Sustainable Construction Energy Efficient and Sustainable Technologies - Assignment Example

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION Student’s Name University Name Professor’s Name Course Date Sustainable Construction, Energy Efficient, and Sustainable Technologies Introduction In the building and construction environment, sustainable construction and sustainable energy relate to conservation and application of the renewable energy technologies. The issues in considerations are the mechanisms of reducing the energy use, the heating, cooling and refrigeration technology, microclimate and environmental design and application of the single and two-phase heat transferring and the application of the thermal system. These are some of the issues considered in the sustainable construction and technology in achieving energy efficiency and utilization. The environmental concerns and building control provides a framework of construction and retrofitting of the older systems. The study seeks to elaborate on the appropriate mechanism in the sustainable construction and retrofitting to enhance energy conservation and environmental protection. The main objective of enhancing the sustainable construction and retrofitting is to ensure development using efficient energy concentrate in decarbonization action and hence protecting the environment. Therefore, the study focus on the sustainable construction mechanism that is energy efficient and sustainable technologically. Retrofitting is considered as additional of the new technology and other sustainable construction features into the existing and older systems. These systems include the power plants, the home energy, and the lighting systems in homes (Penna, Prada, Cappelletti, & Gasparella, 2015, p. 852). Improving the power energy efficiency to increase the energy output and reducing the emission of the carbon gas are some of the factors that are considered during retrofitting in the sustainable construction. Fig. I shows the sustainable construction of the building to enhance the lighting and power energy. The approach tends to focus on the home energy retrofitting whereby the improvement of the existing buildings especially on the energy efficiency equipment contributes to the energy efficiency (Soyoz, et al., 2013, p. 1744). The sustainable construction tends to enhance the seismic retrofitting whereby the engineers intend to strengthen the existing older building to ensure they remain firm and they can resist earthquakes (Chidiac, Catania, Perry, Morofsky, & Foo, 2013, p. 451). Therefore, the sustainable construction and retrofitting is a wider context that relates to improving the building through enhancing technology and energy to meet the environmental requirement and enhance safety and protections. Fig, 1 (Source: Google images) Energy efficient and sustainable technologies In the sustainable construction, the energy efficient focuses on different sustainable technologies and systems such as heating and cooling system, the solar system, hot water system, lighting, and power system and water conservation system (Azmoodeh & Moghadam, 2011, p. 66). The retrofitting approach in the heating and cooling systems aims in renovating the system to improve the technology. The sustainable construction helps in ensuring the system provides the intended services and conserving the energy (Kelly, 2009, p. 198). The solar system is another retrofitting technology that helps in provision power in lighting energy and heating and cooling system in the building. The approach considers enhancing the consistency in energy saving and ensuring the environmental sustainability. The solar energy is environmentally friendly and does not have an impact on human behaviors (Danieli, Bloch, & Ribakov, 2008, p. 57). It is clean energy that helps in controlling environmental pollution and global warming as it does not have harmful by-product. The Hot water system in the building from the heating and cooling systems connects the water sources to heating and cooling and then to the storage tank (Nishita & Pynoos, 2006, p. 56). The process depends on the sustainable technologies and energy efficient in ensuring the conservation of energy. Furthermore, the retrofitting helps in improving the hot water system in the building to maintain its performance and enhancing its life span. Lighting and power system should meet the engineering intention of ensuring the building has light. The designs such as beautification and brightness are formulated in achieving the demand of the building owner (Ward, 2004, p. 97). The retrofitting process is undertaken to ensure the system are maintained and set according to the technologies for sustainability. In the parking space especially in commercial building, the forms of lighting are supposed to be set and positioned depending on the size and demand of the building design (Olson, 2017, p. 12). The consumption and human behavior are the essential consideration in determining the appropriate lighting approach regarding brightness and sustainability. Water conservation system is another technology that is supposed to be enhanced to achieve environmental and energy efficiency sustainability. In the building, the system of the water conservation should be maintained to ensure the safety and health of the consumers. On the other hand, these systems are supposed to be renovated to ensure they sustain their effectiveness within the life span expected. Therefore, in maintaining the energy systems, retrofitting and sustainable technologies are required to ensure they meet the intended purposes in depending on their location and where fitted. Retrofitting measures The sustainable construction considers the enhancing the systems applied in the residential environment that are compactable with the human behaviors. The energy and recourses consumptions are supposed to align to improve the livelihood of the human being through enhancing the residential environment (Stevenson, 2013, p. 607). The systems such heating and cooling, solar, lighting and energy sources and water conservation systems are supposed to meet the standards of the residential environment. The major objective is enhancing the good living environment that supports safety and health of the human being living in these residential houses. Advantages of retrofitting and sustainable constructions The retrofitting focuses in benefiting from the newly introduced technologies by the engineers in improving the existing systems. Each and every day, through the development of technologies, engineers are coming up with the new systems that focus on improving the existing systems in the current building (Di Cesare & Ponzo, 2017, p. 16). The aspect is to ensure the building and construction remains strong as the new technologies tend to enhance the systems. The sustainable construction uses different systems such as energy plants, seismic and electricity. These systems may be developed to meet the new requirements that are introduced by the new technology. Therefore, the innovation helps in improving the existing systems and through retrofitting; the construction gets the advanced new systems that are environmentally friendly. The fig. 2 relates to the residential environment and the design used from the parking and surrounding environment. Fig 2 (Source: Google images) Optimization of the existing systems and pants components is another advantage of retrofitting. The improvements that are conducted in the construction enhance the strength and life span of the building or system. In sustainable construction, it is essential to note the existence of the demanded technology that reinforces the existing components (Charleson & Southcombe, 2017, p. 54). The firmness of the plant components depends with the introduction of the new systems that improves on the strengths and durability of the construction. The optimization of the plant components is enhanced by adding the new materials, technology and knowledge in supporting the existing to ensure it remains strong to serve the purpose effectively (Eatherton, 2012, p. 43). The retrofitting ensures the plant adapts to the new environment or the changes that are introduced in the system. As the technology advances, the needs of the change in the system are required to meet the demand of applicability or use of the system. The improvement in these systems required retrofitting whereby the systems are made to adapt to the changed products (Eckery, 2008, p. 52). Furthermore, it is essential for the engineers to consider the appropriate material that would align with the system to enhance the performance. The technologies applied in the systems through retrofitting are supposed to become compactable to ensure the intended purpose is realized. Increasing in the number and the cycle period is another reason why retrofitting is essential in the sustainable construction. The building or the systems are supposed to be reinforced to strengthen their durability to realize the intended purpose within the projected period. The retrofitting ensure the building and the systems are improved through adding essential components that would ensure they remain firm for the intended time cycle. The approach by the engineers focusing on the interest of the firm reinforcement through increasing new pieces and cycle time relates to the realization of the project objective (Beucker, Bergesen, & Gibon, 2016). If the system is supposed to serve for more than ten years, then through retrofitting, engineers can consider adding reinforcement to ensure the system remain for the entire period as projected. The availability of the spare parts contributes to the achievement of the sustainable construction and energy efficiency. The spare parts are developed depending on the need and the area that require being repaired. The changes are also done to comply with the changes that are needed to achieve efficient and sustainable environment. These changes can be as a result of the environmental changes whereby the system is supposed to be improved to improve the efficiency (Yao, Han, Li, Shahrestani, & Li, 2016, p. 289). Therefore, the introduction of the new spare parts would not necessarily indicate the defect but can indicate the compliance to the needed changes in the system to improve the performance. Retrofitting is essential in renovations of the building, systems and other construction to enhance and improvement to meet the environmental needs. The intention is changing the system to ensure the intended purposes are achieved efficiently. In the engineering field, the systems may require renovation in changing their face, application, and performance to fit the new demand. The building renovation takes different approaches whereby the systems such as lightening; the building designs and strengthening may require expertise in reinforcing the construction (Penna, Prada, Cappelletti, & Gasparella, 2015, p. 855). The major need is to ensure the building meets the new specifications and look depending on the requirement sets. The systems such as electricity may be renovated to ensure the applicability of the lightings; the power usage and technology used in beautification are enhanced depending on the building designs. Therefore, renovations through retrofitting are developed to improve on the sustainable construction and enhancing the environmental consideration. Assessing the technologies in-house already possess The sustainable housing technologies possessed are the lighting and energy sources system, the heating and cooling systems, solar system and hot water system. These technologies require maintenance and renovations, and hence the retrofitting is conducted regularities. Starting with the lighting and energy system, the retrofitting is carried out to enhance the system in ensuring conservation of the energy. The housing lighting is supposed to provide enough light especially in the reading room and living room. Other rooms such as bedroom and kitchen room are supposed to have specified lights depending on the people living in the room. At the dinner table, the mode of lighting is supposed to be designed for beautification whereby different types of lights color may be present (Di Cesare & Ponzo, 2017, p. 18). During retrofitting, it is essential for the house owner to define the design they need to the professional to ensure proper mechanism are undertaken to meets the energy conservation and the intention of lighting intended. In the fig, 3 below, the design of the house is made to show sustainable technology designing the lighting. Fig, 3: (Source: Google images) Heating and cooling systems require being renovated to ensure the system meets the standards in heating and cooling the residential house. The residential environment requires maintaining the set temperature degrees. The technology in renovating the residential room is conducted with the intention of improving the thermometer measures and ensuring energy conservation. Furthermore, the systems should be environmentally friendly as not carbon gas is supposed to be emitted (Charleson & Southcombe, 2017, p. 57). Therefore, through renovation, it is important to ensure the technology has met all the capacities set to maintain modern technologies in the residential room. This relates to the higher and lower temperature extreme setting and how it alternates with the surrounding temperature in the residential apartment. The solar system is connected to the water heating system. The renovation intends to ensure the energy trapped in the solar systems is used in lighting and heating water. Fig 4, shows solar used in tapping energy that is stored to act an alternative source of the lighting, heating and cooling energy. The residential houses depend on the solar energy in warming water and as the source of energy. The retrofitting aims to improve the system and ensuring no energy is lost. Therefore, the technologies that are used in the residential housing are to achieve sustainable environment and construction that provide the relevant living environment (Nishita & Pynoos, 2006, p. 56). Therefore, the retrofitting helps in improving these systems to meet their mandate in realizing the intended purpose within their set life span. Fig, 4 (Source: Google images) Three technologies maximizing the environmental performance Water conservation and stormwater retrofits technologies In maximizing the environmental performance, the retrofits technologies in the water conservation measures and stormwater focuses on the health and safety of the residential dwellers. Retrofit technologies in the water conservation and stormwater focuses on improving the health and safety (Stevenson, 2013, p. 607). The enhancement of the quality of the consumption water in the water conservation and the stormwater depends with the quality in storage and controlling the stormwater. The flooding and erosion downstream lead to siltation and hence the system should be in a position of purifying the water. The effectiveness in retrofitting are based on the rate at which it is possible in upgrading the stormwater to meet quality and quantity standard for the residential consumption. The relative performance of the system after retrofitting would determine whether the improvement in the retrofitting achieves the optimum effectiveness, viability, and cost. The evaluation of the cost and benefits as a result of retrofitting of the water systems would help in indicating the capacity of pollutant removal to enhance the suitability in the water consumption by the residential dwellers (Danieli, Bloch, & Ribakov, 2008, p. 59). The chemicals and other biological composition for sedimentation are supposed to be considered to ensure the system is safe and secure for the residential application. The water conservation and stormwater retrofitting technologies should contribute to environmental performance and sustainability. Heating and cooling Energy systems retrofitting technology The energy efficiency is the key and essential factor that should be considered during retrofitting technology in the heating and cooling energy system. The achievements of the system are directed to the extent of the natural energy installation in the residential houses and meeting the needs, and purposes intended. The retrofitting technology provides the heating and cooling systems with the energy that would enhance and maintain the balanced temperature in the house. The proportion of the natural energy efficiency of the household energy should be related to the environmental friendly relationship. The households have specified the energy to be used, and hence through the heating and cooling system, the appropriate measure should be efficient in undertaking the set purpose (Eatherton, 2012, p. 44). The energy efficiency is enhanced through the determination of the environmental temperature, the need for heating or cooling services in the house, and the application of the technology. Fig, 5 shows how solar energy being harnessed in a cooling system and relating to the sustainable technology. The retrofitting technology aims in ensuring the household energy are conserved for the cooling and heating when the need arises. Furthermore, the system should enhance the cost effectiveness and economics aspects in the adoption of energy efficiency and energy consumption. Fig; 5 (Source: Google images) Solar Energy and Environmental sustainability technologies In improving the environmental performance, it is the required implementation of successful systems and technologies in measuring the solar energy and environmental sustainability. The evaluation of the environmental performance and sustainability is required to ensure the residential environment achieve the set safety and healthy. The activity undertaken by the system is supposed to be environmentally friendly and hence does not emit carbon gas to pollute the environment (Chidiac, Catania, Perry, Morofsky, & Foo, 2013, p. 448). The use of the solar energy system is to ensure the reduction of the fossil products that leads to carbon gas as the by-product. These carbon gas leads to the global warming and hence affecting the environmental sustains. In fig. 6, the solar energy shows connecting to the lighting, heating and cooling systems in residential house. Solar energy is the source of clean energy for the households and hence economic and effective in utilization. The retrofitting technologies would focus on enhancing the solar energy tapping and improving the efficiency of the existing system. Therefore, the environmental sustenance is achieved by the use of clean energy in the residential house. Fig, 6 (Source: Google images) The other essential issue to consider is the transport energies that depends on the diesel and other fossils products as the source of energy. The impact of the transport energy on the carbon footprint emits carbon gas that pollutes the environment. The retrofitting considers reinforcing the engines with a special fitting that helps in combustion and controlling the carbon gas emission. The achievement of retrofitting technology is enhancing and improving the consumption of the fuel in the transport energies (Yao, Han, Li, Shahrestani, & Li, 2016, p. 299). The home’s occupants tend to depend on the fuel in their transportation and hence contributing to the environmental degradation. The retrofitting would help in changing their behaviors and enhancing modified and changes systems that would contribute in the sustenance of environment and surrounding. Conclusion The retrofitting technology has been applied in the residential houses and homes in improving the livelihood and behavior of the occupants. The systems that are used in the homestead are renovated with the intention of increasing their efficiency and lifespan of their services. The renovation also tends to improve the systems to meet the developing technology in conducting their purpose effectively. The sustainable environment and construction are major issues that are considered and require to be reinforced. The firmness of the construction sustenance requires retrofitting to strengthen the foundation for longer lifecycle. The technologies and energies used in the occupational households and residential houses are supposed to contribute to the environmental conservation. Therefore, the sustainable construction and technologies in retrofitting are formulated to enhance energy efficiency and environmental conservation. Bibliography Azmoodeh, & Moghadam. (2011). Optimum seismic retrofitting technique for buildings. Civil Engineering & Environmental Systems. 28(1), 61-74. Beucker, S., Bergesen, J., & Gibon, T. (2016). Building Energy Management Systems: Global Potentials and Environmental Implications of Deployment. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 20(2), 223-233. Charleson, A., & Southcombe, M. (2017). Strategies for the Seismic Upgrading Of Pairs of Buildings in a Historic Precinct. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering. 50(1), 50-58. Chidiac, Catania, Perry, Morofsky, & Foo. (2013). 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