Infrastructure Mitigation Opportunities Global
(Source: IPCC Climate Change 2001 Working Group
III: Mitigation section 3.3)
There are many opportunities for energy improvement in buildings.
Most of these technologies are not fully implemented or have
been recently developed. They will begin to penetrate the market
as existing buildings are retrofitted and new buildings are designed
constructed.
The following examples focus on options for reducing greenhouse
gas emissions from the buildings sector; Integrated building
design, reducing standby power losses in appliances and equipment,
and photovoltaic systems for residential and commercial buildings.
There has been considerable research on these measures recently;
improving the building shell, improving building equipment and
appliances, and switching to lower carbon fuels to condition
the air and power the equipment and appliances in buildings.
Integrated Building Design
Integrated building design takes advantage of energy-saving
opportunities associated with building orientation on its site.
It also involves the use of building components such as windows,
insulation, equipment, and heating, air conditioning, and ventilation
systems. More insulation and energy-efficient windows, for example,
allows builders to use smaller heating and cooling equipment
and reduced or eliminated ductwork. Even more importantly,
we can design buildings where operation can be monitored, controlled,
and faults detected and analyzed automatically. For large commercial
buildings, such systems (which are currently under development)
have the potential to create significant energy savings as well
as other operational benefits.
Researchers estimate an average savings of 40% for integrated
building design.
Reduced Power Loss
Efficiency
Improving the energy efficiency of appliances and equipment
can result in reduced energy consumption in the range of 10 to
70%, with the most typical savings in the 30% to 40% range. Advanced
technologies in refrigerator/freezers, washers and dryers, electric
water heaters, and residential lighting in the US is estimated
to save 3.35 EJ/yr by 2010. This will reduce energy use of these
appliances by nearly 50% from the base case.
Standby Mode Losses
A number of residential appliances and electronic devices, such
as televisions, audio equipment, telephone answering machines,
refrigerators, dishwashers, and ranges consume electricity while
in a standby or even in off mode. These standby power losses
are estimated to consume 12% of Japanese residential electricity,
5% of US residential electricity, and slightly less in European
countries. Studies show that these losses can be reduced to one
watt in most of these mass-produced goods. The costs of key low-loss
technologies are low. Examples are more efficient switch-mode
power supplies and smarter batteries. A recent study found that
if all US appliances were replaced by units meeting the 1-watt
target, combined standby losses would fall at least 70%, saving
the USA over US$2 billion annually!
Photovoltaic Systems for Buildings
Developing countries, in particular, are increasingly using
photovoltaic (PV) systems in rural locations. These systems provide
electricity to areas that are not connected to the power system.
They also can help to reduce the requirement for generating electricity
using fossil fuels. Usually these PV systems are used to provide
electricity for lighting. They are also used for water pumping,
refrigeration, ventilation fans, air conditioning, and powering
various electronic devices.
In 1995, more than 200,000 homes worldwide depended on photovoltaic
systems for all of their electricity needs. Between 1986 and
1998, global PV sales grew from 37MW (megawatts) to 150MW. Rural
electrification programs have been established in many developing
countries. In Brazil, more than 1000 small stand-alone systems
that provide power for lighting, TVs, and radios were recently
installed in homes and schools. In addition two hybrid (PV-wind-battery)
power systems were installed in the Amazon Basin to reduce the
use of diesel generators that supply power to more than 300 villages
in that area. There are similar projects in South Africa, Egypt,
India, Mexico, China, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Uganda,
Solomon Islands, and Tanzania.
Recent programs promoting increased adoption of photovoltaic
systems include;
- the South African Solar Rural Electrification Project,
- the US Million Solar Roofs Initiative,
- the effort to install 5000MW on residences in Japan by
2010,
- and net metering, which allows the electric meters of customers
with renewable energy generating facilities to be reversed
when the generators are producing energy in excess of residential
requirements.
Infrastructure project
Choose one of the following research activities:
A) You are an architect who has been asked by a couple to design
an environmentally responsible home. They have two small children.
They have not purchased their property yet, but plan on living
in your community and want to build their home so that it is
energy efficient.
Put together a preliminary list of recommendations for this
family. The list should include;
- major factors they should consider when purchasing their
property and how the house should be oriented
- design features of the roof and shell for energy efficiency
including location of windows and roof overhang
- options for heating and lighting
- other suggestions for use of materials
Include the reasons for your recommendations with cost-savings
and greenhouse gas reductions where possible.
B) You work for Environment Canada and have been asked to create
a fact sheet to encourage Canadians to reduce their power consumption
by their appliances and electronics in both the workplace and
at home.
Create a persuasive fact sheet to be distributed to places of
business, residences in hard copy and to be posted online. It
should cover a wide variety of actions people can take to reduce
their electricity consumption. Include greenhouse gas emissions
savings and cost benefits where possible.
C) Your school council, parent council, school administration
and school board want to use alternative energy as a supplement
to the conventional source of electricity for your school building.
You are work for an alternative energy consulting firm and have
been asked to make recommendations to the school committee.
Create a presentation that outlines the considerations necessary
for choosing either photovoltaic cells or a wind turbine. Include
feasibility, costs and benefits and a description of net-metering
(assume this option is available from your electricity provider).
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