Articles


Energy Efficient Buildings The increasing use and abuse of energy, has called for new dimensions to invent and produce energy from all available sources. Today we have various sources of energy, such as natural gas, coal, fossil energy and also from the extracts of animal waste, agricultural residues urban refuse, industrial wastes, etc. The incredible increase in population and total dependency on energy are the two elementary reasons for the invention of new and alternative forms of energy. We have been extracting energy from various sources and at the same time we have not been utilizing such energy which is precious, to the optimum effective level. More than a half of the energy produced in world is wasted vastly due to defective planning and, or, improper usage. This emphasizes the need for an energy which is clean, inexpensive and therefore effective. This need is often referred as “ENERGY CRISIS” Housing forms the main core of human settlements. The concentration is therefore demanded for energy conservation in buildings with an emphasis on housing. The optimum design parameters for housing layouts will have to be formulated in order to conceive and achieve energy efficiency in housing. Due consideration must be seriously given to each specific case based on geographical, climatic, social and economical conditions. All these put together will play a very important role in selecting the appropriate method to harness energy. In tropical regions, such as India, where hot climate predominates, we have made use of physical laws in building construction for several centuries, only to improve living conditions. Innumerable traditional designs and materials have evolved in the course of time, but have partly or totally disappeared again, with the advent of modern construction technology and industrial production of construction materials. The author aims at helping the layman to know about some simple, inexpensive principles that may be applied at the time of construction of new structures and the improvement of existing structures. Perhaps it may also help the professional planners to recall those principles before starting off on a design activity. Without going into the details of sophisticated technologies either for cooling or heating that are easily relatively master such as: a) Orientation of the buildings, making use of the light and wind. b) Reflection, absorption and resultant insulation of building with careful selection of materials for enclosures. c) The dimensions of the structure and the relative proportion of its parts. d) Use of trees and other obstructions to canalize airflow and provide redeemed shade. e) Use of water evaporation for creating cooling effects. f) Classification of buildings day use, night use, nature of use, etc. g) Services – supply and discharge of water and waste management. The appropriate orientation of buildings in the environment, in relation to sun and wind is the first and most important step in the process of planning. The interior climate of every building is largely dependent on the orientation and position of building. It needs to be stressed here that, this mainly a design problem which does not create additional building coasts, but at the same time provides better living comforts. Often there are constraints for an optimal selection of a building site due to adjacent structures, roads, access ways, and other existing land constraints.

Energy Efficient Buildings

The increasing use and abuse of energy, has called for new dimensions to invent and produce energy from all available sources. Today we have various sources of energy, such as natural gas, coal, fossil energy and also from the extracts of animal waste, agricultural residues urban refuse, industrial wastes, etc. The incredible increase in population and total dependency on energy are the two elementary reasons for the invention of new and alternative forms of energy. We have been extracting energy from various sources and at the same time we have not been utilizing such energy which is precious, to the optimum effective level. More than a half of the energy produced in world is wasted vastly due to defective planning and, or, improper usage. This emphasizes the need for an energy which is clean, inexpensive and therefore effective. This need is often referred as “ENERGY CRISIS”

Housing forms the main core of human settlements. The concentration is therefore demanded for energy conservation in buildings with an emphasis on housing. The optimum design parameters for housing layouts will have to be formulated in order to conceive and achieve energy efficiency in housing. Due consideration must be seriously given to each specific case based on geographical, climatic, social and economical conditions. All these put together will play a very important role in selecting the appropriate method to harness energy.
In tropical regions, such as India, where hot climate predominates, we have made use of physical laws in building construction for several centuries, only to improve living conditions. Innumerable traditional designs and materials have evolved in the course of time, but have partly or totally disappeared again, with the advent of modern construction technology and industrial production of construction materials.

The author aims at helping the layman to know about some simple, inexpensive principles that may be applied at the time of construction of new structures and the improvement of existing structures. Perhaps it may also help the professional planners to recall those principles before starting off on a design activity. Without going into the details of sophisticated technologies either for cooling or heating that are easily relatively master such as:

a) Orientation of the buildings, making use of the light and wind.
b) Reflection, absorption and resultant insulation of building with careful selection of materials for enclosures.
c) The dimensions of the structure and the relative proportion of its parts.
d) Use of trees and other obstructions to canalize airflow and provide redeemed shade.
e) Use of water evaporation for creating cooling effects.
f) Classification of buildings day use, night use, nature of use, etc.
g) Services – supply and discharge of water and waste management.

The appropriate orientation of buildings in the environment, in relation to sun and wind is the first and most important step in the process of planning. The interior climate of every building is largely dependent on the orientation and position of building. It needs to be stressed here that, this mainly a design problem which does not create additional building coasts, but at the same time provides better living comforts. Often there are constraints for an optimal selection of a building site due to adjacent structures, roads, access ways, and other existing land constraints.