Building Services: Energy Efficient Technology

Lighting: Energy Efficient Technology

The EU is the most brightly lit area in Europe. Lighting alone accounts for 14% of EU energy used.By switching to modern energy efficient lighting technology a significant amount of energy could be saved as opposed to using old inefficient technology. It is estimated that 41 million tonnes of CO2 could be saved every year. This would represent 10% of the cut in greenhouse gases the EU promised to make at the 1997 Kyoto climate talks.

By switching from old incandescent tungsten type lighting to new energy efficient compact fluorescent lighting ( CFL) it may be possible to save 80% of lighting costs per year.

This video provides further information on energy use in lighting and new initiatives throughout European member states.

Lighting: Snaphot

New: This lighting Snaphot provides clients with a brief guide to the common lighting types, and provide further clarification as to lighting types referred to in an EPC.

Heating & Cooling: Snaphot

To achieve the ambitious energy policy of the EU member states, 20% reduction in greenhouse gas and 20% increase in energy, energy use has to decreased.

Energy for heating cooling and ventillation are the largest consumers of energy in office buildings. To improve energy performance in the sector, the EPBD will require periodic inspection of air conditioning systems in buildings in every member state, including the UK and Scotland. The EU calculate that an energy saving of 50% is possible by replacing old equipment with modern technology.

As far as new buildings go, architectural solutions already exist in the EU to reduce and even avoid air conditioning in buildings. Buildings such as the Energon building in Southern Germany is built to PassiveHaus standards. Constructed in 2003, the Energon building is the largest building of it’s type in Europe and is built with extreme insulation of the envelope to limit exchanges with the exterior. This building is thought to save 80% on heating energy and 95% on cooling and 50% on electricity. The building envelope is kept cooling by directly cooling the thermal mass; the concerete structure is cooled from chilled water through boreholes.

This video explains new air conditioning and looks at the Energon building in more detail.

Insulation: Snaphot

New: This insulation Snapshot has been posted to provide clients with a brief guide to the role insulation can play and provide further clarification as to what may be referred to in their EPC.