Buildings Handbook

Building Energy Efficiency Handbook

Training Teachers

The sole responsibility for the content of this presentation lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Communities. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

Buildings Handbook

Chapter 1 - Introduction to energy

• What is energy and what does it mean?• Which measuring Units are used?• How do we depend on energy?

Buildings Handbook

Chapter 1 - Background

• Students should get a general idea of “Energy”, what it is and how they depend on it

• By considering examples they should experience the amount of energy needed for different things in everyday life

• By understanding the units of Energy measurement, they should be able to understand reported information on the energy demand of different items of equipment

Buildings Handbook

Efficiency, what’s it all about?

• Using less energy to provide the same level of energy service

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions• Reducing costs• Increasing security of supply

Buildings Handbook

Main Fields of Energy use

Buildings (Home)

Industry

Transport

Buildings Handbook

Buildings

• Most of our every day life is spent in and around buildings

• Energy is needed for different reasons to make a building habitable (heating, cooling, lighting, etc.)

• We need energy to meet our basic needs (cooking, washing, etc.)

Buildings Handbook

Energy efficiency in buildings - Approaches

• Thermal insulation of the building• “Bioclimatic” building design• Increase efficiency of room heating or cooling• Increase efficiency of home electric

equipment• Use of photovoltaic and solar devices to

provide energy

Buildings Handbook

Energy balance of a building

Buildings Handbook

Energy losses in a conventional building

Buildings Handbook

Thermal insulation

Buildings Handbook

Thermal Insulation material

• Vegetable: cork, wood fibre, flax, straw, etc. • Mineral: fibreglass, mineral-wool, expanded

clay, metal carbides, foamed glass, etc.• Synthetic materials: expanded polystyrene,

polyurethane and phenolic foams, etc.

Buildings Handbook

“Bioclimatic” building design

Active systems Solar collectors

Photovoltaic pannelsBioclimatic elements

.....

Direct solar gainThermal walls with air preheating

Passive systems Indirect solar gain Trombe walls

Isolated systems: Sunspaces and Atria Mass walls

Collectors and grave fills

Buildings Handbook

Bioclimatic Building design

Buildings Handbook

Photovoltaic potential

Buildings Handbook

Bioclimatic Building design

Buildings Handbook

Home electricity consumption

• Refrigerator and freezers• Washing machines and dryers• Dishwashers• Water heaters• Hairdryers• Room air conditioners• Electric ovens• …

Buildings Handbook

Home electricity consumption

Buildings Handbook

Example – Refrigerator energy losses

• Insulation: the heat transfer through the material that makes up the walls of the refrigerator.

• Food: the heat transfer from the food (as food deposited initially has a greater temperature than refrigerator).

• Door seals (gasket): the heat transfer through the flexible seal which is responsible for maintaining air-tightness.

• Door open: the heat transfer caused when the door is opened.

Buildings Handbook

EU Energy Label

Buildings Handbook

Energy saving tips (1)

• Look for the ENERGY LABEL when buying a new refrigerator and select class A+ or A++.

• Select a new refrigerator that is the right size for your household needs. The bigger it is, the higher the energy consumption gets.

• Do not put in hot food.

Buildings Handbook

Energy saving tips (2)

• Keep the doors open the shortest time possible.

• Regularly defrost a manual-defrost refrigerator and freezer; frost decreases the energy efficiency of the unit. Don’t allow frost to build up more than 3mm thick.

Buildings Handbook

Questions?

• Any questions left…?