Efficiency house
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Efficiency House: Insights from Recent Research
Introduction to Energy Efficiency in Homes
Energy efficiency in residential buildings is a critical concern for households, governments, and non-governmental organizations. It encompasses not only the reduction of energy usage and costs but also offers various co-benefits such as improved health, comfort, air quality, productivity, energy security, and social capital1. This article synthesizes recent research on energy-efficient houses, highlighting key findings and implications for future developments.
Energy Efficiency Interventions and Their Effectiveness
A systematic review of energy efficiency interventions in advanced economies reveals mixed evidence regarding the effectiveness of specific interventions. However, the success rate increases when multiple techniques and activities are employed simultaneously. This suggests that a holistic approach is more beneficial for achieving energy efficiency in households1.
Zero Energy Houses and International Competitions
The concept of zero energy houses, which aim to produce as much energy as they consume, has gained traction, particularly in Europe. The Solar Decathlon Europe (SDE) competition showcases low-energy solar buildings that strive to meet near-zero energy goals. These houses are evaluated based on their energy performance, interior comfort, and passive strategies, with monitoring data providing insights into their efficiency2.
Integrated Design Approaches
An example of an integrated approach to energy-efficient housing is a house in Tasmania that uses 80% less conventional energy than average homes in the region. This house employs active solar heating and a heavily insulated lightweight building envelope, demonstrating that significant energy savings are achievable even in colder climates3.
Energy Efficiency in Hot Climates
The application of energy-efficient house designs in hot and arid climates, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, focuses on reducing space cooling loads. Case studies in this region highlight the need for region-specific design considerations to optimize energy efficiency4.
Efficiency House Plus: Beyond Energy Needs
Germany's Efficiency House Plus initiative aims to create homes that generate more energy than needed for electricity, mobility, heating, cooling, and hot water. This ambitious project involves interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world testing to ensure the practicality and attractiveness of such designs5.
Multi-Objective Optimization for Low-Emission Buildings
Designing low-emission and energy-efficient residential buildings involves balancing multiple objectives, such as minimizing energy consumption, financial costs, and environmental impacts. A multi-objective optimization model using the harmony search algorithm has proven effective in achieving these goals, providing optimal solutions for single-family houses6.
Co-Benefits of Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency in residential buildings offers numerous co-benefits beyond direct utility savings. These include improved health, reduced climate costs, enhanced indoor air quality, and increased resilience to heat. Such benefits can significantly enhance the financial attractiveness of energy-saving strategies7.
Barriers and Opportunities for Energy Efficiency Labels
Energy efficiency labels play a crucial role in promoting market demand and ensuring quality in highly energy-efficient houses. However, barriers such as complexity and lack of compatibility with existing regulations need to be addressed. Simplifying labels and increasing their observability and trialability can enhance their diffusion and effectiveness8.
Strategic Planning for Energy Efficiency
Incorporating energy efficiency into strategic planning for house projects can lead to significant energy savings and more sustainable constructions. Analyzing different climate zones and structural designs helps optimize the thermal performance of houses, ensuring comfort and efficiency across various conditions9.
Capitalization of Energy Efficiency in the Housing Market
Energy efficiency is capitalized into home prices, with higher energy efficiency levels leading to increased market value. This reflects both the required capital outlay and future energy savings. Interestingly, the provision of energy performance certificates (EPCs) does not significantly affect this capitalization, questioning the necessity of government-imposed certification programs10.
Conclusion
The research highlights the importance of a comprehensive and integrated approach to designing and implementing energy-efficient houses. By considering multiple techniques, regional specifics, and the broader co-benefits, stakeholders can enhance the effectiveness and attractiveness of energy-efficient homes. Future efforts should focus on simplifying energy efficiency labels, optimizing multi-objective designs, and leveraging strategic planning to achieve sustainable and comfortable living environments.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Household energy efficiency interventions: A systematic literature review
Multiple techniques and activities in household energy efficiency interventions are more likely to succeed, with mixed evidence supporting specific interventions.
Systematic ReviewEnergy efficiency evaluation of zero energy houses
Solar Decathlon Europe houses are evaluated for energy efficiency based on their interior comfort, functioning, and energy performance, with a focus on passive strategies, services, and monitoring data.
An Integrated Approach to an Energy Efficient House
The energy efficient house in Tasmania uses nearly 80% less conventional energy than an average house, with active solar heating and a heavily insulated light weight building envelope.
Energy-Efficient House in the GCC Region
Energy-efficient houses show promise in reducing energy demand and carbon emissions in extreme hot and arid climates like the GCC region, but require specific design and construction considerations for optimal results.
Electrical design of an Efficiency House Plus
The Efficiency House Plus aims to generate more energy than its inhabitants need for electricity, mobility, heating, cooling, and hot water, while maximizing own consumption through storage systems.
Design of low-emission and energy-efficient residential buildings using a multi-objective optimization algorithm
The multi-objective optimization model based on harmony search algorithm effectively minimizes life cycle cost and carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in residential buildings, providing Pareto optimal solutions.
Highly CitedCo-benefits of energy efficiency in residential buildings
Energy-efficient residential buildings can provide 40% of the direct utility savings through avoided health and climate costs, as well as cooling the neighborhood, improving indoor air quality, and reducing airborne disease transmission.
Barriers and opportunities for labels for highly energy-efficient houses
The diffusion of voluntary European labels for highly energy-efficient houses can be improved by reducing complexity and increasing trialability, observability, and compatibility with the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).
Highly Cited