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Unit 8 Glossary of Terms |
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In Unit 8 we will bring together all the energy consumption fundamentals, and therefore related energy savings opportunities, covered in the previous seven units:
Previously in Unit 7 we explored Waste Management as a Green Resource. Waste Management is an integral function of Green Facility Management of previous energy (and today’s!) !! Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature. Installing fluorescent lights or natural skylights reduces the amount of energy required to attain the same level of illumination compared with using traditional incandescent light bulbs. Compact fluorescent lights use one-third the energy of incandescent lights and may last 6 to 10 times longer. Improvements in energy efficiency are generally achieved by adopting a more efficient technology or production processes [2] or by application of commonly accepted methods to reduce energy losses. There are many motivations to improve energy efficiency. Reducing energy use reduces energy costs and may result in a financial cost saving to consumers if the energy savings offset any additional costs of implementing an energy efficient technology. Reducing energy use is also seen as a solution to the problem of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. According to the International Energy Agency, improved energy efficiency in buildings, industrial processes and transportation could reduce the world's energy needs in 2050 by one third, and help control global emissions of greenhouse gases.[3] Energy efficiency and renewable energy are said to be the twin pillars of sustainable energy policy[4] and are high priorities in the sustainable energy hierarchy. In many countries energy efficiency is also seen to have a national security benefit because it can be used to reduce the level of energy imports from foreign countries and may slow down the rate at which domestic energy resources are depleted. The future of energy efficiency and renewable energy is bright. When combined with advancing technologies in energy conservation, on-site energy storage and self-sufficiency, the possibility of zero-energy buildings and facilities is here and now. And more crucial is the growing philosophy of “cradle-to-cradle” consumption of all products, including energy. |
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Efficient Energy Use – Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efficient_energy_use Unified Facilities Criteria – Whole Building Design Guide http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_cat.php?o=29&c=4 United States Renewable Energy – Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy Zero-energy Building – Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-energy_building “Cradle-to cradle” Design http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle-to-cradle_design |
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Image courtesy of Sustainable Facilities Tool – U.S. General Services Administration Content by David Bowman and Wikipedia – The Free Internet Encyclopedia |