Handbook of Energy Efficiency in Buildings


Book Description

Handbook of Energy Efficiency in Buildings: A Life Cycle Approach offers a comprehensive and in-depth coverage of the subject with a further focus on the Life Cycle. The editors, renowned academics, invited a diverse group of researchers to develop original chapters for the book and managed to well integrate all contributions in a consistent volume. Sections cover the role of the building sector on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, international technical standards, laws and regulations, building energy efficiency and zero energy consumption buildings, the life cycle assessment of buildings, from construction to decommissioning, and other timely topics. The multidisciplinary approach to the subject makes it valuable for researchers and industry based Civil, Construction, and Architectural Engineers. Researchers in related fields as built environment, energy and sustainability at an urban scale will also benefit from the books integrated perspective. - Presents a complete and thorough coverage of energy efficiency in buildings - Provides an integrated approach to all the different elements that impact energy efficiency - Contains coverage of worldwide regulation




Energy Audit of Building Systems


Book Description

Updated to include recent advances, this third edition presents strategies and analysis methods for conserving energy and reducing operating costs in residential and commercial buildings. The book explores the latest approaches to measuring and improving energy consumption levels, with calculation examples and Case Studies. It covers field testing, energy simulation, and retrofit analysis of existing buildings. It examines subsystems—such as lighting, heating, and cooling—and techniques needed for accurately evaluating them. Auditors, managers, and students of energy systems will find this book to be an invaluable resource for their work. Explores state-of-the-art techniques and technologies for reducing energy combustion in buildings. Presents the latest energy efficiency strategies and established methods for energy estimation. Provides calculation examples that outline the application of the methods described. Examines the major building subsystems: lighting, heating, and air-conditioning. Addresses large-scale retrofit analysis approaches for existing building stocks. Introduces the concept of energy productivity to account for the multiple benefits of energy efficiency for buildings. Includes Case Studies to give readers a realistic look at energy audits. Moncef Krarti has vast experience in designing, testing, and assessing innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies applied to buildings. He graduated from the University of Colorado with both MS and PhD in Civil Engineering. Prof. Krarti directed several projects in designing energy-efficient buildings with integrated renewable energy systems. He has published over 3000 technical journals and handbook chapters in various fields related to energy efficiency, distribution generation, and demand-side management for the built environment. Moreover, he has published several books on building energy-efficient systems. Prof. Krarti is Fellow member to the American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the largest international professional society. He is the founding editor of the ASME Journal of Sustainable Buildings & Cities Equipment and Systems. Prof. Krarti has taught several different courses related to building energy systems for over 20 years in the United States and abroad. As a professor at the University of Colorado, Prof. Krarti has been managing the research activities of an energy management center at the school with an emphasis on testing and evaluating the performance of mechanical and electrical systems for residential and commercial buildings. He has also helped the development of similar energy efficiency centers in other countries, including Brazil, Mexico, and Tunisia. In addition, Prof. Krarti has extensive experience in promoting building energy technologies and policies overseas, including the establishment of energy research centers, the development of building energy codes, and the delivery of energy training programs in several countries.




Eco-efficient Materials for Mitigating Building Cooling Needs


Book Description

Climate change is one of the most important environmental problems faced by Planet Earth. The majority of CO2 emissions come from burning fossil fuels for energy production and improvements in energy efficiency shows the greatest potential for any single strategy to abate global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the energy sector. Energy related emissions account for almost 80% of the EU's total greenhouse gas emissions. The building sector is the largest energy user responsible for about 40% of the EU's total final energy consumption. In Europe the number of installed air conditioning systems has increased 500% over the last 20 years, but in that same period energy cooling needs have increased more than 20 times. The increase in energy cooling needs relates to the current higher living and working standards. In urban environments with low outdoor air quality (the general case) this means that in summer-time one cannot count on natural ventilation to reduce cooling needs. Do not forget the synergistic effect between heat waves and air pollution which means that outdoor air quality is worse in the summer aggravating cooling needs. Over the next few years this phenomenon will become much worse because more people will live in cities, more than 2 billion by 2050 and global warming will aggravate cooling needs. - An overview of materials to lessen the impact of urban heat islands - Excellent coverage of building materials to reduce air condtioning needs - Innovative products discussed such as Thermo and Electrochromic materials




Sustainability in Construction: LEED Green Associate Certification Preparation


Book Description

Learn the latest eco-friendly construction practices and study for the certification exam This comprehensive guide covers green design and building techniques for the construction industry and contains all the tools you need to prep for certification. Sustainability in Construction: LEED Green Associate Certification Preparation targets the many disciplines of environmentally friendly building, including construction, engineering, architecture, business management, real estate, and marketing. The book features complete explanations of sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy, materials, indoor environmental quality, and much more. You will also get an accurate mock-up LEED Green Associate Exam complete with answers. Coverage includes: An overview of green construction practices Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) core concepts United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and LEED fundamentals Location and Transportation (LT) Sustainable Sites (SS) Water Efficiency (WE) Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Materials and Resources (MR) Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Innovation (IN) and Regional Priority (RP) LEED Green Associate study materials, including a complete practice exam







Real Prospects for Energy Efficiency in the United States


Book Description

America's economy and lifestyles have been shaped by the low prices and availability of energy. In the last decade, however, the prices of oil, natural gas, and coal have increased dramatically, leaving consumers and the industrial and service sectors looking for ways to reduce energy use. To achieve greater energy efficiency, we need technology, more informed consumers and producers, and investments in more energy-efficient industrial processes, businesses, residences, and transportation. As part of the America's Energy Future project, Real Prospects for Energy Efficiency in the United States examines the potential for reducing energy demand through improving efficiency by using existing technologies, technologies developed but not yet utilized widely, and prospective technologies. The book evaluates technologies based on their estimated times to initial commercial deployment, and provides an analysis of costs, barriers, and research needs. This quantitative characterization of technologies will guide policy makers toward planning the future of energy use in America. This book will also have much to offer to industry leaders, investors, environmentalists, and others looking for a practical diagnosis of energy efficiency possibilities.




Metal Electrodeposition


Book Description

Electrochemistry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the chemical action of electricity and the production of electricity by chemical reactions. In a world short of energy sources yet long on energy use, electrochemistry is a critical component of the mix necessary to keep the world economies growing. Electrochemistry is involved with such important applications as batteries, fuel cells, corrosion studies, hydrogen energy conversion, and bioelectricity. Research on electrolytes, cells, and electrodes is within the scope of this old but extremely dynamic field. This book details advances in metal electrodeposition.




Passive Cooling of Buildings


Book Description

Energy use in buildings in the EU represents about 40% of the total annual energy consumption. With greater awareness of the need to reduce energy consumption comes a growth of interest in passive cooling, particularly as an alternative to air-conditioning. This book describes the fundamentals of passive cooling together with the principles and formulae necessary for its successful implementation. The material is comprised largely of information and results compiled under the SAVE European Research Programme.




The New Net Zero


Book Description

The new threshold for green building is not just low energy, it's net-zero energy. In The New Net Zero, sustainable architect Bill Maclay charts the path for designers and builders interested in exploring green design's new-frontier net-zero-energy structures that produce as much energy as they consume and are carbon neutral. In a nation where traditional buildings use roughly 40 percent of the total fossil energy, the interest in net-zero building is growing enormously--among both designers interested in addressing climate change and consumers interested in energy efficiency and long-term savings. Maclay, an award-winning net-zero designer whose buildings have achieved high-performance goals at affordable costs, makes the case for a net-zero future; explains net-zero building metrics, integrated design practices, and renewable energy options; and shares his lessons learned on net-zero teambuilding. Designers and builders will find a wealth of state-of-the-art information on such considerations as air, water, and vapor barriers; embodied energy; residential and commercial net-zero standards; monitoring and commissioning; insulation options; costs; and more. The comprehensive overview is accompanied by several case studies, which include institutional buildings, commercial projects, and residences. Both new-building and renovation projects are covered in detail. The New Net Zero is geared toward professionals exploring net-zero design, but also suitable for nonprofessionals seeking ideas and strategies on net-zero options that are beautiful and renewably powered.




Annual Energy Outlook 2010, with Projections To 2035


Book Description

Where the Wind Blows Us unites critical practice with a community-based approach to archaeology. Author Natasha Lyons describes an inclusive archaeology that rests on a flexible but rigorous approach to research design and demonstrates a responsible, ethical practice. She traces the rise and application of community archaeologies, develops a wide-ranging set of methods for community practice, and maps out a “localized critical theory” that is suited to the needs of local and descendant communities as they pursue self-defined heritage goals. Localized critical theory aims to decenter the focus on global processes of capitalism in favor of the local processes of community dynamics. Where the Wind Blows Us emphasizes the role of individuals and the relationships they share with communities of the past and present. Lyons offers an extended case study of her work with the Inuvialuit community of the Canadian Western Arctic. She documents the development of this longstanding research relationship and presents both the theoretical and practical products of the work to date. Integrating knowledge drawn from archaeology, ethnography, oral history, and community interviews, Lyons utilizes a multivocal approach that actively listens to Inuvialuit speak about their rich and textured history. The overall significance of this volume lies in outlining a method of practicing archaeology that embraces local ways of knowing with a critically constructed and evolving methodology that is responsive to community needs. It will serve as a handbook to mine for elements of critical practice, a model of community-based archaeology, and a useful set of concepts and examples for classroom study.