Energy Efficient Building

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Overview of Energy Efficient Building

Efficient building encompasses several areas, from efficient design and orientation methods right through to the technology used inside a building to make space heating or cooling more efficient.

Passive Solar Design

Passive solar design is used to reduce energy consumption and to ensure comfortable accommodation. Climate plays a major role in passive solar building design. The sun’s movements, the prevailing wind direction, and changing temperatures and humidity are local climate conditions that vary from place to place and must be considered. Some examples of passive solar design are:

Suitable roof overhangs let in the lower winter sun but shade rooms from the higher hot summer sun.

Sensible fenestration (windows) let in light and catches winter sun, while not allowing too much window area so that warm or cool air cannot be retained inside when needed.

Suitable ventilation provides fresh air and cool breezes, so rooms can be ventilated as needed using airbricks, forced ventilation or by opening windows.

Natural lighting through windows and light wells reduces the need for artificial lighting.

Building Materials:

Materials such as concrete floors and brick or clay walls absorb heat from direct sunlight and releases it again at night.

Planting evergreen trees or shrubs to block strong winds in the winter, and deciduous trees to provide shade and reduce sunlight reflection in the summer, but let sun through during winter, helps to reduce the need for artificial heating and cooling.

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