Apr 29 2008

Energy Solutions for Various Types of Buildings Part 4 Posted by Angela Baker in energy efficiency, energy

In attempt to spread the solutions that the Department of Energy has so graciously posted on their website, the past several posts have been on the topic of ways to make your building more energy efficient.  As we have seen, some buildings are easier than others in succeeding at this goal.  For example, single and multifamily dwellings are fairly simple to make energy efficient.  However, others, such as retail buildings and healthcare buildings, such as hospitals and other medical facilities, are more difficult due to their need to accommodate various consumers who are utilizing their services.

Universities

As the Department of Energy's web site states, "Colleges and universities are actually office buildings, restaurants, retail shops, multi-family dwellings, sports facilities, entertainment complexes, and schools rolled into one."  This demonstrates the amount of energy that inevitably is consumed by various universities.  The following are some steps that can be implemented that, in light of the obvious excess that is used at these types of buildings, may help offset some of the energy consumption and costs.

• Reduce energy costs by installing centralized control systems to control off-hour heating, cooling, and lighting across the campus
• Reduce lighting loads and improve comfort by incorporating daylighting systems and energy-efficient lighting such as T-8, compact fluorescents, and metal halide fixtures
• Save energy and water with solar water heating systems and low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets
• Specify ENERGY STAR products for administrative offices, classrooms, and student housing

Government Buildings

"State and local governments spend more than $11 billion annually on fixed-site energy costs, while the federal government is the nation's single largest consumer of energy."  This is what the Department of Energy's web site has to say about the cost that is incurred through the energy consumption in government buildings.  Even back as far as 1992, there have been plans in place to reduce these energy costs and to make government buildings more efficient.  Take a look at the following tips that the Department of Energy has offered to help reduce costs in government buildings.

• Optimize the efficiency of heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) systems with more efficient boilers, motors, and variable-speed drives
• Reduce energy and maintenance costs by installing centralized energy management systems
• Improve indoor air quality and worker comfort with regular maintenance and cleaning of HVAC systems
• Lower electric lighting and cooling loads and boost productivity through increased use of daylighting
• Achieve fast returns and set a strong example by installing energy-efficient lighting.

High Performance Buildings

"A high-performance commercial building is a building with energy, economic, and environmental performance that is substantially better than standard practice."  These are the types of buildings that the Department of Energy supports, and through their efforts, these are the types of buildings that are continuously being built.  Through working with researchers, technologies that involve renewable energy are being evolved in order to incorporate them into new construction to assist in making these new buildings green and environmentally friendly.