Energy Efficient Building Windows Energy example essay topic

Energy Efficient Building Windows Energy efficient windows have multiple layers of glass. The reason for this is because the more layers of glass you have the better it insulates the house. Three or four layers of glass are one of the best because you have more airspace in between layers. A smaller airspace doesn't insulate the building as well as a thicker airspace would. The thickest an airspace should be is 1 inch because any thicker than that will cause the glass of the window to no longer insulate the building. The air in between the layers of glass should be thick and dense, so that it can save energy.

One of the most common airs used in-between glass is argon. When argon is used heat loss is reduced. You could also use carbon dioxide or sulfur hex a-fluoride between glass. Another type of window that is used commonly to keep the home cool is tinted glass. Tinted glass and tinted window films are used on buildings to reduce heat gain through windows. Advancements in tinted glass have now allowed us to make the glass appear just as a regular window that you can see through.

The tinted glass solution is also used in many vehicles and private rooms for privacy and to keep them cool in the summer to save on energy costs. When choosing a proper type of window frame, fiber glass is the number one choice. Fiberglass is the strongest material to use for the job and it also involves a smaller amount of maintenance compared to vinyl or wood. Glazes on windows are one of the newest methods for energy efficient windows.

Glazing is a way of changed the glass so that the light reflects off the window or absorbs the light and brings it into the building. Photo-chromic is the best product for glazing, as it can be switched so that it both reflects the light and absorbs it. Photo-chromic is a product called a switchable glazing. All switchable glazing products are useful for reducing cooling loads and for minimizing the shine off the sun from coming in the house. It would be most useful is Saskatchewan because it brings heat into the house for the winter, and also protects heat from coming in during the summer.

Windows should be made longer on the south side of the house and smaller on the other sides. Don't use low e glass on south windows, but low e glass on the other sides of the house is fine. North windows should be made large to bring in the sun light. East and West windows should have shade to protect the winds from coming into the building. The advantages of energy efficient windows are that they reduce heat loss in wintertime and reduce heat gain in the summer time. Lights Energy efficient lights are used in homes because they: 1.

Use less energy than standard bulbs 2. Lower the electrical bills 3. Produce just as much light as standard bulbs 4. Last longer than regular light bulbs Fluorescent bulbs are more efficient than regular bulbs because they don't produce as much heat. They are thin lights that are tubular shaped. Their life span is 10,000 to 20,000 hours, which means that they last 10 times longer than the regular bulb.

Compact fluorescent bulbs provide just as much light as standard bulbs but they use one fourth (1/4) the energy. For example, a 15-watt compact bulb produces the same amount of light as a 60-watt normal bulb. Just like the fluorescent bulb, they are energy efficient and less heat is given off from them. Lights in a year don't usually show up as a heavy expense on your electrical bill.

A standard bulb costs about $4.80 a year to use (not including the cost of a bulb). A compact fluorescent bulb may only cost $1.20 a year to use. But when you think about it, having 10 bulbs in your house can equal up to 50 dollars where 10 fluorescent lights will only cost you 15 dollars or so. Solar Energy Solar energy is designed to bring the sunlight into the building during the winter. Once the sunlight is converted into energy, it is stored until night, when it is most needed. Solar energy was made to make the building warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

When using solar energy, your heating and air-conditioning costs can be reduced. The solar panels absorb the light from the sun, where they are taken into the home and into a converter where they are changed to energy and then used throughout the home in your lighting fixtures, heater, Air-conditioner, water heater, and electrical outlets. Passive solar energy is done without using solar panels. Passive solar energy is taking a stone wall or floor and absorbing the heat throughout the day. At night the heat that the wall or floor has absorbed, is released. Dark things are very vital when dealing with solar energy because if the wall or furniture isn't dark enough, the house will not absorb the heat and the solar energy has been wasted.

Dark tiles, dark stained wood, dark colored carpet, dark walls, and dark upholstery help to make the least amount of solar power to be wasted. On the exterior of the home, avoid planting too many trees or plants that will block the suns light. Evergreens are advised to be planted on the east, west, and north sides of the house. To store the passive solar energy, use an 8' thick slab of thick concrete.

Underneath the concrete you should have 2' of foam to retain the heat stored. The other half underneath the concrete should be made of steel and contain a special material that stores a lot of energy as well. The side of the wall facing the window should have a piece of black chrome on it. It is also common for a storage wall to contain water instead of foam. Insulation Using energy efficient insulation is one of the fastest and most cost-efficient ways to use a whole house approach to reduce energy waste and save money. A good insulation system includes a combination of products and construction techniques that if used correctly, can make the air in your home cleaner, keep the home warm, and control moisture.

By properly insulating your home, you can also save 30%. There are four main types of insulation-baths, rolls, loose-fill, and rigid foam boards. All different types are made to fit in a different area of the building. Batts are made to be placed between studs in the wall.

They are also placed between the rafters of your ceiling or floor. Batts are usually made with fiberglass (made from sand and recycled glass) or rock wool (made from basaltic rock and recycled material from steel). Rolls, also called blankets, are to be used in the attic floors. Rolls are most commonly made of fiberglass. Loose-fill insulation is more of a liquid form of insulation and can be blown into the attic or walls.

It is made out of fiberglass, rock wool, or cellulose. Rigid foam boards are a type of insulation that isn't fluffy like usual insulation, but is hard or stiff. It is made out of various polystyrene products. The boards are light weight and provide formation support to the building. The most cost effective way to insulate the building is to add insulation to the attic. To test and make sure that there is enough insulation, measure the thickness of it.

The insulation in the attic should be at least 13 inches thick (7' fiber glass or rock wool, 6' cellulose). Outside the building, one of the most energy efficient ways to insulate the home is to waterproof the building. You should caulk, seal, and weatherstrip all seams, cracks, and openings outside. This will minimize air leaks, saving about 10% off your energy bill. Source % Of Leaks Windows 10 Doors 11 Fans & Vents 4 Fireplace 14 Floors, Walls, Ceiling 31 Electric Outlets 2 Ducts 15 Plumbing Penetrations 13 Aerated concrete is one of the newest insulation technics on the market. Aerated concrete is a lightweight, molded concrete, that is hardened in molds and cured in an autoclave (a pressurized steam chamber).

The concrete is almost like rigid foam board insulation, but is more foamy and is made in molds. It provides greater insulation and increases sound consumption. It also conserves cement and protects insect damage from happening. Another new method of insulation is using transparent insulation.

Not only does this new product insulate the building, but it also gains heat from solar radiation. It is recommended to be placed on windows or large walls. One of the greatest benefits is that the transparent insulation increases interior wall temperatures, which then decreases wall condensation. It increases the insulation on glazes and exterior walls. Appliances Dishwashers The energy that is used by dishwashers is the energy that is needed to be used for heating the water they use. Efficient dishwashers use either less water than regular dishwashers, or they heat the water themselves.

Clothes Washers A new type of clothes washers have brought in a great way to save water and energy. They are called horizontal-axis washers. The horizontal-axis washers are used most commonly where water is scarce, but now these machines are being brought to the Canadian market. The reason that these products are so energy efficient is because they are unlike a top-loading washing machine that needs the water to be filled to the top of the tub to get all of the clothes wet. When the washing machine is horizontal, the tub rolls the clothes into the water instead. Therefore, they use much less water.

Air Conditioners Room air conditioners are very energy efficient for smaller homes. They are placed individually in rooms so not only are they portable but they cut down on wiring. Central air conditioners are rated by the Seasonal Energy Efficient Ratio. The higher the rating the better the air conditioner. By following the ratings, you can more efficiently buy an air conditioner. Heat Pumps Heat pumps not only provide heat in the winter, but they also provide cooling in the summer.

They don't always work that well in a climate that has sub-freezing temperatures. They are also rated like central air conditioners, which means that the higher the rating the higher the energy efficiency. Water Heaters When buying a water heater, you should keep in mind the capacity of how much water it can hold. The water heater should provide enough hot water for the busiest time of the day. The capacity of a water heater to meet the insists for hot water is indicated by its 'first hour rating'. The rating accounts for the effects of the tank size and the speed by which cold water is heated.

Furnaces A furnace can be a very efficient source for energy. A furnace uses a lot of energy in order to run its fan and to move the air around the building. Furnaces can be placed into two main groups: power combustion and condensing furnaces. Power combustion furnaces are 80-82% energy efficient, where condensing furnaces are 90% energy efficient. Condensing furnaces are proven to be the most energy efficient in areas with long winters. Refrigerators A lot of new refrigerators are energy efficient.

But there is still many variations from model to model. An ENERGY STAR label can help you identify how energy efficient they are. Side-by-side refrigerators and freezers use a lot of energy when compared to models with the freezer on the top. Special features like an ice maker or a water dispenser, can add to the energy amount that the refrigerator uses. The bigger the unit the bigger the energy bill, so therefore a refrigerator that uses minimum space is better. Older refrigerators can waste your energy and therefore, you should stick to newer models.

Water A heating and cooling system that places a heat pump in each building zone. A recirculating piping system connects the heat pump. The piping adds and removes heat to the water. Not everyone has running water neat their homes. Water generators are the most reliable source of renewable energy.

People with running water 1 or 2 turbines is all you need to keep their homes powered. DC (direct current) powered water pumps is a must have if you want home power. DC pumps are widely used in the navy and RV applications where the electrical system is usually powered by a deep cycle battery. Did you know... that if the water is hot enough it will melt a type of tube but they do not use it anymore. Air Conditioning & Heating Air conditioning efficiency is just as important as heat. Central air and heat pumps are rated by a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating.

The higher the SEER, the better the unit. The efficiency of room air conditioners is measured by EER, Energy Efficiency Rating. The needles of these machines are so small that sudden temperature changes could damage or break it. There are 3 main types of air conditioners that work for all seasons. Air conditioners provide clean air and keep moisture at a normal level. Air conditioners are being used for smoke control in commercial building for fires.

A gas driven chiller is an air conditioning chiller powered by a natural gas engine. One with a gas powered engine runs much like an electric engine motor. Ones that use gas are more than electric chillers. Heating and cooling buildings rely primarily on radiation heat transfer. Conventional radiators have been used for a long time to heat buildings.

New metal radiant's can be mounted to the ceiling but will cost more. The storage tank is kept at the desired temperature, 140^0 F (60^0 C). Natural gas fired burners are cheaper and are more efficient, the prices dropped 30%. The burner also has 'Wet Base'. It exchanges heat, captures all of the burner heat, and reduces the loss of heat to the floor. When fossil fuels are burned for heat nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide is made.

That is what creates a hole in the ozone and acid rain. A storage water heater (typically gas fired), that provides space and water heating. All space heating piping has to be made for portable water. Placement The energy efficiency of a house also depends on where in is placed, and where windows, rooms, and appliances are placed. Before you build your home, it is recommended that you ask your builder for a House Energy Rating. The rating shows the efficiency of a house through stars.

The best rating that you can get for your house is five stars. The building is rated upon where it is placed, what kind of wiring the house will have, and what the house is being made of. Before deciding what the house will look like, you should choose a plot of land. The plot should be already damaged if possible because that way you aren't damaging a new plot of land and you reuse the broken land. There should also be a lot of light coming into the area because this will save on lighting costs.

Having lots of sunlight is a big factor if you are planning to have solar panels. To decide where each room is placed you should consider the wiring plans. By putting the rooms together that use similar things you can cut down on how much electrical wire is used. For instance, rooms that use hot water should be placed near each other to have more efficient use of the water system. The day living areas should be placed to the north where the most sunlight will be coming in.

That way you cut down on lighting. The most common mistakes are made when designing the inside of your home. The way to prevent these mistakes from happening is to plan ahead. Record all of your ideas and plans down then later you can go over them with your builder and decide which one suits the house best. Avoid open plan living where all rooms are not divided by walls and the house is all one room. It leads to high heating costs and less privacy.

Windows are a major part of the building so you should carefully consider where each one goes and what size it is. Windows to the north should be large to bring in as much sunlight as possible. The windows on the east and the west should be small and have good shading in the summer. The windows that are placed on the south side should be small to avoid bringing in too much wind. Also, as many windows as possible should be able to be opened for cross-ventilation. Building Structure When you start to make your building you should look into what type of products you are going to use.

The conventional wood building is not what the future has in store for energy efficient housing. There are now various products that you can use that can absorb the energy and turn the energy into a usable product. By using durable products and materials that last longer, you can cut down on solid waste problems and save time on maintenance and energy. For rooms that occasionally need heating use lightweight materials (timber, plasterboard). This will allow the rooms to quickly heat up and cool down. You should use concrete floors and internal masonry walls to stabilize temperatures for rooms with windows facing north.

Earth sheltered buildings are becoming a new trend in many places around North America. They are proven to be less susceptible to the outdoor extreme weather temperatures, so therefore can withstand anything from the outdoors. The earth sheltered building works by digging the building right into the ground or into the side of a mountain or hill. Inside the house, the temperature is more stable, and it gives a natural heating and cooling.

With an earth sheltered home, there is less outside maintenance and doesn't destroy the surrounding area. The home will build up natural sound proofing, and when compared to wooden buildings, will cost less to run. The only problem is with the method is that there may be moisture problems on the interior of the house. Concrete houses are an old method of housing that is one of the most energy efficient. Concrete is a strong and durable material that last a long time and one of the many benefactors is that the insurance rates for concrete houses are much less. The houses are strong, soundproof, resist water and moisture, dust and allergen free, 98% pollution free, don't burn, and are rarely effected by high winds.

The are also great insulators and provide thermal mass. Concrete houses also help to lower the costs of heating and air conditioning of up to 50%. The flooring of your home is also important on how the home is put together. A double floor (the floor includes two levels), or a secondary floor cuts down on wiring. By running the electrical wires throughout the flooring you are saving space. It also reduces the use of an energy fan.

The floor panels are removable and installed easily. Therefore they are great for rooms that need lots of ventilation. Air tight commercial construction is a method of constructing buildings to minimize air leaks. By finding and identifying the air leak problems you can cut down on energy costs. It also minimizes moisture, durability is increased, there are no water leaks from windows or cracks, gives a higher humidity, protects against bugs and insects. All it takes to make your building airtight is to provide an air barrier.

Electrical Wiring Electrical wiring is the main source of energy efficiency. The first thing that you should do is get an engine generator, so that if your system breaks down you have a back up. Another plan is to get a storage battery that can save your energy until it is needed. That way no energy is wasted. Misc. Avoid covering the conductors of your wiring with insulation.

Use a tamper-resistant, time delay, dual element, Type S fuse to protect circuits from over fusing, by strangers to the home. You should also design your building to use renewable energy so that you reuse the energy again and again. By using electrical equipment that contains copper you don't loose as much energy off as heat. The electrical equipment should also be the right size for what you are using, so you should also talk to your electrician for advice. You can also save energy by using motion censoring for doors and sinks. The dining rooms and foyers should have dim-able light switches.

Another way to save a lot of energy is to make a master switch at the front door that turns off all lights. That way you never leave a light on when you aren't at home. You should use natural gas cook tops and ovens to cut down on electricity. Wind Turbines Wind turbines can be very useful in bringing energy into your home. They are especially useful when solar panels aren't working. They take the wind speed from oceans, lakes, dugouts, or rivers and turn it into energy.

To use the wind turbines most efficiently you should set up a wind power system. Energy Efficient Motors Energy efficient motors use more copper and iron than regular motors. They also consume less energy than regular motors.