials, and by making it easy to dismantle and recycle in its turn.

Large buildings can conserve energy by installing cogeneration units, which use the waste heat from electricity generation.

Solar hot water heaters on roof tops can offset demand for electricity and gas by using sunlight to heat water.

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Subtopics

Buildings: Embodied Energy - The energy expended to create and later remove a building can be minimised by constructing it from locally available, natural materials that are both durable and recyclable, and by designing it to be easy to dismantle, with components easy to recover and reuse.

Passive Cooling - Interior spaces can be kept cool in hot weather without need for air conditioners, by using ventilation, thermal mass, shading, insulation and draught seals.

Passive Heating - Interior spaces can be kept warm in cold weather with minimal need for electric or fuel heaters by obtaining heat from available sunlight and warm outside air when available, and keeping it inside using thermal mass, insulation, draught seals, and double or triple glazing.

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