Significance of design for energy conservation in buildings: building envelope components

Abstract

Energy efficient buildings consist of using innovative technologies based on renewable energies and a good thermal insulation. Most strategies applied in design and many of the services offered by lodging establishments require the consumption of substantial quantities of energy, water and non-durable products. In most developing countries, it makes perfect sense to focus on the implementation of energy efficiency on new buildings rather than on retrofitting existing ones (Hinostroza et al., 2007). Energy efficiency in new buildings can be achieved by passive measures such as the insulation of the building envelope, optimised solar design, optimised natural lighting, wall shading, surface material etc. and active measures such as efficient cooling and ventilation appliances and solar water heating. In this paper, the effects of thermal mass and phase change material on building cooling and heating loads and peak loads, air tightness and infiltration of building envelopes are discussed.