Economic and Environmental integration and optimization of biomass based CHP and micro CHP into HVAC systems, using life cycle assessment methodology
Global climate change, a growing population, decreasing availability of fossil fuels increasing environmental and economic concerns regarding energy use are driving forces towards more sustainable ways of responding to energy demands (Li et al., 2011). Energy consumption is widely increasing all around the world resulting in rising of the energy price and global environmental problem. It is estimated that the world energy consumption will increase from 522 EJ in 2006 to 570 EJ in 2015 and 730 EJ in 2030. Due to the rising energy demand and diminishing energy resources, sustainability and energy conservation are becoming increasingly important topics (Conti et al., 2013). Governments and businesses are starting to pay more attention to the role of energy in the design, development and operation of buildings and whole communities.
Buildings currently stand for almost 40% of entire energy consumption in the world therefore there is a great energy saving potential in buildings (Europe’s buildings under the microscope e a country-by-country review of the energy performance of buildings. Buildings Performance Institute Europe, 2011).
Residential sector is one of the major energy consumers in Canada and is responsible for 77% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for space heating and cooling, and hot water.
Canada has planned to
Energy has easily become one of the most important necessities for our everyday lives. Without it we would simply not be able to have transportation or be able to gather any of our other resources that we depend on. If at anytime our energy supply ceases or no longer attainable the results may be horrific. However, it is quite easy to keep this from happening, It is crucial that our current population realize the importance of sustaining our present non-renewable resources. An examination of all the present energy issues and human impacts of energy conservation along with the a resource plan will show importance of energy
As the global population increases exponentially, having passed six billion in 1999, the world population is expected to be 8.9 billion by the year 2050. The worlds energy consumption will increase by an estimated 54 percent by 2025. Energy demand in the industrialized world is projected to grow 1.2 percent per year. Energy is a critical component of sustained economic growth and improved standards of living. One of the major requirements for sustaining human progress is an adequate source of energy. As the world’s technological enhancements and standards of living improve, so too does their appetite for electricity.
Being environmentally friendly isn’t merely a trend. After thousands of years of using the earth’s resources, we have finally come to realize that we are destroying this beautiful gift we were honored with. Architects play an influential role in trying to preserve this gift by encouraging a multitude of strategies that can be more cost efficient in the long run, be more comfortable for its users, and most importantly, have a lower carbon footprint. Strategies can include drastic changes to heat and air systems, construction material selections, or even specific design details to the architecture of a building that would reduce the amount of energy it consumes.
Energy use by buildings would be reduced by a Factor 10 or more below that of conventional buildings. The purpose of factor 10 is a long-term
Wind energy is, “a renewable resource and has no fuel cost”, which helps the wind energy industry rise to prominence (American). With the low prices of wind energy, it is becoming an affordable form of electricity, although it still isn’t a main component in regards to energy production. Hydropower is the United States, “largest source of renewable electricity”; the most common type is conventional, which is typically associated with dams (Valley). Although hydropower is the most prominent green energy source in the United States, it doesn’t take away from the outrageous prices that go along with having this type of energy. Solar energy is the last main source of green energy. There isn’t as much research regarding this industry, because it isn’t as developed as the others. However, millions of dollars have been granted to try and better its development (Howell). Green buildings are structures that, “aim to reduce the negative impacts on the environment through using less natural resources to build and operate” (Dwaikat). These eco-boosting buildings incorporate each of the common types of green energy, however in some cases, they “don’t perform as predicted” (Dwaikat). In a case study over green buildings, it was found that they, “used around 160% more energy than expected”, which became a trend for the majority of the buildings (Dwaikat).
Green buildings could become one of the main factors to preserve our rapidly decaying environment. There is no easy way to define a green building, but a green building is essentially a structure that amplifies the positives and mitigates the negatives throughout the entire life cycle of the building (Kriss, 2014). There are many definitions for a green building, but all of them include the planning, designing, constructing, and operating of the building while taking into huge considerations of the energy use, water use, indoor air environment, materials used and the effect it has on the site the green building is being built on. The first green buildings dates back to as far as the 1970’s, when solar panels went from experiments to reality. Green buildings were not as popular as they are today due to their extremely high pricing. With technology rapidly growing, solar panels are becoming cheaper and cheaper, making the transition to creating green buildings more affordable. This is the primary reason for the increased growth of green buildings today. A modern company that is paving the way to the growth of green buildings named LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, focuses primarily on new and effective ideas for environmentally friendly buildings projects. With more than 60,000 commercial projects worldwide and 1.7 million square feet being certified every day, LEED is one of the leading groups for promoting green buildings. LEED has popularized the entire
The source acknowledges about the different gadgets or techs that are available for inhabitants to conserve energy. The author has provided with detailed information about each technology that he has written about and has additionally proposed readers with companies that make these technologies. For instance, the author has suggested that buying Nest thermostat is the best option for people that intend to buy smart a thermostat.
According to the article, the single largest chunk of energy consumption is in the heating and cooling of buildings. This amounts to 31% of total final energy consumption. It mentions a man named “Mr. Liebreich” who had difficulty findings builders who were skilled in energy savings techniques. He had to follow them around to ensure they were properly taping the insulating boards and follow other energy saving techniques.
The energy consumption on the Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and refrigeration systems are fleetly ceaselessly increasing. Department of Environment and Energy (2013) stated that the energy consumption in Australia on the HVAC was approximately 40% and 70% of the base building consumption in 2012. Moreover, a research conducted in Paris projected that 15% of the generated electricity world wildly is utilized for air conditioning and refrigeration systems (Choudhury et al. 2010).
This report is an analysis of the energy inefficiency of a brick three storey terraced town house built around 1880 circa, and how the dwellings can be made efficient to meet required targets of 114MtCO2 by 2020 and also to comply with the Energy Act 2011 for the private rented sector
Changing the way energy in buildings is monitored, controlled and consumed can bring down CO2 emissions and reduce costs (Faucheux & Nicolaï, 2011) .
Humans today are using much more electricity than we need to in our houses and this is impacting our world more then we realise. Although electricity is a huge advantage to humans it has the complete opposite effects on our environment. By using more electricity, we are using more of the earth’s resources and if we keep going down this road then we are going to run out. The solution for this mass overuse of energy is to build houses which are more energy efficient. Features like LED lightbulbs, insulating and even positioning your house in the correct position for natural airflow instead of using air conditioning are all ways we can help improve this problem.
Energy is a crucial necessity and with the ever increasing need for it and the high and fluctuating prices of oil, researchers are constantly coming up with newer and more sophisticated alternative sources of energy. However, energy comes at a cost, as it is either expensive or it possesses high health risks. This essay presents the concept of energy by discussing the two major types of energy, the various forms it could take, including renewable sources of energy, energy conservation and above all it talks about the safest and cleanest alternatives.
Mr Xu Shaohua, Project Manager, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute (China) Innovation in Energy Efficiency for a Low Carbon City Ir Dr Gento Mogi, Associate Professor, Department of Technology Management for Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo Panel Discussion Moderator: Ms Carolyn Szum, BEC Energy Advisory Group Member/ Lead Managing Consultant, ICF International - China Panellists: - Mr Gailius Draugelis, Lead Energy Specialist, China & Mongolia Sustainable Development Unit, Beijing, East Asia and Pacific Region, The World Bank - Mr Jim Taylor, Head of Strategic Planning & Regulatory Affairs, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited - Ms Yukari Yamashita, Board Member, Director, The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan - Mr Xu Shaohua, Project Manager, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute (China) - Ir Dr Gento Mogi, Associate Professor, Department of Technology Management for Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo - Mr Charles Yonts, Head of Sustainable Research, CLSA Networking Luncheon – 12:15pm to 1:30pm
Nearly three billion people worldwide rely on biomass fuels (2.4 billion) and coal (0.4 billion) burnt inefficiently on open fires or simple stoves. These traditional household energy practices have dramatic consequences for health, the environment and socio-economic development. Ensuring access to clean and efficient household energy is therefore a major and urgent challenge faced by low- and middle-income countries. Energy is a key factor for economic and social development. Worldwide, more than two billion people lack access to sustainable and modern energy technologies, (Amigun et al, 2008). In African energy sector, reform is rampant, institutional roles are shifting and new players are entering the market. Rising prices of crude oils and its related pollution which has seen decline in ozone layer has seen many countries adopting renewable methods to substitute this. Othere energy sources like electricity are still out of reach by many people. energy needs of the developing world have to be met in a sustainable manner. The invention and diffusion of green energy technologies in developing countries is one of the strategies perceived as instrumental in combating the negative effects related to the use of traditional hearths (Rwiza, 2009).