Passive Solar Design Retrofits
Contributor: Saniya Patel
Introduction [1]
In the United States, about 84% of commercial energy is wasted, 43% of which is due to design inefficiencies in large scale projects such as transportation and living space. Energy-efficient solutions are crucial in order to keep up with the growing global demand for energy. This involves improving/designing products that can do more work with less energy. These solutions are better for consumers, the environment, and the economy.
Designing Energy-Efficient Homes [2]
A house could theoretically derive most of its energy needs from solar power using two methods: active solar heating and passive solar heating.
Active solar heating is the use of rooftop panels to collect sunlight.
Solar panels may help save families money.
Heat exchangers, which transfer heat between two systems, can supplement solar heating systems for general heating.
Passive solar heating is the use of the sun’s natural ability to heat up spaces. Mid-afternoon sun shining through windows can heat up a house, and it is doubly efficient if the floors contain concrete floor pads and the ceiling contains insulation, which both store heat during the day to keep the home warm at night.
Buildings have to be oriented in a specific way (facing south) to allow for this type of heating to occur.
Using double-glazed/triple-glazed windows cut energy losses by half.
Double-glazed windows consist of two window panes separated by dead air, argon, or xenon, which increases its insulation power.
Ventilation pumps can regulate temperature and moisture by drawing out heat during the summer.
Energy-efficient lightbulbs are four times more efficient than regular lightbulbs.
LED lights are very efficient as only 5% of their energy is wasted as heat.
Using energy-efficient bulbs reduces our need for power from power plants and therefore reduces greenhouse gases.
Energy Star Certified household appliances such as dishwashers use less energy than their conventional counterparts.
They use 50% less energy, which decreases air pollution and water usage.
Most retrofits are accessible and can be installed regardless of the age and design of a house.
Incentivizing Energy Efficiency in New Jersey [3, 4, 5]
In new buildings, the cost of installing an energy-energy efficient setup is 0-3% more than the cost to build an average home, but it has a very respectable return on investment. Although retrofits are more costly, they can still save families money in the long run.
New Jersey requires all public buildings to calculate and formally establish their energy usage and efficiency. The EPA gives buildings benchmark scores on a scale of 1-100 depending on how efficient the building is, 100 being completely efficient. New Jersey has also enacted legislation requiring buildings larger than fifteen thousand square feet to meet certain performance standards.
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities created New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program, which provides individuals and businesses with financial incentives and assistance in order to help them implement energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly retrofits.
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs has a manual for owners and builders who wish to design energy-efficient buildings. Those who do are certified under the Sustainable Jersey Program.
Conclusion
Implementing these strategies on a larger scale would require a sizable initial investment, however the advantages they bring outweigh the costs. It saves families spending in the long term, increases the market value of a home, virtually eliminates the need for water heaters and other appliances, and most importantly, conserves energy and reduces our devastating impact on the environment.