strategy
Employing energy efficient design
Synonyms:
Using energy efficiency measuresBuilding energy-efficiently
Description:
Energy efficient design optimizes energy consumption/benefit ratios. In the construction or retrofitting of energy efficient housing (and equipment), energy efficient design principles take account of human, environmental and economic factors, architecture and building elements, use of solar energy and other renewable energy applications, monitoring systems and computer software. Implementation:
According the the Enquête-Kommission of the German Bundestag, it is technically possible to build houses which use 70-90% less energy for heating needs, to heat existing houses by using 70-80% less energy, to manufacture electrical appliances which use 30-60% less energy and to produce automobiles which use 50-60% less energy.An 18-watt fluorescent bulb gives as much light as a 75-watt incandescent bulb but uses 75% less electricity. Some new refrigerators and air conditioners are 60% more efficient than earlier models.
Claim:
Often law and habits inhibit implementing efficiency measure. It is common practice that an architect receives a percentage of the building material expenses as a fee. On this basis, an architect will be little interested in using less resources for the building and has no incentive to install systems which will save the owner money and energy during the life of the building. Similarly tenants would be reluctant to purchase expensive equipment which saves water over a long-term because they will not feel confident that the investment will have been paid back by the time they leave. Broader:
Conserving energyConstructing sustainablyBuilding for functionalityAdvancing building technologyAdvancing building technologyIncreasing productivity of material resourcesAdvancing energy efficiencyDesigning sustainable urban settlementsIntegrating energy management Narrower:
Designing more fuel efficient enginesDesigning energy storage unitInsulating buildingsReducing heat loss in buildingsConstructing low energy buildingsRetrofitting energy efficient systemsCoordinating energy expenditure in transferring goods and services Constrains:
Using energy Facilitates:
Recycling materialsReducing product weightRecycling industrial wastesIncreasing energy intensityReducing energy consumption Facilitated by:
Financing energy efficiencyResearching energy efficiencyNetworking on sustainable energyExtending producer responsibility Problems:
Energy crisisEnergy leaks
Inadequate facilities for the transport of electrical energy
Inadequate governmental energy conservation policies
Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide
Insufficient energy equipment
Insufficient diversification in energy research
Lack of conservation of energy by the private sector
Long-term shortage of mineral energy resources
Unexplored energy alternatives
Unsustainable energy consumption
Waste of electricity
References:
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe: Energy Efficient DesignLewis, Owen and Goulding John: European Directory of Sustainable and Energy Efficient Building (1995): components, services, materials Subjects:
Resources → EnergySocial Activity → Employers
Industry → Construction
Cybernetics → Cybernetics
Design → Design
Type Classification:
C: Cross-sectoral strategies Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
