Energy Conservation and Natural Ventilation

Energy Conservation in Buildings

Since the explosion of energy use in the early 20th century, the demand for energy has been ever increasing. It wasn’t until the later part of the 20th century that people began to realize that some energy sources might be finite or very difficult to access. Thankfully there has been a movement towards preservation and energy conservation of our rich natural resources.

Before the discovery of electricity, buildings were designed to take advantage of sunlight and natural ventilation. Buildings had to make smart use of windows, doorways, and chimneys to maintain a comfortable temperature and to circulate fresh air. In pursuit of conserving energy, many architects are implementing these historic techniques into new buildings.

Engineers can make more efficient and more comfortable buildings by figuring out how to use less energy and harness the natural elements.  As we tend to spend most of our time inside of buildings, either at the workplace or at home, ensuring comfort without wasting energy is a very important concern.

How does natural ventilation work

Temperature control in a building means designing it to be warm in winters and cool in summers. By implementing natural weather conditions as much as possible, builders can reduce the need for heating and cooling. Natural ventilation works by using the differences in air pressure, buoyancy and temperature to circulate air, bringing in fresh air and removing stale air. This can save a lot of energy otherwise used by air conditioning systems and fans.

When your designer is creating a ventilation system for your building, consult with him to place intake vents for air at strategic points in the building. Place intake air vents and louvers as close to the ground as possible. Because cold air flows along at ground level they need to be near the cool air. Don’t forget, cool air falls and hot air rises. Of course, this is also the reason why air outlets should be on the ceiling; to let warm air rise up and out of the building. This strategic placement facilitates the natural movement of hot air and cold air.

Enhanced energy conservation

Whether you are planning ventilation for an industrial building or even a personal residence, you want to make the most of your ventilation system. Pretty much every building can take advantage of the same temperature control philosophies. It can even be applied to open office areas. Simple tricks, like making sure there is space between cubicles will ensure the air flow benefits from natural ventilation. The smart placement of windows, louvers, and grills can do wonders for cutting down a building’s energy use.

At Moffitt, we know the importance of reducing your carbon footprint. We have been in the business of cooling, heating and ventilating buildings for more than fifty-five years. We’re happy to help throughout the design process. This includes consultations with the building engineers at the planning stage all the way through working with the building erector. We want to help save the planet, and we think natural ventilation is a good way to do that.