important goals for housing
- Achieving the significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions required to limit global warming and sea level rise.
- Using renewable energy while managing demand and maintaining security of supply.
- Reducing travel demand and finding viable (post-peak oil) sources of energy for transport.
tips for daily life to save energy
- Air drying dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
- Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120°F.
- Taking short showers instead of baths and using low-flow showerheads for additional energy savings.
- Washing only full loads of dishes and clothes.
- Making sure that all doors and windows are closed before heating or cooling the rooms.
- Driving sensibly.
a number of low-energy mechanical ventilation devices that we can use to reduce the use of energy
- Ceiling fans can be use instead of the air conditioner.
- Window fans which can help to cool down the house in lieu of running the central air conditioning.
- Whole house fans which help cool the house by pulling cool air through the house and exhausting warm air out of the house.
how to reduce energy? (professional advices)
- Using through good design, energy efficient technologies and behaviour that focuses on energy conservation.
- Considering a whole house retrofit.
Heating and Cooling:
- Installing space heating or cooling only in the rooms that require it. Normally you can use ducted air and hydronic systems.
- Using heat shifters and solar air heaters which can assist by reducing the amount of heating required.
- Replacing the HVAC systems with more energy efficient systems.
- Reducing the loads on the system.
- Installing energy-efficient cladding which have a higher thermal resistance and fewer thermal breaks than typical cladding systems to reduce the loads.
Lighting:
- Designing your home to maximise the use of daylight so that electric lighting is not required during daylight hours.
- Creating a lighting design strategy that meets your needs in the most efficient way.
- Using light-coloured wall paints to help brighten up a room and reflect more daylight throughout the space.
Appliances:
- Informing appliance choices by the Energy Rating Labelling Scheme and Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme which allow comparison of different appliances by a star rating.
- During the summer, the air conditioner must work harder to cool hot air from sunny windows.
Home entertainment and home office equipment:
- Turning equipment off when it is not in use, preferably at the power outlet.
- Using multi-function devices which can save on electricity and on the materials and manufactures of multiple devices.
- Choosing efficient home entertainment equipment and home office equipment which can be complemented by operating them in the most efficient way.
Home automation:
- Using home automation which can contribute to management of different energy uses around the home and provide important feedback to householders by displaying real-time electricity use.
Renewable energy:
- Using renewable energy such as wind and solar which produce very few greenhouse gas emissions to heat or cool the house, heat water and cook.
Photovoltaic systems:
- Using photovoltaic systems
Smart meters, in-home displays and smart appliances:
- Using in-home displays which is able to provide information on real-time energy use and costs and it is useful for guiding energy-saving behaviour and avoiding energy peaks.
- Install a programmable thermostat to lower utility bills and manage your heating and cooling systems efficiently.
Transport:
- Reducing car dependency and choosing fuel efficient and low emission vehicles.
Sealing and Insulate:
- Sealing coupled with insulating the house’s shell which is the most effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort of the house.
- Installing energy-efficient windows, doors and skylights.
Fresh Air Cooling Strategies:
- Providing fresh air flow into a house which can maintain good indoor air quality.
Roofing:
- Using lighter-coloured “cool roofs” with high reflectance and emissivity which help to reduce building heat-gain and save on summertime air conditioning expenditures.
Vegetation:
- Planting deciduous trees near south, east and west-facing windows which will provide needed shade in the summer but let the sun’s heat in during the winter.
Material:
- Using thermal mass materials which is able to retain or store heat produced by sunlight or other sources.
Information Source:
http://www.yourhome.gov.au/energy
http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/energy-saver-guide-tips-saving-money-and-energy-home
http://www.facilitiesnet.com/hvac/article/Energy-Efficient-Cladding-Can-Reduce-Heating-Cooling-Loads-Facilities-Management-HVAC-Feature--11711#
http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/ReduceEnergy.htm
http://www.yourhome.gov.au/energy
http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/energy-saver-guide-tips-saving-money-and-energy-home
http://www.facilitiesnet.com/hvac/article/Energy-Efficient-Cladding-Can-Reduce-Heating-Cooling-Loads-Facilities-Management-HVAC-Feature--11711#
http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/ReduceEnergy.htm