Today, in the modern world, energy saving is an integral part of the life of a civil society. This is health care, money saving and living comfort.
But one of the most important (global) features of energy saving is the protection of the environment from negative influences.
Energy saving concept
The very concept of "energy saving" has been around for a long time. Today, energy saving is characterized by a conceptual apparatus.
Energy saving is based on the energy resource as an energy carrier that can be used in any activity. Energy saving is any activity aimed at reducing the use of energy resources without prejudice to the main function of their use. Despite the extreme accuracy of the definitions, there is often confusion in the concepts of "energy saving" and "energy efficiency". In this regard, the definition of the latter is given. Energy efficiency is a certain set of characteristics that reflect the relationship between the effect of the use of energy resources on the costs of the energy resources themselves. The energy saving efficiency is characterized, among other things, by the energy efficiency class, which reflects the degree of utility of a product in terms of energy saving. To determine energy efficiency, special energy surveys are conducted.
Basic principles of energy saving
Now, having defined the basic concepts in this area, it is worth reflecting on the basic principles of energy saving:
- Use of alternative energy sources.
- Use of secondary energy resources.
- Application of non-energy intensive technologies and equipment.
- Take measures for the rational use of available energy resources. Evaluation of the economic feasibility of the use of any energy saving technologies and solutions.
This list can be attributed to both the regulatory principles of energy saving and the main approaches to insulating a private house. The main thing to remember: energy saving involves not only additional ways of obtaining energy, but also activities to save available energy and its rational use.
Alternative energy sources
Today there is a lot of talk about alternative energy sources. As a rule, we mean renewable energy resources. What is endlessly renewed on planet Earth? Of course, this is the water, the sun, the wind, the earth's crust. Of course, if you go into detail, solar activity also changes over time and the surface of the earth's crust becomes thinner, but all of this is on the scale of the Universe. We are talking about renewal within the framework of our civilization: in the next few centuries, we believe, the Sun will not darken and the Earth will not fly out of its orbit.
Therefore, the following energy sources are now considered alternatives to oil, gas, coal and wood:
- Energy of the Sun.Solar batteries and collectors are used to utilize this source. The former are solar cells that directly convert the sun's energy into electrical current. Solar collectors do not convert energy into electric current, but heat the coolant for its later use (for example, for heating water in a private house).
- Wind energy.Windmills that generate electricity using blades rotated by the force of the wind are very popular in Europe. For example, Germany already gets a third of its electricity using this renewable energy source.
- Energy of water.It's not just about hydroelectric power plants. Today there are heat pumps that convert the heat of the water of a lake or a swimming pool into stable water heating to heat a house and supply it with hot water.
- Energy of the Earth.The heat pumps described above can also use groundwater or upper crust water heat for public utilities. Such installations are very popular, as they do not require a source of water or wind nearby - the coolant can be placed in special pipes under the lawn, for example, or in wells in the garden area.
Secondary energy resources
Energy recycling is one of the fundamental principles of energy efficiency. Improving the efficiency of the ventilation and air conditioning system used in the building is only possible by recycling the heat from the exhaust air. This process of returning part of the heat that comes out of the building (the air heats up in the room from the work equipment, the people in the room) is called recovery. In this aspect, energy saving is the conservation of the energy available in the environment.
The operating principle of the recuperator is very simple: through certain platinums, which conduct heat well, the air taken from the room heats the cold flows coming from the street without mixing with it. As a result, not ice, but air heated by 2-3 degrees enters the house, which contributes to a more comfortable microclimate in the room, and also allows you to save on heating, due to the increase in temperature in the room dueof hot streams. The recuperators are of the plate type, as described above, rotary (with a rotating element inside) and with an intermediate heat carrier. A large selection of manufacturers of recuperators allows you to choose a device for different premises and customers.
How to rationally use common energy resources?
The rational use of available resources includes not only the installation and operation of energy-efficient equipment, but also compliance with a certain regime. Energy saving mode is a lifestyle where energy saving is provided at the household level. If you set a goal - to save on bills, you must first install equipment that, with the help of automation of supply and energy metering, will allow you not to waste kilowatts. It should be selected based on the marking confirming that this device or device provides energy savings. Increase the energy optimization of resource use is possible only with the rational operation of all equipment. Timely turning off the light in rooms where there are no people, careful attention to the waste of hot water and the correct setting of automatic metering devices and the consumption of heat and electricity in the house will allow significant results in energy and money savingpersonal.
What is a passive house?
Energy efficiency and energy saving are inextricably linked to the concept of passive housing construction. It combines a series of energy saving measures that together ensure low energy consumption. The history of passive house technology begins in the city of Darmstadt, where it was first developed by physicist Feist. The calculation of the energy balance of the house prompted him to create a building that would not need to be connected to heating even in winter: a passive house. At that time, homes in Germany consumed around 200 kWh / m² per year. The passive house, on the other hand, only needs 10 kWh / m² per year to remain suitable and also comfortable for living all year round. The basic criterion for a passive house is the creation of a closed building envelope with increased thermal insulation and low thermal conductivity. This is achieved by using energy-saving thermal insulation materials, excluding the so-called cold bridges (places in the building envelope through which the cold enters the building: facades, window frames).
Evaluation of the efficiency of the application of energy saving technologies
To bring the level of energy consumption of a building closer to the standard of a passive house, it is necessary to use materials with high heat resistance, modern engineering equipment, renewable and secondary energy sources, in a word measures that ensure energy saving. At the same time, energy efficiency is calculated based on the costs spent on a particular innovation in the house and the effect that this decision will bring to the owner. First, it is necessary to calculate the impact of the new technology on the production and consumption of a particular type of resource. In this case, you need to evaluate:
- The degree of resource savings (the difference between the resources used by energy-efficient equipment and traditional ones for the billing period when generating the same amount of energy).
- The effect of energy production (the difference or ratio between the volumes of energy generated over a certain period by the equipment options compared using the same amount of resources).
These indicators will give us an idea of the need to move to the calculation of the economic effect. It is calculated by comparing the costs spent on purchasing new (and possibly dismantling) equipment and the income from energy savings when replacing a waste machine with a more modern one (over a certain period of time). This difference will be the effect that the owner will receive after a certain period of time after applying the energy efficiency solution. Usually the installation of recuperators or solar panels pays for itself in 3-5 years.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that saving energy is not just about saving money. First of all, it is concern for tomorrow, in which our children will live.