Development of Sustainable Homes with Zero Energy- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theDevelopment of Sustainable Homes with Zero Energy. Answer: Sustainable homes are ones that are designed and constructed so that they can be environmentally friendly through the use of materials available on site(McLeish, 2009). They are meant to reduce to reduce the environmental impact that is caused by construction activities. These homes utilize the sun as a source of warmth for the house during winter, to provide power and heat water. One of the ways of developing sustainable home is through the use of net zero energy homes. Net zero energy homes are defined as buildings in which the annual quantity of energy consumed by the building is equal to the quantity of renewable energy produced on the site resulting into zero net energy(Mlecnik, 2013). Discussion and Conclusion The design stage is the most important stage when coming up with a zero net energy home. The following has to be given consideration in the design of low/zero carbon homes: Selection of low carbon construction material Materials selected to be used for the construction of zero emission buildings should be nonpolluting during their transportation and installation. Materials with low embodied carbon should be given priority. Embodied carbon is carbon dioxide that is emitted during the production, transportation, and installation or utilization of building materials(Emmanuel Barker, 2012). These emission may occur during the mining of the raw materials, manufacture and transportation of the final product to the site. Example of low carbon materials include low carbon bricks which use fly ash as a substitute to cement to a given proportion hence it has a lower embodied carbon than in conventional bricks which , and green concrete in which the materials can be substituted with byproducts or waste of industrial processes. Green tiles are made from a combination of ceramic materials and waste glass or other materials. The choice of the materials to be used in the construction of a house together with the construction techniques to be employed have an overall impact on the quantity of embodied carbon. Therefore, it is important to select materials from suppliers that actively reducing their carbon emissions(Cotgrave Riley, 2012). Innovative Construction Processes Energy saving techniques should be incorporated during the architectural design stage and the construction stage(Akintoye, et al., 2012). Architects should model how various energy saving techniques would affect the construction stage. Architects should also consider the cost effects of choosing either of the energy saving systems available. Construction activities that result in the emission of greenhouse gases should be avoided and more environmentally friendly techniques should be embraced. Some of the construction processes that promote sustainability include: Precast Flat Panel system- Floors, windows, doors and walls panels are produced at a different area and transported to the site where they are fitted. Insulating concrete formwork- they consist of expanded polystyrene(EPS) panels that are erected and filled with concrete as the core. The EPS panels provide insulation and the concrete provides strength and sound insulation. 3 Dimension Volumetric Construction- 3D units are produced in factories under controlled conditions and then transported to the site. These panels can be set up speedily. Some are manufactured to have sound and fire insulation. Architects should also consider use of passive design, which ensure that the building utilizes natural sources of energy for heating and cooling by ensuring proper orientation of the building and designing it in such a manner that there is control of heat loss or gain. Management of operative energy consumption and Consumption behaviour Operative energy is the quantity of energy that is required for the running of a building throughout its design life(Giordano, et al., 2015). Energy is required by appliances such as lighting, air conditioners and refrigerators. The amount of operative energy consumed in a building is dependent on the number of occupants of the building and their energy consumption behaviour. A large amount of the operational energy in homes is consumed by the thermal component. The design of the building and the environmental conditions have an impact on the energy dissipation by a building. Heating/cooling loads can be reduced significantly by the use of the appropriate thermal insulation and consequently leading to the lowering of greenhouse gas emissions(Shoubi, et al., 2015). Techniques such as the use of high efficiency windows and use of thermal for floors and ceilings contribute to the reduction in amount of operational energy consumed. Behaviour of the occupants such as levels of the require d illumination and hot water or the number of electric devices should be regulated so as to reduce the amount of operational energy. Choice of Renewable Energy Systems Renewable energy is obtained from renewable sources that cannot be exhausted or are naturally replenished. These sources include sunlight, wind, waves and tide, and geothermal sources(MacZulak, 2010). The use of renewable energy helps reduce the amount of fossil fuels used hence leading to a reduction of air pollution. In homes, renewable source systems can be used to provide energy for cooking, heating, and cooling. Some of the renewable energy systems that can be installed in homes include small solar electric systems, hybrid electric systems and wind electric systems(Bonta Snyder, 2008). Recycle and Reuse A lot of solid waste is generated as a result of building and construction works. The amount of energy used for the production of these materials can be reduced through minimization of waste and recycling of materials. Suitable materials should be recycled, existing materials should be reused and use of materials should be reduced by for example renovating instead of demolishing(Richardson, 2013). Water harvesting facilities should be provided for re-use. In conclusion, sustainable homes should be efficient, economical and should reduce the pollution and carbon emission to the environment with zero/low energy. The design of homes should give consideration to the factors discussed above with a view of reducing emission of greenhouse gases and preserving the environment. Bibliography Akintoye, A., Goulding, J. Zawdie, G. eds., 2012. Construction Innovation and Process Improvement. Oxford: John Willey Sons. Bonta, D. Snyder, S., 2008. New Green Home Solutions: Renewable Household Energy and Sustainable Living. Layton: Gibbs Smith. Cotgrave, A. Riley, M. eds., 2012. Total Sustainability in the Built Environment. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Emmanuel, R. Barker, K., 2012. Carbon Management in the Built Environment. New York: Routledge. Giordano, R. et al., 2015. Embodied Energy and Operational Energy assessment on the framework of Nearly ZeroEnergy Building and Building Energy Rating. Turin, Elsevier. MacZulak, A. E., 2010. Renewable Energy: Sources and Methods. New York: Infobase. McLeish, E., 2009. Suatainable homes. London: Evan Brothers Limited. Mlecnik, E., 2013. Innovation Development for Highly Energy Efficient Housing: Opportunities and challenges related to the adoption of passive houses. Amsterdam: IOS Press. Richardson, A., ed., 2013. Reuse of Materials and Byproducts in Construction: Waste Minimization and Recycling. London: Springer. Shoubi, M. V., Masoud, V. S., Bagchi, A. Barough, A. S., 2015. Reducing operational energy demand in building using information modeling tools and sustainabilty approaches. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, pp. 41-55.