What is Energy Efficiency in Architecture? Active and Passive Systems
Energy efficiency is one of the fundamental principles of the sustainable architecture approach and is an important issue that must be addressed together with the environmental awareness and resource saving required by this approach.
This system is a design strategy that aims to save energy by reducing the energy consumption of buildings. Energy efficient buildings not only save energy but also create an environmentally friendly living space by reducing carbon footprints.
There are two basic design strategies used to achieve these:
1-Passive design strategies
2- Active design strategies
Passive design strategies aim to reduce energy consumption by taking advantage of the natural features of buildings. For example, correctly positioned windows and a properly designed roof can reduce the energy consumption required for heating and cooling buildings by ensuring effective use of solar radiation.
Active design strategies include technological solutions used to increase the energy efficiency of buildings. For example, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, photovoltaic panels, wind turbines and other renewable energy sources can be used to reduce energy consumption.
Another strategy used for energy efficiency is the use of energy efficient materials. Energy efficient materials save energy by reducing heat transfer. For example, insulated walls, double-glazed windows, high-efficiency lighting systems, energy-efficient electronic devices, and energy-efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems can be used to save energy.
Implementing energy-efficient design strategies can reduce buildings’ energy consumption by 30% to 50%. In addition, some of the investment costs can be recovered in a short time, as energy efficient design provides savings in the long term.
PASSIVE DESIGN SYSTEMS
Passive design strategies used for energy efficiency aim to reduce energy consumption by taking advantage of the natural features of buildings. Below are examples of passive design strategies:
Properly placed windows: Windows are used to provide natural lighting of buildings. Properly placed windows can reduce the energy consumption required for heating and cooling buildings by ensuring effective use of sunlight. Direction, size and glass properties of windows are factors that affect the thermal performance of buildings.
Correctly designed roof: Roofs are used to provide thermal insulation of buildings. A properly designed roof helps regulate the internal temperature of buildings by reflecting and shading the sun’s rays. Additionally, the heat absorption properties of roofing materials can increase the energy efficiency of buildings.
Insulated walls: Insulated walls are used to provide thermal insulation of buildings. Insulation materials prevent the hot air inside the walls from escaping or the cold outside air from entering. This saves energy by reducing the energy consumption of buildings.
Use of thermal mass: Thermal mass of buildings is an important factor regulating the temperature of the indoor environment. Thermal mass is determined by the density and heat capacity of materials such as concrete, brick or stone. These materials help regulate the indoor temperature of buildings by absorbing and storing solar radiation.
Properly placed trees and plants: Trees and plants can be used to increase the energy efficiency of buildings. Properly placed trees and plants provide shading from buildings, preventing direct sunlight from penetrating. Additionally, green areas create an environmentally friendly living space by increasing the environmental performance of buildings.
Properly designed ventilation system: The ventilation system is important to ensure the indoor air quality of buildings and reduce energy consumption. A properly designed ventilation system can increase the energy efficiency of buildings by using natural ventilation and passive cooling techniques.
These passive design strategies aim to create an environmentally friendly living space by increasing the energy efficiency of buildings. Passive design strategies save energy and reduce energy costs while increasing the sustainability of buildings. Additionally, these strategies improve the indoor environmental quality of buildings and effectively manage issues such as temperature, humidity and ventilation.
ACTIVE DESIGN SYSTEMS
In addition to passive design strategies, active design systems are another method used to increase the energy efficiency of buildings. Active design systems are designed to increase the energy efficiency of buildings using mechanical and electrical systems. Some common active design systems are:
Air conditioning systems: Air conditioning systems are used to manage the internal environment of buildings. HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems are used to meet the heating and cooling needs of particularly large buildings. These systems must be properly designed and operated correctly to increase energy efficiency.
Lighting systems: Lighting plays an important role in the energy consumption of buildings. More efficient lighting systems, such as LED lighting, can be used to reduce energy consumption. Natural lighting features of buildings can also be used to reduce energy consumption.
Renewable energy systems: Renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy and hydroelectric energy can be used to increase the energy efficiency of buildings. These systems use devices such as solar panels, wind turbines and hydroelectric generators to meet the energy needs of buildings.
Energy transfer between buildings: Energy transfer between buildings is another active design system used to increase energy efficiency. This system allows heat and cold to be transferred between buildings and reduces energy consumption.
Active design systems are important for energy efficiency but can be difficult to implement due to their high cost. Therefore, best results are achieved when used in conjunction with passive design strategies.
