ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS

ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS

AN ANSWER TO OPTIMUM ENERGY UTILIZATION

ABSTRACT

The built environment has a huge impact on our economy, environment, health and productivity. Construction activity is one of the largest activities that imposes a major impact on various environmental and energy related problems. The building sector is growing at a rapid pace and is the third largest consumer of energy, after industry and agriculture. In spite of various efforts of achieving a sustainable structure, these buildings still consume a major portion of the available energy. So to address these energy related sustainable issues in a holistic manner, the world over, today, the focus is on energy efficient buildings. These are those buildings which maximize the system efficiency and minimize the natural resources to the minimum. It is basically an integrated process to reduce energy demand and maximize efficiency. An energy efficient structure promises a 30-40% reduction in energy cost and so is a sole answer to the ever rising energy problems.

This paper mainly throws light on all such issues related to energy efficient structures with the main emphasis on the various methodologies and materials adopted to make a structure energy efficient and eco friendly (with special emphasis on various thermal comfort conditions). Also a brief review of an energy efficient structure has also been provided with reference to its climatic zone.