Energy Efficiency Applications in Buildings
Energy Efficiency Regulation
Energy efficiency; It is to reduce energy consumption without changing the living standard and service quality. Efficiency is ensured in every work where the same product output is achieved with less energy input. In order to prevent the rapid depletion of energy resources, savings should be made in all areas. In buildings, this energy conservation is legally provided by Building Energy Performance Regulations. According to this regulation, all buildings constructed as of 2011 fall into the new building category. As required by the regulation, studies to improve energy performance are obligatory in order to use energy efficiently in all newly constructed buildings. In addition, by 2020, according to the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive, all new buildings must be in an almost zero energy class. Improvements are made in the areas of heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, CO₂ emissions and hot water for buildings, depending on climatic conditions, architectural design and insulation standards. The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization also provides support for these studies in terms of incentives and financing. These studies are kept up-to-date with the developing technology.
What are Energy Efficiency Applications in Buildings?
- External wall insulation made according to the climate zone in which the building is located directly affects the efficient use of energy. For example; Insulation applied in two different thicknesses to a building with the same architectural and mechanical system features in the same location causes a great change in the energy performance of the building.
- When the insulation thickness is increased at appropriate levels, a decrease in energy losses is observed.
- Roof insulation comes to the fore first, in order of importance in terms of insulation. Maintaining the indoor air heated in winter based on the principle of rising air depends on the insulation properties of the roof. For this reason, an insulated roof under the best conditions reduces the energy loss by reducing the heating load.
- It is important that windows and doors do not leak the ambient air. Therefore, today, the use of double glazing and double glazing is widespread and heat losses are reduced.
- The suitability of the mechanical systems to the project to which they will be applied should also be taken into account. For example, preferring the use of condensing combi boilers instead of standard combi boilers reduces the energy consumed for heating by reducing the fuel consumption used in heating. Or, choosing the fuel used in central heating systems as natural gas instead of coal, increasing the use of renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, thermal energy are among the studies aimed at increasing energy efficiency.
- In addition, the selection of radiators to be used in heating systems should be appropriate and regular maintenance should be done.
- It should be preferred to meet the ventilation need with natural ventilation. In compressed air systems, on the other hand, the idle time of the devices should be reduced, the air quality should be kept under suitable conditions, and leak checks should be made periodically.
- The excessive use of the devices used for cooling should be reduced and should be used when the outdoor temperature is below 30 ℃. The appropriate average temperature value during use should be kept constant as 24 ℃.
- It should be noted that the technological devices used in the houses with A energy class should be preferred and that they do not consume energy outside of their usage period.
- Apart from these, suitable energy-saving lighting systems should be chosen to meet the lighting need in buildings with minimum consumption.
- The compliance of the architectural design of the buildings with the energy efficiency standards is also among the important data. The duration and angle of the building to see the sun all day long are among the issues to be considered in this regard.