Tag Archives: energy efficient buildings

Green Home Plans

If you are planning an environmentally-friendly new building, or are looking to add renewable energy technology to an existing property, you are not alone. In recent times, the importance of designing in accordance with green home plans has really gained popularity. It is important to start by getting the orientation of the building right. This varies from location to location, so to understand the the sun’s angles and the climatic region of your planned location,  it is important to have scientifically correct data on which to base your decisions.

Green Home Plans climatic Regions

Climatic Regions Map

Changing Traditional Building Methods

People are beginning to understand the damage caused to the environment by traditional building methods and they are actively looking for green architects to undertake their new buildings, extensions or upgrades to existing homes. For details on architects and building methods please view our other articles under the Consumers Section of this website.

Using Renewable Energy

Millions of homes and businesses across the world are using renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and wind power, to harness the planet’s natural resources and reduce our dependence on expensive and depleting fossil fuels.

Buying Green Building Products

Many people now view the purchase of green building products as a long-term investment, reducing the running costs of a property, while also helping to reduce their carbon footprint. Green building supply companies are booming and an increasing number of energy efficient devices are becoming available on the market.

Whether you are adopting  green home plans for an entire property, an extension, a greenhouse,  garage or  planning to retro-fit an existing building, there is a wide choice of building products available to help you complete your project. Read the article on ‘green building products on this website.

Choosing Green Building Materials

If you have specific green home plans prepared already you will now be able to find a wide range of construction materials to choose between for the best environmental results. However, a little preparation will be required to ensure that any  green home plans are executed for the best results in energy efficiency, climate control and comfort.

Green Home Plans Data Sheets

Green Home Plans Data Sheets

While shopping shopping for eco-friendly building materials, it’s important to consider the many natural materials available, including but not limited to earth, wood, straw, bamboo or stone. The choice is now vast – new environmentally sensitive  products are being developed for the market continually, in a bid to satisfy the demand from green building projects.  Our expert green building design guideLow Energy Buildings in Australia” is now available in the solar-e.com shop. We recommend you research the information in this guide to help you select the orientation of your building, the placement of windows, your choice of  building materials and their contribution to a successful low-energy building design.

Adopting Sustainable Architecture

Ideally, you will need to find a balance between practicality and great aesthetics. Green building incorporates many different elements and should always embody a high level of sustainable architecture. Many people use the services of a specially trained environmental architect to help them plan and design their projects and turn their green home plans into viable and sustainable options.

Obtaining The Stamp of Approval

Your architect can also advise you on ways to obtain green building certification on your property, which can be extremely beneficial when it comes to selling your home.

Considering The Cost

When you are working with your architect or designer on your green home plans it’s vital to consider your ongoing requirements, before commencing with any building work. This will ensure that you get the best possible results to suit your lifestyle and needs.

Carefully reviewing the number of rooms you think you need may lead to a guest bedroom doubling as a multi-purpose room. Reducing the number of rooms or their dimensions will reduce building costs and ongoing energy consumption.

Searching For Help

There is now a vast range of websites available to help you get any green projects off the ground. Using the internet, searching websites and special interest forums will uncover tips and ideas for the implementation of new technologies in a practical and cost-effective way. Use the ‘search’ button on this site for a subject you wish to read in more detail or contact us with your questions.

As increasing numbers of people look towards the use of renewable energy sources as a way to make a positive contribution to the planet, there will be increased demand for specific green home plans and architects and designers will add energy efficient design training  to their skills.

Perhaps now is the right time to research your options, get your green home plans underway and look forward to a brighter future. Please contact us if we can assist you with any specific queries on designing a passive solar or low energy building.

AuSES Conference Best Papers: Solar Thermal

We have prepared list of solar-e.com’s own selection of ranked candidates for the best Solar Thermal papers presented at the ‘Solar 2010’ Conference: Policies and Strategies (including the Economics of solar energy, diversity of derived forms of solar energy, electricity grids and data collection)

The analysis and understanding the of more obscure fields of solar energy related technology and policy developments is obviously another critical step forward to applying more solar energy in our economy. this section will hopefully expand as more papers are delivered in the future.

AuSES Committee – Best Papers at AuSES Solar 2010 as judged by the AuSES panel

Student Prizes – Wal Read Memorial Prizes
Post Graduates Prizes
BILBAO, Jose “PV-Thermal Water Systems as a Retrofit for Near Zero Energy Homes”
Winner $1500 AUD
BAMBROOK, Shelley “Experimental PVT Air System for Dwellings”
Highly Commended $1000 AUD
LHENDUP, Tshewang “Simulation of a Ground-coupled Heat Pump Combined with Solar Collectors”
Commended $250 AUD
ELLISTON, Ben “Grid parity: A potential misleading concept?”
Commended $250 AUD

Undergraduates Prizes
BRAZIER, Thomas “Dependence of installed cost of a 1.5 kW rooftop PV system on module efficiency”
Joint Winner $1,000 AUD
BOEREMA, Nicholas “Economics of constraints on wind farms – SA”
Joint Winner $1,000 AUD
O’BRIEN, Paul “Exergetic analysis of a steam-flashing thermal storage system”
Joint Winner $1,000 AUD

SOLAR THERMAL

A comment by Garry Baverstock, director of  solar-e.com is included

1.  Management of Dish Concentrator Off-Axis Reflections
G. Burgess, P. Scott, J. Preston and K. Lovegrove

Comment: Large scale thermal has great potential throughout the world and synergistic with other forms of fossil fuel generated power stations such as coal and large scale oil and gas.  These researchers have large credibility as does their university.

2.Modelling of a Direct Contact Two Immiscible Phase Molten Salt System for High Temperature Solar Thermal Storage
Shane Sheoran, Martin Belusko, Frank Bruno, Wasim Saman
Comment: Salt storage is an important part of the future viability of solar thermal plants as coal become replaced.

3. Solar Thermal Storage and Steam Programs at the CSIRO National Solar Energy Centre
R McNaughton, R Benito, GJ Duffy, JH Edwards, JS Kim, W Stein
Comment: Production of steam at night and cloudy days is imperative for a solar thermal system and this research will assist in creative solutions in the future.

4.Development of a High Flux Solar Furnace Facility at CSIRO for Australian Research and Industry
James T. Hinkley1, Robbie K. McNaughton1, Andreas Neumann1
Comment: This is visionary work s we start to apply high tech solar thermal energy to industry as Climate Change may make it an imperative if other avenues of GHGs do not work in the short time we have available.

5.Exergetic analysis of a steam-flashing thermal storage system
Paul T. O’Brien1 and John Pye2
Comment: Good to see mechanical engineers thinking out of the square.

DO YOU WISH TO BUY ANY OF THESE PAPERS?

A message from AuSES
People who were not delegates at Solar 2010 (or AuSES members) who would like to access this resource they can apply for access for an annual fee of $140 (ex GST). Please go to AuSES website.

Solar-e.com invites you to leave comments at the end of this article.

Experts who disagree with our rating and choices we invite you to make comment and if enough substance is shown we will reserve the right to change the ranking at anytime or keep the ranking the same.

AuSES Conference Best Papers: Wind Power

We have prepared list of solar-e.com’s own selection of ranked candidates for the best Wind Power papers presented at the

‘Solar 2010’ Conference: Policies and Strategies (including the Economics of solar energy, diversity of derived forms of solar energy, electricity grids and data collection)

The analysis and understanding the of more obscure fields of solar energy related technology and policy developments is obviously another critical step forward to applying more solar energy in our economy. this section will hopefully expand as more papers are delivered in the future.

Student Prizes – Wal Read Memorial Prizes
Post Graduates Prizes
BILBAO, Jose “PV-Thermal Water Systems as a Retrofit for Near Zero Energy Homes”
Winner   $1500 AUD
BAMBROOK, Shelley  ” Experimental PVT Air System for Dwellings”
Highly Commended $1000 AUD
LHENDUP, Tshewang  “Simulation of a Ground-coupled Heat Pump Combined with Solar Collectors”
Commended $250 AUD
ELLISTON, Ben  “Grid parity: A potential misleading concept?”
Commended $250 AUD

Undergraduates Prizes
BRAZIER, Thomas  “Dependence of installed cost of a 1.5 kW rooftop PV system on module efficiency”
Joint Winner $1,000 AUD
BOEREMA, Nicholas  “Economics of constraints on wind farms – SA”
Joint Winner $1,000 AUD
O’BRIEN, Paul “Exergetic analysis of a steam-flashing thermal storage system”
Joint Winner $1,000 AUD

Wind Power : Solar-e.com Director Garry Baverstock’s personal selection of the Best Papers

At the conference the papers were presented under a number of category headings such as Built Environment, Wind Power, Photovoltaics, Environmental Benefits, Solar Thermal and Economics. Following is our selection of the worthwhile papers and a ranking based on relevance to world situation on Climate Change, the impact on the increased use of solar energy and the quality of the research as presented in the paper.
The best papers, in our opinion, have been listed. This is our opinion, but we are interested in what the solar experts think and any comments are welcome. If we have overlooked a paper or you disagree with our assessment please feel free to offer your opinion. If bona fide it will be published.

WIND POWER

Image of windmills old and new

A comment by Garry Baverstock, A.M. follows each heading.

1. Impacts of Distributed Wind Generation on Distribution Networks

N. K. Roy, H. R. Pota, M. A. Mahmud, and M. J. Hossain

Comment: Wind power needs this technical analysis for it to find its rightful place in the renewable energy mix in Australia.

2. The Economics of Transmission Constraints on Wind Farms – some evidence from South Australia

Nicholas Boerema1, Iain MacGill2

Comment: Good feed back about the effectiveness of wind farms in South Australia

A message from AuSES
People who were not delegates at Solar 2010 (or AuSES members) who would like to access this resource they can apply for access for an annual fee of $140 (ex GST). Please go to AuSES website.

Solar-e.com invites you to leave comments at the end of this article.

Experts who disagree with our rating and choices we invite you to make comment and if enough substance is shown we will reserve the right to change the ranking at anytime or keep the ranking the same.

solar-e.com related links:

http://solar-e.com/knowledge/2009/11/30/green-economics
http://solar-e.com/knowledge/2009/11/24/ethical-investment
http://solar-e.com/knowledge/2009/11/30/employment-opportunities
http://solar-e.com/knowledge/2009/11/30/wave-power
http://www.solartec.iinet.net.au/solare/innovation/strategiesindevelopingproducts.htm

 

AuSES Conference Best Papers: Built Environment

We have prepared list of solar-e.com’s own selection of ranked candidates for the best Built Environment papers presented at the

‘Solar 2010’ Conference: Policies and Strategies (including the Economics of solar energy, diversity of derived forms of solar energy, electricity grids and data collection)

The analysis and understanding the of more obscure fields of solar energy related technology and policy developments is obviously another critical step forward to applying more solar energy in our economy. this section will hopefully expand as more papers are delivered in the future.

AuSES Committee – Best Papers at AuSES Solar 2010 as judged by the AuSES panel

Student Prizes – Wal Read Memorial Prizes
Post Graduates Prizes
BILBAO, Jose “PV-Thermal Water Systems as a Retrofit for Near Zero Energy Homes”
Winner $1500 AUD
BAMBROOK, Shelley “Experimental PVT Air System for Dwellings”
Highly Commended $1000 AUD
LHENDUP, Tshewang “Simulation of a Ground-coupled Heat Pump Combined with Solar Collectors”
Commended $250 AUD
ELLISTON, Ben “Grid parity: A potential misleading concept?”
Commended $250 AUD

Undergraduates Prizes
BRAZIER, Thomas “Dependence of installed cost of a 1.5 kW rooftop PV system on module efficiency”
Joint Winner $1,000 AUD
BOEREMA, Nicholas “Economics of constraints on wind farms – SA”
Joint Winner $1,000 AUD
O’BRIEN, Paul “Exergetic analysis of a steam-flashing thermal storage system”
Joint Winner $1,000 AUD

Built Environment: Solar-e.com Director Garry Baverstock’s personal selection of the Best Papers

At the conference the papers were presented under a number of category headings such as Built Environment, Wind Power, Photovoltaics, Environmental Benefits, Solar Thermal and Economics. Following is our selection of the worthwhile papers and a ranking based on relevance to world situation on Climate Change, the impact on the increased use of solar energy and the quality of the research as presented in the paper.
image of apple on booksThe best papers, in our opinion, have been listed. This is our opinion, but we are interested in what the solar experts think and any comments are welcome. If we have overlooked a paper or you disagree with our assessment please feel free to offer your opinion. If bona fide it will be published.

BUILT ENVIRONMENT

A comment by Garry Baverstock, A.M. follows each heading.

1. A Method for Practical Zero Carbon Refurbishments: A Residential Case Study

John Shiel1,2, Dr Steffen Lehmann3, Dr Jamie MacKee1

Comment: This is a complex issue and needs to be ‘fully understood with a price on carbon near to implementation, throughout the developed world.

2. PVT Water Systems as a viable Retrofitting for near Zero Energy Homes in Sydney Climate

J. Bilbao*, A.B. Sproul

Comment: This work is prize winning for the student and has great vision to the most pressing issue in our built environment, retrofitting our 7.5 million homes already built.

3. Mandatory Disclosure of House Energy Rating in the Australian Capital Territory

Trevor Lee

Comment: Lee’s work shows clearly the way forward in making home-owners more conscious of energy efficiency and the use of passive active solar strategies in their homes and achieve higher resale prices which is consistently possible with an energy efficient house.

4. A model for integrating passive elements into building ventilation and air-conditioning

Wasim Y. Saman1; Martin Belusko; Alemu Tiruneh

Comment: We need better simulation modelling that includes all passive elements and particularly natural ventilation in the built environment.

5. Performance comparisons of sky window spectral selective and high emittance radiant cooling systems under varying atmospheric conditions.

Dr Angus Gentle, Prof Geoff Smith

Comment: It is good to see highly qualified physicists getting involved in such a practical application with enormous benefits for low energy cooling systems in buildings in the future.

6. Gas Booster Solar Water Heaters: Queensland Case Studies of Installation Practices on New Homes

Wendy Miller, Raymond Miller
Comment: This is just the type of feedback that government and industry needs to know about installation practices when building an energy efficient house.

7. Experimental PVT Air System for Residential Dwellings

S. Bambrook, A. Sproul, School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy
Comment: This paper described evaluation of combining synergistic objectives of winter semi active heating as well as improving the efficiency of grid connected domestic systems. Great potential in the future retrofitting of houses in cool temperate climates.

8. An Indirect Evaporative Cooler for Supplying Air Near the Dew Point

Frank Bruno
Comment:Indirect evaporative cooling is about to become mainstream in commercial building and domestic use.
9. Low Cost, building Integrated CPV Using Standard Solar Panels

Dr Alonso Marquez, Ideasol Australia Pty Ltd
Comment: Cost is such an important issue and this paper has a practical application
10. The Development of a large Building Integrated Solar Collector for Pool Heating

TN Anderson M Duke, JK Carson, R Kunnemeyer and B Smith
Comment: Integrated systems in architecture are predicted to increase in popularity over the next 20 – 30 years.

11. Fast Thermal modelling Using Micro-Cap

GA Parnis, AB Sproul
Comment: Quicker thermal prediction tools are needed for designers

12. Photovoltaic Panels+Air Conditioners+Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms+A win-win situation

Christian Perfumo, JK Ward, and J Braslavsky
Comment: Combining the waste heat from photovoltaics provides some interesting possibilities over the coming decades

13. Simulation of a Ground –coupled Heat Pump Combined with Solar Collectors

Tshewang Lhendup, Lu Aye and RJ Fuller
Comment: There will be an explosion in innovation of combining systems once a carbon price is set worldwide

DO YOU WISH TO BUY ANY OF THESE PAPERS?

A message from AuSES
People who were not delegates at Solar 2010 (or AuSES members) who would like to access this resource they can apply for access for an annual fee of $140 (ex GST). Please go to AuSES website.

Solar-e.com invites you to leave comments at the end of this article.

Experts who disagree with our rating and choices we invite you to make comment and if enough substance is shown we will reserve the right to change the ranking at anytime or keep the ranking the same.

http://solar-e.com/knowledge/2009/11/30/green-economics
http://solar-e.com/knowledge/2009/11/24/ethical-investment
http://solar-e.com/knowledge/2009/11/30/employment-opportunities
http://solar-e.com/knowledge/2009/11/30/wave-power
http://www.solartec.iinet.net.au/solare/innovation/strategiesindevelopingproducts.htm