This book presents recent research in the area of hygrothermal building performance, acoustic and natural lighting performance in buildings, phase change materials (PCM) and energy storage. Discussing the state of the art in the field, and covering topics relevant to variety of engineering disciplines, such as civil, materials and mechanical engineering, it will appeal to scientists, students, practitioners, lecturers and other stakeholders.
This book presents recent research in the area of hygrothermal building performance, acoustic and natural lighting performance in buildings, phase change materials (PCM) and energy storage. Discussing the state of the art in the field, and covering topics relevant to variety of engineering disciplines, such as civil, materials and mechanical engineering, it will appeal to scientists, students, practitioners, lecturers and other stakeholders.
The Journal of Light Construction has assembled an all-star team of national building and energy experts to help you understand energy efficient construction methods and apply them to your new construction and remodeling projects. This practical book describes in detail the proven field-tested techniques that are both cost- effective and resource-efficient. Many energy-efficient building techniques are overly complicated. They're costly. And they frequently fail to deliver the promised energy performance. In contrast, this hands-on book from JLC cuts through the confusion and identifies the best building techniques and materials to help you achieve superior energy performance in all your projects. Without breaking the bank.
The Whole Building Handbook is a compendium of all the issues and strategies that architects need to understand to design and construct sustainable buildings for a sustainable society. The authors move beyond the current definition of sustainability in architecture, which tends to focus on energy-efficiency, to include guidance for architecture that promotes social cohesion, personal health, renewable energy sources, water and waste recycling systems, permaculture, energy conservation - and crucially, buildings in relation to their place. The authors offer a holistic approach to sustainable architecture and authoritative technical advice, on: * How to design and construct healthy buildings, through choosing suitable materials, healthy service systems, and designing a healthy and comfortable indoor climate, including solutions for avoiding problems with moisture, radon and noise as well as how to facilitate cleaning and maintenance. * How to design and construct buildings that use resources efficiently, where heating and cooling needs and electricity use is minimized and water-saving technologies and garbage recycling technologies are used. * How to 'close' organic waste, sewage, heat and energy cycles. For example, how to design a sewage system that recycles nutrients. * Includes a section on adaptation of buildings to local conditions, looking at how a site must be studied with respect to nature, climate and community structure as well as human activities. The result is a comprehensive, thoroughly illustrated and carefully structured textbook and reference.
Design and build energy-efficient steel-framed houses-as a practical alternative to wood. As high-quality wood becomes scarcer and more expensive, residential builders are turning to steel as the building material of choice. Now you can improve your bottom line by learning to design and build steel-framed residential structures that are energy efficient, low in cost, and easy to build. Using examples from award-winning houses, this clear, step-by-step guide provides everything a residential contractor needs to know to build a steel-framed house--quickly and easily. You'll discover how to select the right materials and tools. . .use energy-efficient HVAC units, appliances, and lighting. . .choose the best windows and doors. . .and optimize landscaping and solar design. The book will enable you to: overcome steel's thermal deficiencies through proper design and insulation--and surpass the energy efficiency of traditional building materials; conduct your own Model Energy Code energy analysis for compliance with HUD regulations; explore CABO- and UBC-approved steel framing details for a complete two-bedroom house plan. With lots of money-saving tips on ordering and using proper building materials--plus professional advice on applying traditional and new methods of interior and exterior insulation--this is the most complete and practical resource available on a subject of increasing importance to residential builders and designers.
Optimal Design and Retrofit of Energy Efficient Buildings, Communities, and Urban Centers presents current techniques and technologies for energy efficiency in buildings. Cases introduce and demonstrate applications in both the design of new buildings and retrofit of existing structures. The book begins with an introduction that includes energy consumption statistics, building energy efficiency codes, and standards and labels from around the world. It then highlights the need for integrated and comprehensive energy analysis approaches. Subsequent sections present an overview of advanced energy efficiency technologies for buildings, including dynamic insulation materials, phase change materials, LED lighting and daylight controls, Life Cycle Analysis, and more. This book provides researchers and professionals with a coherent set of tools and techniques for enhancing energy efficiency in new and existing buildings. The case studies presented help practitioners implement the techniques and technologies in their own projects. Introduces a holistic analysis approach to energy efficiency for buildings using the concept of energy productivity Provides coverage of individual buildings, communities and urban centers Includes both the design of new buildings and retrofitting of existing structures to improve energy efficiency Describes state-of-the-art energy efficiency technologies Presents several cases studies and examples that illustrate the analysis techniques and impact of energy efficiency technologies and controls
For contractors, project managers, architects -- anyone responsible for using and maintaining construction documents. The book covers: principles of sound documentation, including computer-generated documents; overcoming obstacles to paperwork preparation & distribution; writing effective transmittal letters, memos, cover notes -- with many examples; preparing paperwork that gets rapid results; selecting the right logging system.
The editors and contributors to Fine Homebuilding magazine have combined to show homeowners how to save money and provide greater comfort in their houses.
How is an energy efficient building created? Which are the most important criteria pertaining to urban development or the conception of the floor plan? What are the optimal dimensions appropriate for the building’s usage but also ensuring energy efficiency? Which building elements and systems are most suitable? This book systematically explains all relevant criteria and parameters as regards urban development, design and the subsequent construction of a sustainable building. The immense potential for cutting costs by modernising the energy systems in old buildings is also demonstrated.Completed projects are presented according to their usage and are analysed and evaluated in the light of the above criteria. For this purpose extensive plans and technical information are used to illustrate the "energy profile" of each building. This shows the particular importance of planning details carefully. An annotated subject index concludes the volume.
The design and construction of the appropriate building envelope is one of the most effective ways for improving a building’s thermal performance. Thermal Inertia in Energy Efficient Building Envelopes provides the optimal solutions, tools and methods for designing the energy efficient envelopes that will reduce energy consumption and achieve thermal comfort and low environmental impact. Thermal Inertia in Energy Efficient Building Envelopes provides experimental data, technical solutions and methods for quantifying energy consumption and comfort levels, also considering dynamic strategies such as thermal inertia and natural ventilation. Several type of envelopes and their optimal solutions are covered, including retrofit of existing envelopes, new solutions, passive systems such as ventilated facades and solar walls. The discussion also considers various climates (mild or extreme) and seasons, building typology, mode of use of the internal environment, heating profiles and cross-ventilation Experimental investigations on real case studies, to explore in detail the behaviour of different envelopes Laboratory tests on existing insulation to quantify the actual performances Analytical simulations in dynamic conditions to extend the boundary conditions to other climates and usage profiles and to consider alternative insulation strategies Evaluation of solutions sustainability through the quantification of environmental and economic impacts with LCA analysis; including global cost comparison between the different scenarios Integrated evaluations between various aspects such as comfort, energy saving, and sustainability
