UK Passive Design Choices: Achieving Sustainability With Low Energy Use - Essay Sample

Introduction

Passive design choices in the U.K. are taking the mantle towards the achievement of sustainability vastly based on specific reasons. They are attached with little energy consumption, thus providing comfort while at the same time, they are ecological and affordable. There has been a global debate geared on the reduction of carbon emissions. Some dangers emanate as a result of the escalating emissions of carbon into the atmosphere, which may include the destruction of the ozone layer. Once the ozone layer is damaged, it will allow some dangerous radiations that cause abnormality in growth. There is also a campaign for energy efficiency, and the building regulations are strictly followed by the latter. It is known to save energy by 90% than the typical active design houses.

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Moreover, with the adoption of passive design, fuel bills are significantly lower since the energy consumption is low. Besides, passive design choices have been proven to provide comfort holistically. What impels the notion of comfort is merely due to the thermal approach. It thereby provides comfort in all the seasons, be it cold or warm (Roslan, 2016) pp.126-133. The design takes into account radiant temperature, air temperature, the humidity of the air as well as the airspeed. The adoption of the design is also becoming popular in the U.K. due to its domineering quality.

Materials that are used in the process are of high quality and thus branding the ability to resist wear and tear that may result in physical pressures. It can be denoted from the high level of insulation as well as its airtight design. It thereby inhibits damages that may result due to the buildup of moisture. The design is also known for its affordability from its beginning in the long run. The approach eliminates the incurrences that emanate from the use of expensive cooling systems. It thereby portrays an essential element of sustainable affordability. It is also beneficial in the sense that it is environmentally friendly (Martiskainen, 2018,) pp. 15-31. It is since it uses less primary energy while maximizing and embracing the use of natural energy, such as the sunlight. It thereby becomes sustainable since sufficient resources that could be utilized by the future generation without thrusting any harm to the environment.

Furthermore, there are no emissions of any pollutants to the biosphere. They also reflect an essential element of versatility since it can be used in many domains ranging from residential to administrative buildings. It thereby vivid that the design is flexible and universally applied in many places in the U.K. Moreover, passive houses could be erected in different climatic zones (Jomehzadeh, Nejat, Calautit, Yusof, Zaki, Hughes &Yazid, 2017) pp.736-756.

The designers normally align with some specific basic principles to come up with more impressive and aesthetic deliverables. Passive buildings are designed in such a way that the southern facade oriented towards the equator in the northern hemisphere. It allows the longer dimension of the building to gain maximum solar energy. The orientation is beneficial, especially during the summer season, thus bringing about the cooling effect. Secondly, then the principle of shading and overhanging helps in the reduction of the overheating in summer. Shading at the same time should be made in a way that provides a room for protecting in conditions of excess radiations. The designers deeply involved the critical thinking approach that entails the measurable criteria since any small deviation could result in total awry. Insulations are done to inhibit the reduction of heat loss using different recommended materials that include cotton, fibreglass, perlite, sheep's wool as well as mineral wool. Besides, there is the adoption of glazing, which could either be double or triple. They are vital since they serve as solar collectors, thus allowing light and heat to penetrate through thus provision of natural ventilation. Thermal mass is also crucial since it tends to moderate internal space temperatures helping in the reduction of mechanical cooling. The approach of active choices is inferior to passive designs; it is because it maximizes costs that result from typical applications.

Additionally, the achievement of the passive house standard in the U.K. it has to meet some specified quality assurance prerequisite requirements. The passive designers, as well as consultants, has to be certified the same way. In most cases, it is an expectation that certified personnel in the building industry, which encompasses house designers as well as the consultants. Passive house certification entails the attainment of the general passive standards (Kermeci, 2019). There is the inclusivity of the use of a passive planning package, which includes entry of the valid data that could facilitate the accumulation of reliable data stored in databases. It is also vital to ensure that then boundary design as well s the assumptions align with those of the passive house planning package. It is also vital to include comprehensive documentation as well as excellent drawings.

There have to be some additional records captured and presented in photographic forms demystifying the real picture in the ground. Moreover, the conductivity of all the useful materials has to agree with the required standards. Internal temperature at the same time should not fall below seventeen degrees Celsius, especially on ten windows in the coldest months of the year. The mechanical heat ventilation recovery should be perfect and ideal for producing impressive deliverables. The commissioning of ten systems at the same time should meet the set standards. The contractor must draft out a declaration confirming that the building suits the contract documentation.

On the other hand, active choices are less effective since there is the incurrence of extra costs that emanates from the use of electricity. It encapsulates the water bills and the lighting of the rooms in the building. It is, therefore, not an economical choice that irritates in comparison to the passive houses. Active design choices may is not dynamic since it suits some seasons only. In adverse conditions such a summer and winter, then comfort might not necessarily be attained. With it also, there might be the emission and release of harmful carbon products to the environment since controlled ventilation are missing (Jouhara, Milko, Danielewicz, Sayegh, Szulgowska-Zgrzywa, Ramos& Lester, 2016) pp.148-154. There is a higher carbon dioxide release. They also lack the skylight, which is applied in passive buildings. Exemption of sealing with low-quality materials is not suitable during colder periods. An example of a passive residential house is Camden situated in London and is owned by a client. It has been constructed with heavy and fabricated timber frames. It is thereby cheap to run saving heat with low emissions of carbon dioxide while at the same time bright and airy. It is located in a site overshadowing of the adjacent buildings. The passive house planning package was applied from the start to facilitate the determination of the optimum position for the house and the general orientation of the glazing. The house is known to be air and bright, slide, and tilt with draught-free glazed windows to the south as well as west. It has been designed in such a way that it uses less amount of energy for heating. It uses non-toxic materials which may pose a severe threat to the environment while producing high quality of air because of the heat recovery ventilation system. It thereby meets the requirement of zero carbon emission standards. It also takes into account the concept of biodiversity, where it incorporates the use of green rooftops and wildflower meadow.

The second example is the oak frame lake house, whereby the building has incorporated both active as well as passive eco features in Gloucestershire. It has been set into the slope, having a large basement keeping the outward volume of building to minimum exposure, thus preventing heat loss. It has also been oriented in such a way that vital areas of the glass mass face the south. There is also the use of the untreated Siberian larch as well as friendly roofing, thus complementing the eco-features (Colclough, 2019) Pg.261. Lastly is the passive farmhouse house in the North Penne area built by the use of traditional masonry construction. It is heated with small gas cylinders topped with solar panels used for domestic heating of water. Moreover, it is comfortable to live on and carry out some of the normal daily activities.

References

Colclough, S. and McWilliams, M., 2019, March. Cost Optimal U.K. Deployment of the Passive House Standard. In The International Conference on Innovative Applied Energy (IAPE'19) (p. 261).

Jomehzadeh, F., Nejat, P., Calautit, J.K., Yusof, M.B.M., Zaki, S.A., Hughes, B.R. and Yazid, M.N.A.W.M., 2017. A review on windcatcher for passive cooling and natural ventilation in buildings, Part 1: Indoor air quality and thermal comfort assessment. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 70, pp.736-756.

Jouhara, H., Milko, J., Danielewicz, J., Sayegh, M.A., Szulgowska-Zgrzywa, M., Ramos, J.B. and Lester, S.P., 2016. The performance of a novel flat heat pipe based thermal and PV/T (photovoltaic and thermal systems) solar collector that can be used as an energy-active building envelope material. Energy, 108, pp.148-154.

Kermeci, P., 2018. A study of the implications for the health of U.K. passive houses: Investigating indoor climate and indoor air quality and understanding occupants' practices (Doctoral dissertation, University of East Anglia).

Martiskainen, M. and Kivimaa, P., 2018. Creating innovative zero carbon homes in the United Kingdom-Intermediaries and champions in building projects. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 26, pp.15-31.

Roslan, Q., Ibrahim, S.H., Affandi, R., Nawi, M.N.M. and Baharun, A., 2016. A literature review on the improvement strategies of passive design for the roofing system of the modern house in a hot and humid climate region. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 5(1), pp.126-133.