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, whats 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 pannels
Bioclimatic
elements
.....
Direct solar gain
Thermal 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. Dont allow frost
to build up more than 3mm thick.

Buildings Handbook
Questions?
Any questions left?