Page 197 - Alternative Energy Systems in Building Design

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ENERGY CONSERVATION

Energy efficiency is an issue that affects all projects. Whether you are considering a
renewable-energy system for supplying electricity to your home or business or just
want to save money with your current electrical service supplier, the suggestions out-
lined in this chapter will help you to reduce the amount of energy that you use.
If your electricity is currently supplied by a local utility, increasing the energy
efficiency of your project will help to conserve valuable nonrenewable resources.
Investing in a renewable-energy system, such as solar or wind, and increasing the energy
efficiency of your project will reduce the size and cost of the solar or wind energy
system needed. There are many ways to incorporate energy efficiency into a design.
Most aspects of energy consumption within a building have more efficient options
than traditional methods.
This chapter will review the basic concepts of conventional electric power generation
and distribution losses and provide some basic recommendations and suggestions about
energy-conservation measures that could increase the efficiency of energy use signifi-
cantly. In addition to providing energy-saving suggestions, we will review automated
lighting design and California Energy Commission (CEC) Title 24 design compliance.
In view of recent green building design measures and raised consciousness about energy
conservation, we will review the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design (LEED).

Energy-Saving Measures

The recommendations herein involve simple yet very effective means of decreasing
energy use. By following these recommendations, energy use can be minimized notice-
ably without resorting to major capital investments.

LIGHTING
Providing lighting within a building can account for up to 30 percent of the energy
used. There are several options for reducing this energy usage. The easiest method for

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