Energy Conservation in Green Buildings
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Energy Conservation in Green Buildings
A green building is a construction which its design, the setting up and operation has a positive impact on the environment hence taking care of the natural environment and the climate. Green buildings protect the existing resources and better the quality of life. Green buildings as compared to other buildings are located in a sustainable locality and site. An appropriate site for a green building is a place where there is no farmland, or close to prevailing infrastructure to reduce harming the surrounding environment. The conservative water devices that are installed and also conservative energy appliances through the effective use of energy in green buildings make them unique from the other typical structures, and this helps to save on cost. Green constructions make use of green materials which include reused and renewable materials. The unique features of a green building give the owner of the building financial advantages as well as a healthy surrounding.
Electrical energy consuming appliances in buildings
Electrical appliances are gadgets which use electricity to function. In a green building electrical appliances hence it is necessary to purchase models that save a lot of energy. Green buildings are made in a way that minimises the use of energy. Washing machines are an example of an appliance used in buildings. It is advisable to buy washing machines which are energy star qualified to conserve electricity. TVs and computers have dominated the modern world as human try to satisfy their entertainment needs; hence such devices use a lot of power. It is then essential to use TVs and computers that are energy star approved. To conserve energy in buildings, it is crucial to reduce the use of energy as well as avoiding wastage of energy by devising measures to save energy which include making use of renewable sources of energy such as solar systems. Proper ventilation is required to prevent a warm environment hence saving the energy which could have been used to make the building cool by the use of a cooling system. The methods of conserving electricity are effective in saving cost.
Water consuming appliances in buildings
Water is an essential resource and hence should be used effectively. Washing machines, cooling and heating systems, dishwashers, bathtubs are some of the appliances that use water in buildings. to preserve water in buildings, it is essential to detect any leakages that contribute to excessive use of water. Domestic water pipes should be well fitted with the isolator valve, which restricts the flow of water. Harvesting of rainwater is essential in areas where groundwater is unavailable. Rainwater is usually collected from roofs and stored in water reservoirs. Recycling of greywater can help to conserve water. Greywater is water used water from kitchen sinks, bathrooms and washing machine. Greywater is collected and treated and used for aims that do not need quality water. The mentioned means of conserving water are effective since they help to provide more water for use.
Construction materials in modern buildings
Green buildings are constructed using green building materials to form energy-efficient buildings. Earthen materials such as adobe bricks, sand and clay are used in construction for strength and permanence. Insulating materials such as fibreglass, polyurethane and natural fibres like cotton are used in modern buildings are used to prevent heat loss, unlike traditional insulators such as asbestos which is toxic and believed to cause cancer. Advanced building materials improves the quality of the building and provides a healthier home with fewer toxins, unlike traditional materials. Buildings constructed using modern materials last longer and easy to maintain as compared to those built using traditional materials which last for short periods.
Conclusion
As evident in the essay, it is important to save energy as well as conserving the environment. The building of green buildings is a way of making sure that the environment, as well as energy and cost, is conserved since they are essential. Strict measures should be taken to conserve both water and electricity in buildings.
References
Lu, Y., Wu, Z., Chang, R., & Li, Y. (2017). Building Information Modeling (BIM) for green buildings: A critical review and future directions. Automation in Construction, 83, 134-148.
Cedeño-Laurent, J. G., Williams, A., MacNaughton, P., Cao, X., Eitland, E., Spengler, J., & Allen, J. (2018). Building evidence for health: green buildings, current science, and future challenges. Annual review of public health, 39, 291-308.
Pérez-Urdiales, M., & García-Valiñas, M. Á. (2016). Efficient water-using technologies and habits: A disaggregated analysis in the water sector. Ecological Economics, 128, 117-129.
Fediuk, R., & Yushin, A. (2016, June). Modern technologies of nondestructive testing of construction materials. In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering (Vol. 132, No. 1, p. 012001). IOP Publishing.