2 Energy Building Performance

Question 1

What are the economic and environmental benefits gained from energy conservation in the home?

Answer 1

Switching off lights/ appliances not in use, reduced water use, less drafts, generate renewable energy:
all save money and energy so good for envir. and pockets

Question 2

What factors are important in the energy efficiency if a building?

Answer 2

Insulation, Air tightness, Glazing

Question 3

Why is building energy efficiency important in climate change?

Answer 3

Most of the energy produced in the UK (41% as of 2014) is used for space heating/ cooling of buildings

Question 4

Where does most thermal energy escape from a building, and what can be done to prevent this?

Answer 4

Roof and walls, and insulate these areas

Question 5

Advantages of an air tight building?

Answer 5

 Lower heating bills due to less heat loss
 Better performing ventilation system.
 Reduced chance of mould and rot because moisture is less likely to enter and become trapped in cavities.
 Fewer drafts and thus increased thermal comfort

Question 6

Single, double or triple glazed windows?

Answer 6

Single not energy efficient
Double more expensive but over long term cheaper and more environmentally friendly
Triple v expensive and more efficient than double but isn’t economically viable

Question 7

Another name for U-value?

Answer 7

Thermal transmittance (Need to know for exams in case this term is used)

Question 8

What is a U-value?

Answer 8

U-value is the amount of energy in watts that is transmitted through 1m^2 of a specific material per second when there’s a temp. differential of 1 degree C between the inside and outside.

Question 9

Units of a U-value? Explain what this means.

Answer 9

W/ m^2/ K. Amount of Watts of energy passing through 1m^2 of a material with a temp difference of 1K

Question 10

Equation to calculate the rate of heat flow through a section of a wall, and explain the symbols used and their units.

Answer 10

Rate of heat flow = U Value x Area x Temp difference
Q = U x A x ∆T
Q -> W
U -> W/m^2/K or W/m^2/ °C
A -> m^2
∆T-> K or °C

Question 11

Relationship between Celsius and Kelvin?

Answer 11

1 C = 1K

Question 12

What is the Zero Carbon Buildings policy?

Answer 12

Zero Carbon Buildings policy requires all new homes from 2016 to mitigate, through various measures, all the carbon emissions on site as a result of the regulated energy use.

Question 13

The governments zero carbon policy is normally shown as a hierarchical triangle, list beginning at the top what this triangle includes.

Answer 13

Allowable solutions
On-site low carbon heat & power
Fabric energy efficiency

Question 14

What was the MAXIMUM amount of CO2 allowed to be produced as part of the 2006 Part L building regulations required a for a semi-detached house?

Answer 14

28 kg of CO2 / m^2 / year

Question 15

Under the Carbon Compliance Target proposed for 2016 what is the new MAXIMUM amount of CO2 allowed to be produced?

Answer 15

11 kg of CO2 / m^2 / year

Question 16

How is this large decrease in CO2 produced achieved, mainly?

Answer 16

Fabric energy efficiency

On-site low carbon heat and power

Question 17

How is good fabric efficiency and on-site low carbon heat and power achieved?

Answer 17

Fabric energy efficiency - U values, air tightness, etc

On-site low carbon heat and power - High efficiency boilers, solar PV, solar hot water, on site micro wind turbines etc

Question 18

What are allowable solutions?

Answer 18

Paying into a carbon fund

Invest in a district heating extension

Question 19

What is BREEAM?

Answer 19

the world’s foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings developed in 1990

Question 20

What does BREEAM stand for?

Answer 20

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

Question 21

What will a BREEAM assessment provide you with?

Answer 21

 Market recognition for low environmental impact buildings;
 Confidence that tried and tested environmental practice is incorporated in the building.
 A benchmark that is higher than regulation.
 A system to help reduce running costs, improve working and living environments.
 A standard that demonstrates progress towards corporate and organisational environmental objectives.

Question 22

What does BREEAM do?

Answer 22

Addresses wide ranging environmental and sustainability issues and enables developers, designers and building managers to demonstrate the environmental credentials of their building to clients, planners and other initial parties;
by using a straightforward scoring system that is transparent, flexible, easy to understand and supported by evidence-based science and research.

Question 23

What are the 5 principles of BREEAM?

Answer 23

1 Sustainable solutions.
2 Provides a Framework
3 Sound Science
4 Supports change
5 Delivers Value

Question 24

What is the state of the Code for Sustainable Homes?

Answer 24

Removed from government policy on March 27th

2015.

Question 25

What was the CSH replaced with, and when was it introduced?

Answer 25

Zero Carbon Home Policy in 2016

Question 26

What is the CSH?

Answer 26

An environmental assessment method for rating and certifying the performance of new homes

Question 27

When was the CSH launched and when did it become operational?

Answer 27

The CSH was launched in December 2006 and became operational in April 2007.

Question 28

What are the 9 categories of sustainable design?

Answer 28

1 – Energy and CO2 emissions.
2 – Water.
3 – Materials.
4 – Surface Water Run-off.
5 – Waste.
6 – Pollution.
7 – Health and Well Being.
8 – Management.
9 – Ecology

Question 29

Why does domestic housing play a pivotal role in meeting future climate aims, in the UK?

Answer 29

25% of UK GHG emissions.
Over 50% of energy consumption.
8% waste generated
All come from domestic houses