ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING DESIGN

Abstract

Availability and use of electricity and fuel is the major concern for Pakistan. People go without electricity for half of the day and sometimes even more. New sustainable initiatives are needed to respond to the Pakistan energy crisis. This is the major reason to build energy efficient / green buildings. Pollution is also one of the reasons for constructing the green buildings. A building’s location, materials used in its construction, process of construction, wind speed and its direction and the building’s surrounding plays a key role in regulating its temperature and illumination. For example trees, landscapes and hills can provide shade and block the wind. Proper placement of windows and skylights as well as the use of artificial lights. Effective energy efficient building design can include the use of low cost Passive Infra Reds (PIRs) to switch off artificial lights when areas are unoccupied such. In addition flux level can be monitored using day light sensors linked to buildings light scheme to switch on/off or dim the lighting to predefined levels to take into account the natural light and thus reduce consumption. Building Management System (BMS) link all of this together in one centralized computer to control the whole building’s lighting and power requirements. Since we live in area where summer is twice as long as compared to winter that is why our major focus will be on keeping the building cool by glazing the windows or by insulating materials.