Energy-Efficient Buildings: What Features Make Them Stand Out

Last Updated on December 3, 2024 by teamobn

With the recent global calls to enhance sustainability, construction and real estate are in high demand for energy-efficient building solutions. Indeed, buildings are heavy energy consumers, accounting for 40% of global use, and play a massive role in greenhouse gas emissions. 

Energy-efficient buildings help reduce the energy consumption of resources by optimizing resource usage while building healthier environments for occupants. What are some features unique to these types of buildings? Let’s look at some of the characteristics that define energy-efficient buildings

1. High-Performance Building Envelope

The building envelope is a physical interface between interior and exterior building environments. One of the essential components of building envelopes as far as energy efficiency is concerned is the envelope itself, which comprises constituents such as walls, roofs, windows, and doors, all of which can, with appropriate design and materials, become optimized to reduce loss and enhance thermal insulation. Some main attributes of a high-performance building envelope are:

• Insulation: Advanced materials used are spray foam, mineral wool, or rigid foam. This insulation does not allow heat to travel easily. These buildings keep the interior cool in summer and warm in winter. These energy-efficient buildings use minimal energy for heating and cooling purposes.
• High-efficiency windows: Double or triple-glazed windows consist of two (or three) panes of glass with a gap between each pane. The gap is usually filled with air or an inert gas like argon. This gap acts as an insulating barrier, reducing the amount of heat that can pass through the window resulting in cooler buildings in summer and warmer in winter. A bonus is a significant reduction in external noise entering the building.
• Air sealing: This technique seals out uncontrolled drafts through proper air sealing, reducing the building’s heating and cooling loads. Older homes typically have many ‘leaks’ leading to a constant flow between inside air and the external environment.

2. Sustainable Building Materials

Good energy performance will require using sustainable materials, among many other factors. These materials are preferred because they have low environmental impacts in their manufacture, installation, and operation, and many ensure improved energy performance.

• Recycled and local materials: Use materials with recycled content, such as reclaimed wood, metal, or concrete, to reduce the pressure on primary resource extraction. Local materials allow the design to spend less energy using transport and support regional economies.
• Low-emitting materials: Low-emitting materials emit fewer pollution gasses and improve indoor air quality. For example, low-VOC paint, adhesives, and sealants help reduce hazardous environmental emissions, promoting a healthy indoor environment.
• High thermal mass materials: Concrete, stone, and brick are examples of these materials. These materials absorb heat during the day and emit it at night, thus ensuring stable indoor temperatures and reducing the use of heating and cooling systems.

3. Renewable Energy Sources

Energy-efficient buildings usually feature either site-integrated or grid-connected renewable energy sources. Some of the significant alternative energy sources for buildings are:

• Solar panels: Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight to electricity that powers various building systems. Solar energy systems can minimize or eliminate reliance on traditional power sources, especially with battery storage solutions. Small wind turbines can also supply power to structures in wind areas. With such a blend, solar and wind power can be more impressive.
• Geothermal heating and cooling: Since the earth’s temperature underground remains relatively constant, geothermal systems use that continual temperature to heat or cool the building. They are more efficient than traditional HVAC systems.
• Battery storage systems: Renewable power’s real promise is the ability to store excess energy with battery storage systems. You can store extra energy for emergencies where a stable energy source is required to keep things running. 

4. Smart HVAC Systems

HVAC heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning are among buildings’ most notable energy consumptions. HVAC has several probable benefits in energy-efficient buildings regarding the comfort of occupants and reduced energy consumption. Some systems include: 

• Energy-efficient heat pumps: Because heat pumps do not create heat; instead, they transfer it from one place to another, they are significantly more energy-efficient than conventional heating and cooling systems. They save enormous amounts of energy.
• Zoned heating and cooling: With zoning, you can segregate building parts that can be independently heated or cooled. You can heat or cool occupied rooms as you desire while maintaining other unoccupied rooms at an optimum room temperature, which saves more energy.
• Smart thermostats: They have patterns of occupancy and alter temperatures accordingly. You can operate these thermostats from remote locations using weather forecasts or schedules to achieve optimum temperature.
• Demand-controlled ventilation (DCV): This system monitors airflow based on occupancy or indoor air quality. This technique can reduce ventilation energy when spaces are empty. 

Another consideration when it comes to ventilation systems, in particular, is the installation of vents that primarily help with smoke ventilation. Many energy-efficient buildings and houses are now looking to install automatic opening vents (AOV)  to deal with smoke ventilation. You may wonder, “What is a AOV smoke vent?” An AOV is designed to open automatically in the event of a fire, which allows smoke and hot gasses to escape from the building immediately. These vents can help enhance fire safety by preventing smoke accumulation.

Regarding energy efficiency, most AOV systems provide natural ventilation outside of emergencies. The vents open during certain weather conditions, such as high humidity or heat, and allow for the natural cooling of interior spaces. Natural ventilation helps reduce the reliance on air conditioning systems, which also reduces energy consumption associated with the extended use of such mechanical cooling systems. 

5. Advanced Lighting Systems

Lighting is another significant energy consumer, particularly in commercial buildings. Energy-efficient lighting systems reduce consumption and improve occupant comfort. These include: 

• LED lighting consumes up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and lasts much longer, hence an indispensable ingredient of an energy-efficient building.
• Daylighting: To use minimum artificial light sources, you should focus on increasing daylighting within your house or building. You can daylight your space with large windows, skylights, and light shelves that shine sunlight intensely into the house’s interiors. 
• Smart lighting controls: With motion sensors, timers, and dimming, lights turn on only when used. You can also integrate these controls into the building management systems for more centralized control. 

6. Water Efficiency and Recycling

Water conservation is another integral component of energy-efficient buildings, as it reduces water and energy consumption (since you use energy to heat and transport water). Some crucial water-saving features include:

• Low-flow fixtures: Faucets, showerheads, and toilets with low-flow options consume significantly less water without compromising performance.
• Greywater recycling: Greywater from sinks, showers, and washing machines can be filtered and reused for non-potable applications like irrigation or toilet flushing.
• Rainwater harvesting: Collecting and storing rainwater for later use reduces reliance on municipal water supplies and can help manage stormwater runoff.

7. Green Roofs and Walls

Green roofs and walls are living, green-covered building surfaces with aesthetic and functional value. The advantage of such features is that they reduce the energy needed by the building while helping provide urban biodiversity. Some of these features include: 

• Insulation and temperature regulation: Green roofs add to the insulation and slow down the urban heat island effect rate when they cool the surrounding environment.
• Stormwater regulation: Green roofs are excellent at absorbing water, which helps minimize all sources of runoff and reductions and puts minimal strain on the drainage structure.
• Improved urban air quality: Plants on green roofs and walls can absorb pollutants, improving urban air quality.

Endnote

You can distinguish energy-efficient buildings by spotting features that optimize energy performance, reduce waste, and enhance occupant well-being. These features contribute to a more sustainable future, from high-performance building envelopes and intelligent HVAC systems to renewable energy sources and the incorporation of green roofs and walls.

Energy-efficient buildings help combat climate change by cutting operating costs, improving property value, and increasing occupant satisfaction. By incorporating these aspects of energy efficiency in your designed buildings, you can establish yourself as a leader in your field due to your use of sustainable and innovative practices.