Energy And Environmental Analysis And Evaluation Of A Property - Research Paper Example

Energy And Environmental Analysis And Evaluation Of A Property Residential and commercial buildings contribute much to the production of green house emissions. On the other hand, residential structures consume much of the energy produced by burning the coal or oil in thermal power plants. The more the amount of energy is utilized by the structure, the more carbon footprints the structure has. In order to reduce the carbon footprints, green tactics can be adopted. The most familiar type of green methods, which can be adopted in a green construction, is the utilization of windows ventilators. However, more complex green strategies can also be utilized to reduce the energy consumption in a residential or commercial building. The most amount of energy in a residential structure is consumed while maintaining the internal atmosphere of the home. In colder regions electric, gas or oil heaters are utilized to warm up the atmosphere and water, while in hotter regions air conditioning units are employed to reduce the temperature (Legg, 1991, p24-36). One of the important aspects of utilizing less energy is that it limits the green house emissions this way, at the same time it is economically beneficial as utilizing less energy will consequently reduce the energy bills or other bills related to the energy consumption. In this way, green construction is not only a better option for the environment but also for the environment (Burberry, 1997, p21-48). A green building can be considered as green if it minimizes the waste, utilized as less energy as possible and utilized green material in the construction. If the home utilized the natural energy resources like the solar or geothermal, the energy dependence can be minimized. On the other hand, the utilization of windows allows the lights to penetrate into the structure in the day time and thus reduce the energy consumed by the artificial lights (Pritchard, 1999, p30-44). Advanced green structure utilized much advanced technology such as installation of the solar panel on roof that generate energy for the home and the excess energy is supplied to the grid. On the other hand solar geysers capture solar energy to heat the ware for the utilization in home. The solar water heating system can also be utilized for the space heating by circulation the heated water through the radiators and fan mechanism. The system has the capability to save much amount of energy. In the given pattern of the home, I think the placement of the windows is quite right that will help the home to stay lighted during the day. In order to evaluate the energy consumption in the house, it is appropriate to evaluate where the energy is consumed and where it can be saved. As, the house is fitted with a big boiler to maintain the temperature in the house and to provide with the warm water, the immense amount of energy is taken by the boiler. In this way, the boiler is the major producer of the green house emissions. However, if the boiler is removed from the house, the house becomes less comfortable for the residents. Thus, an improper indoor environment may cause the health problems. As whole hose is insulated, it is difficult for the inner environment to diffuse into the outer environment, thus conserving an immense amount of energy. On the other hand, the concrete blocks in the house act as an insulating medium that prevent heat loss into the outer environment. The thermal performance of the wood is considered to have lower value as compared that of the concrete block. In the similar way, the thermal performance of the clay brick is also lower than that of the concrete block. In this way, it can be said that it is important to use the insulation everywhere in the house to avoid any heat loss. As, the house is well insulated the thermal efficiency of the house is high. The usage of the extract or exhaust fan pushes the warm air of the house outside the house, thus the heating requirements are increased. There will be little effect on having no insulation on walls with bricks and blocks, as the given diameter of the bricks and blocks does not allow the heat to escape to the outer environment. The thermal performance of the external elements is good but the windows fitted in the house have low thermal performance, as the structure utilizes the normal windows and normal windows avoid heat to escape but the performance is really low. On the other hand the glazed glass windows have higher thermal efficiency. However, as the whole house is properly insulated, the thermal performance of the house is good. After taking an assumption that the normal consumption of natural gas in the boiler is about 3000 therms and assuming that the immersion heater takes about 2160 units of energy, the carbon footprints becomes 4.38 metric tons. The assumption is taken for a 24 hour operation. If the thermostat stops the boiler heater for 12 hours and operates both the heating units for 12 hours, the carbon foot prints becomes 2.19 metric tons (Carbonfootprints, n.d). The assumptions are taken for four adults residing in the house. If the number of person in the house increases, the carbon footprints may also increase. On the other hand, the units of consumed energy also increase that will give rise to the energy bills. The estimation is taken only for a month’s period. If only the 3KW immersion heater is utilized the energy costs will decrease and the carbon footprints decrease to 0.31 tons for full 24 hours operation and 0.16 tons for 12 hours operation (Carbonfootprints, n.d). If the unit cost of the electricity remains at $0.120/kWh, the total electricity bill for the heater becomes $260 for 24 hour operation and $130 for 12 hour operation. The space heating requirements can easily be determined by the assuming that the energy required to heat up a square meter of space requires about 60 watts of energy, if the building is well insulated and covered with concrete block walls or clay brick walls. Then the space heating requirements becomes lower. If the house has a constructed area of about 210 square meters, then the energy consumed in space heating is about 12.6 KW (Carbonfootprints, n.d). However, as the boiler is 20 years old, the efficiency of the boiler is reduced to about 62% and thus it will approximately consume 15 KW. On the other hand the utilization of control switch (thermostat) will reduce the energy consumption. If the thermostat switches-on the boiler for only 18 hours a day for a month, the energy consumption becomes 8100 KW in a month and yearly consumption will be 97200 KW (Carbonfootprints, n.d). For the yearly energy requirements of 97200 KW for the space heating, the yearly carbon footprints increase to 4.50 metric tons. It is estimated for 4 persons, for one person the value may differ. The monthly energy requirements for the space heating is about 8100 KW and the production of carbon dioxide emissions for this value is about 0.38 metric tons (Carbonfootprints, n.d). The value are taken with a maximum space heating requirements; however, the user can lower the temperature on the thermostat and can save more amount of energy and reduce the carbon footprints. On the other hand the space heating requirements can be minimized by controlling the flow of heat into the house. For example, if all the persons are in the living room, there is no need to circulate the heated water through the bedrooms. The path can be diverted by utilizing the electronic or manual valves to shorten the path of the heated water. Utilizing the different systems for the space heating and the water may increase the cost required for both the application but utilizing a single boiler that heats up the water and then the heated water circulation system warms up space. On the other hand it provides with heated water all the time. An electronic, manual or automatic thermostat system can be utilized to enhance the energy efficiency and reduce the carbon emissions. In order to reduce the space heating requirements, green techniques should be adopted, like the boiler can be replaced with the solar water heater independently or in combination with the fitted boiler. There will be immense amount of reduction in the emissions of green house gases and energy bill too. On the other hand, space heating requirements can also be reduced by managing the heating requirements according to the need of the house. Glazing the windows prevent heat loss from the windows. It is appropriate to utilize the glazed windows instead of normal windows to maintain insulation inside the house. However, there is less need to redesign the house. In order to enhance the space heating requirements of the house it is important to utilize a hybrid system that runs on natural gas, electricity and solar heating. The three systems can be combines to utilize the similar storage tank (Level, n.d). Utilizing the same storage tank will reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of the system. On the other hand, the electrical energy requirements other than required in space heating of the home are low and it would increase the property price, if solar panels are mounted on rooftop. The major amount of energy is consumed while space heating and water heating and thus it is important to reduce energy consumed during the space heating and water heating. After the utilization of the techniques, the solar thermal system will make the space heating system more efficient. The time required for the space heating by utilizing the natural gas or electricity will reduce from 18 hours to 11 hours. Thus, the energy required for the space heating reduces to 4950 KW a month and about 59400 KW annually. The results show that the space heating required by utilizing the natural gas or electricity reduce to a remarkable value and thus it is important to utilize the solar thermal heating for heating the home. As we have the knowledge that the solar thermal energy is free from the green house emissions and thus no or little green house gas emissions are produced during the day by the space heating system. While at night, the space heating will work by utilizing the natural gas or electricity and emissions were produced but the amount of emission will be reduced (Hassan, 1996, p12-98). Approximately, 40% of the energy is saved by utilizing the solar thermal space heating technique. In the similar way, the carbon footprints reduce to 0.23 metric tons in a month and the annual emission of the carbon dioxide reduces to about 2.75 metric tons. The values are estimated for 4 persons residing in the home. On an average scale there will be about 40% lower carbon footprints after utilizing the solar water heating system. The green structures have relatively more cost as compared to the conventional homes but the cost may differ from location to location. The lower the energy consumed by the home, the higher will be the price of the home. The home with the conventional resources may involve the construction expenses including the cost of bricks, blocks, timber and labour. On the other hand time also plays an important role in determining (Green Building Advisor.com. 2010). The green technology has a higher cost due to having higher energy efficiency and the lower green house gas emissions. The cost of such a building depends on the utilization of materials, designing the internal space, energy efficiency and carbon footprints of the home (Szokolay, 1980, p118-180). The home with higher energy efficiency and lower carbon footprints will cost more than a conventional home. On the other hand, if the home utilizes any renewable or sustainable technology to generate energy or to reduce energy dependence, the cost of the energy will be included in the price of the home. Water is also a source that should be cared a lot. The home with water conservation system will certainly cost more than the home with conventional water drainage and usage systems. If the home is utilizing the solar thermal system, the cost of the house will be in terms of the cost of house plus the cost of the solar thermal system (Smith, 2012). If the photovoltaic system is installed in the house, then the cost of the green home become the cost of house plus the cost of photovoltaic system. Similarly if any other renewable system is installed in the home, the cost of the system will be added to the cost of the house. The energy efficiency of the home can be increased by the utilization of the solar thermal energy that can be easily mounted on the roof of the structure. It will reduce the energy dependence and the carbon footprints. On the other hand the utilization of the galvanized windows will prevent the heat from escaping out from the home (Nicholls, 2002, p47-109). Green buildings are the need of today, as the population of the world is growing rapidly and the conventional energy resources are shortening day by day (McMullan, 2007, p34-67). The energy requirements of the residential building are increasing due to the appliances that are invented for the ease of humans. On the other hand, the burning of the fossil fuel produces green house emissions and thus pollutes the environment and thus the endangers the biodiversity of the planet. Human health is also affected as the result of these green house emissions (Cayless & Marsden, 1997, p33-114). The most appropriate way is to cut down the energy consumption in our homes, as homes are the major consumers of the electrical energy. If the consumption of the electrical energy in the homes is reduced, the carbon footprints can be reduced (Thorpe, 2010, p11-53). However, it may require a lot of government support to educate people about the emission that come out of the homes. Solar thermal energy should be utilized as it is the most easily available green technology. On the other hand solar thermal energy should be adopted, as it cost much less and allows the users to open their minds and utilize the energy in whatever manner they want. Solar photovoltaic energy can minimize the energy dependence and reduce the energy consumption in the home by generating the energy for the home. If the home is equipped with a solar photovoltaic array that generates more energy than desired, the excess energy can be diverted to the grid that will make the electric company pay you for the effort and energy generated for the company. Thus, it is important to construct the green homes for the good of the planet and for the good of the human race. Bibliography Burberry, P. 1997. Environmental Services. (8th ed), Mitchell's Building Construction. Harlow: Longman. Cayless, M.A & Marsden, A.M. 1997. Lamps and Lighting. (4th ed). London: Arnold. Carbonfootprints. n.d. Carbon Footprint Calculator. [Online] Available at: < http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx> [Accessed 10 October 2012] Green Building Advisor.com. 2010. Do Green Houses Cost More to Build Than Regular Houses? [Online] Available at: < http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/content/do-green-houses-cost-more-build-regular-houses> [Accessed 10 October 2012] Hassan, G. 1996. Building Services. Basingstoke: Macmillan Level. n.d. Space Heating. [Online] Available at: < http://www.level.org.nz/energy/space-heating/> [Accessed 10 October 2012] Legg, R.C. 1991. Air Conditioning Systems: Design, Commissioning and Maintenance. London: Batsford. McMullan, R. 2007. Environmental Science in Building, (6th ed). Basingstoke: Palgrave. Nicholls, R, 2002. Low Energy Design, Interface Publishing. BRE Digests, Reports information papers and defect action sheets, Pritchard, D.C. 1999. Lighting. (6th ed.) , Harlow: Longman Smith, Elizabeth. 2012. Green Living: How to Make a Building Go Green. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 10 October 2012] Szokolay, S.V. 1980. Environmental Science Handbook for Architects and Builders. Lancaster: The Construction Press. Thorpe, D. 2010. Sustainable Home Refurbishment. Earthscan. ISBN 9781844078769 . Read More