Mitigating High Energy Losses in Buildings - Energy-efficient Techniques
Introduction
We’re all aware of energy losses and their increasing environmental impact. Energy losses in buildings are an issue because they contribute to energy inefficiency and are a waste of resources. They’re becoming a rising problem in modern-day facilities and must be tackled promptly and tactfully. So how does that happen? From proper insulation techniques to suitable prevention measures, there’s a lot that one can do. But first, we need to take a look at the reasons behind the growing energy loss that our buildings face.
Causes of High Energy Losses in Buildings
Buildings from a few decades old are sometimes more prone to energy losses because they weren’t always constructed efficiently as one of the priorities. As a building owner, you need to know what causes to look for in order to identify whether your building is losing energy. Here are just a few examples: faulty electrical lines, weakened structural components such as aging roofs and holes in the walls, incandescent lights (since they use up a lot more energy than LEDs), leaky systems, wasteful power sources, and a lot more, all of these problems can contribute to high energy losses. The most effective solution to almost all of these problems is the outright replacement of problematic elements, but that’s for dealing with it in older infrastructure. As we move towards modern construction, buildings now need to be constructed with energy efficiency in mind. This is where modern architectural techniques and technologies come in.
Making Modern-day Buildings Energy-efficient
Energy consumption can be reduced by implementing techniques in your home that reduce the loss of heat, which will ultimately help you save bills as well. Here are a few ways to mitigate energy losses in your building:
1. Insulating the basement and attic:
Well-sealed attics and basements will keep heat from escaping in the winter and entering in the summer. This process will ensure seasonal comfort for you throughout the air, reducing utility bills. In addition, other parts of the home should be insulated as well. Home insulation has an immediate positive impact on the mitigation of high energy loss for your home.
2. Proper ventilation:
Proper ventilation is essential for maintaining air circulation inside your home and ensuring that moisture doesn’t accumulate. Not just that, it also keeps mold from accumulating and reduces dampness and humidity. Ventilation works in tandem with insulation, with both techniques complementing each other.
3. Sealing doors and windows:
A tightly sealed home prevents air leakage, reducing heating needs in winter and cooling needs in summer.
4. Utilizing renewable energy sources:
The most significant example is the usage of solar power which has also become increasingly popular in the country within the past few years. Solar energy can be used to generate electricity and heat for the house and can massively reduce the energy bills you pay every month. Solar energy is a one-time investment that saves you a lot of big bucks in the long run. Renewable energy sources are also a lot more conducive to the environment and have a positive impact on the surroundings, reducing your carbon footprint. The energy can also be stored for future use, this way making your home a lot more energy-efficient.
5. The right appliances:
The difference here is the amount of energy a machine will consume in one cycle of running. Modern homes are laced with appliances from head to toe; there’s a device for every purpose, often the biggest reason for the hefty power bills you pay every month. With energy-efficient appliances, you can expect to conserve the energy within your home while also making it less costly for your pocket: it’s a win-win situation.
6. Making better choices:
In addition to the extensive techniques and modern technologies, lessening your energy consumption also stems from proper habits. Make a note of these things:
• Turn off your lights in empty rooms and utilize direct sunlight wherever possible.
• Instead of leaving the switch on your electronics turned on, turn them off.
• Air dry clothes and dishes instead of using appliances.
• Keep the curtains down at night so that heat doesn’t escape your rooms.
• Take showers instead of baths
• And a lot more!
Small everyday choices can make a massive difference in the long run and conserve your home’s energy for the better. This is not an exclusive list, there is a myriad of other ways to increase the energy efficiency in your home by your habits, and you need to get on them today!
7. Seeking better and innovative technologies:
The rest of the world is a long way ahead of Pakistan when it comes to preventing energy losses, but Pakistan is on the way. In order to keep the dream coming true, come up with innovative and creative ideas of your own that help us develop more energy-efficient procedures, materials, and techniques.
8. Going back to the old ways:
This approach might seem a little unconventional to some but maybe what we require is a turning back to our old, indigenous methods. In the era of Mughal architecture, passive cooling techniques and locally available resources were used for energy-efficient buildings. The sub-continent was fairly advanced regarding infrastructure like these, and these technologies still hold strong today if you visit these places after hundreds of years. Maybe civil engineers can take a closer and deeper understanding of the way those buildings were organized and replicate the structures on modern-day Pakistani buildings.
Final Words
Energy efficiency is more than just a buzzword in today’s world. In a society plagued by hazards such as global warming, climate change, and natural disasters, it’s individual efforts like these that can help have a positive effect on the environment instead. Moreover, the conversation on energy efficiency and loss mitigation also needs to be brought up on government platforms so better policies can be made regarding construction that guarantees the use of mitigation and prevention techniques within houses. Pakistan has a long way to go when it comes to applying these techniques, but even our industry presents tremendous potential for it to happen!
