This report aims at the energy and carbon emission reduction of the projected office building of the client.
Climate Change is a topic that recently gets a lot of attention throughout all levels of economy, society and policies. Policy targets are "set to achieve a reduction of harming carbon emissions. The pursuit towards these targets has become en vogue as it creates" green images, for example, of companies.
In order to reduce corporate emissions the company’s building stock can be designed carbon efficiently. Great consumers of energy in an office are the air-conditioning equipment and the lighting devices. Therefore these systems offer a high potential of carbon emission reduction. Progress of technology provides a great range of newly developed approaches to reduce energy demand and to minimize emission from energy generation.
Table of Contents
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2. INTRODUCTION
3. CHARACTERISATION OF PROPOSAL A AND POSSIBLE MODIFICATIONS
Strategy 1) --- Super Insulated ---
Strategy 2) --- Passive Solar Design ---
Strategy 3) --- Natural Ventilation ---
Strategy 4) --- Daylighting ---
Strategy 5) ---- Cellular Office ----
4. CARBON EMISSIONS
5. PASSIVE DESIGN FEASIBILITY
External environment
Building orientation
Building facade
External solar shadings
Internal heat gains
Humidity Control
Range of inside temperatures
6. ALTERNATIVE LOW ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
Ground source heat pump (GSHP)
Air-ground-coupling
Air-slab-coupling
Chilled Beams / Ceilings
Displacement ventilation
7. NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING
8. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Objectives and Core Topics
This assignment aims to evaluate and optimize the energy performance and carbon emissions of a proposed commercial office building. The primary research goal is to identify and integrate effective design strategies that minimize environmental impact while maintaining functional office requirements.
- Reduction of carbon emissions and energy demand
- Evaluation of passive design feasibility
- Implementation of low-energy technologies
- Optimization of natural and artificial lighting systems
- Structural modifications for improved thermal performance
Excerpt from the Book
3. Characterisation of Proposal A and possible modifications
The existing and occupied building, denoted "Proposal A", is situated in the southeast of England – the warmest of England’s climates. It is sited in a business park at an outskirt of a city. This surrounding does not provide any noise or pollution problems for further design approaches.
The building comprises three storeys and its dimensions are 25m x 35m. This ensures a compact form and therefore a better thermal performance. The long side axis of the building faces east-west. Consequently the building faces south and gains a great amount of solar heat which is desirable in winter but increase the cooling load in summer.
Proposal A is erected in a skeleton construction with a 5m x 5m grid of steel pillars and concrete floors/roof. The exposed infill between the pillars is made up mainly by lightweight fibreglass slabs. Although this is lightweight, the building provides with its 150mm concrete ceilings a good potential of thermal mass. This can be used the keep inside temperatures in a small fluctuation range.
Chapter Summaries
1. Executive Summary: Provides an overview of the report's aim to reduce carbon emissions through five design strategies, passive design integration, and low-energy technologies.
2. Introduction: Outlines the context of climate change, the necessity of corporate emission reduction, and introduces the specific case study of "Proposal A".
3. Characterisation of Proposal A and possible modifications: Details the building's current physical state and suggests five specific strategies (Super Insulated, Passive Solar Design, Natural Ventilation, Daylighting, and Cellular Office) to enhance efficiency.
4. Carbon Emissions: Analyzes the current carbon output of Proposal A and estimates potential reductions using various design adjustments and fuel source changes.
5. Passive Design Feasibility: Explores the environmental factors such as building orientation, facade design, and internal heat gains to determine the success of passive cooling and heating.
6. Alternative Low Energy Technologies: Discusses technical solutions like GSHP, air-ground coupling, and displacement ventilation for buildings where passive strategies are insufficient.
7. Natural and Artificial Lighting: Examines strategies for lowering lighting energy demand, including the transition to automated lighting control and more efficient equipment.
8. Conclusion and Recommendations: Synthesizes the findings, confirming that significant energy and carbon savings are achievable through an integrated, holistic design approach.
Keywords
Climate Change, Sustainable Development, Commercial Office Building, Carbon Emission Reduction, Passive Design, Thermal Mass, Natural Ventilation, Energy Efficiency, Daylight, Renewable Energy, Heat Pump, Displacement Ventilation, Building Fabric, Low Energy Technologies, Building Regulations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this assignment?
The assignment focuses on evaluating and improving the energy performance and carbon efficiency of a specific commercial office building, referred to as "Proposal A".
What are the key areas of interest in the building design?
The core themes include improving building fabric insulation, optimizing solar design, natural ventilation, daylighting strategies, and upgrading lighting and HVAC systems.
What is the main objective of the proposed modifications?
The goal is to achieve significant reductions in carbon emissions and energy consumption by applying a combination of passive design principles and alternative low-energy technologies.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The study utilizes comparative analysis of existing and improved building designs, energy modeling, and an evaluation of thermal performance based on standardized environmental guidelines.
What does the main body of the document address?
It covers the characterization of the existing building, five distinct optimization strategies, an analysis of carbon emissions, feasibility studies for passive design, and the implementation of specific low-energy technologies.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Sustainable Development, Carbon Emission Reduction, Passive Design, Natural Ventilation, and Energy Efficiency.
How does the building’s thermal mass contribute to energy savings?
The concrete ceilings act as a thermal mass that helps dampen internal temperature fluctuations, which can be utilized for night cooling and reducing the need for mechanical cooling.
Why is the "Cellular Office" strategy suggested?
Transitioning to a cellular structure can reduce noise pollution and significantly decrease energy consumption by minimizing the need for constant, large-scale air conditioning in unused spaces.
How does the author propose to improve the lighting system?
The author suggests using automated controls via a building management system, switching to tubular fluorescent or LED lighting, and maximizing natural light penetration through atria and light-shelves.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Bastian Görke (Autor:in), 2006, Energy Strategies for Buildings. Proposal for a Commercial Office Building, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1030676
