Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-wp2c8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-08-09T06:03:39.914Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Increasing Building Energy Efficiency Through Advances in Materials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Ron Judkoff
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Materials advances could help to reduce the energy and environmental impacts of buildings. Globally, buildings use about 20% of primary energy and account for 20% of atmospheric emissions. Building energy consumption emanates from a variety of sources, some of which are related to the building envelope or fabric, some to the equipment in the building, and some to both. Opportunities for reducing energy use in buildings through innovative materials are therefore numerous, but there is no one system, component, or material whose improvement alone can solve the building energy problem. Many of the loads in a building are interactive, and this complicates cost/benefit analysis for new materials, components, and systems. Moreover, components and materials for buildings must meet stringent durability and cost/performance criteria to last the long service lifetimes of buildings and compete successfully in the marketplace.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

References

1.International Energy Outlook 2007 [Report DOE/EIA-0484 (2007), Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC, 2007]; www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/ (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
2.Coal Facts 2006 (World Coal Institute, London, September 2006).Google Scholar
3. Table 8 in World Recoverable Coal Reserves as of January 1, 2003 (Report DOE/EIA-0484 (2007), Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC, May 2007; www.eia.doe.gov/olaf/ieo/pdf/coal_tables.pdf) (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
4.Judkoff, R., Calculations for this paper (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, August 2007).Google Scholar
5.Greenhouse Gases, Climate Change and Energy (Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC, November 2003).Google Scholar
6.2006 Building Energy Data Book (Energy Effciency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC, September 2006).Google Scholar
7.Christensen, C., Anderson, R., Horowitz, S., Courtney, A., Spencer, J., BEopt™ Software for Building Energy Optimization: Features and Capabilities (Report TP-550–39929, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 2006).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. 2005 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals (ASHRAE, Atlanta, GA, 2005).Google Scholar
9.Benson, D.K., Potter, T.F., “Compact Vacuum Insulation,” U.S. Patent 5,157,893; NRELAcc. No. 13271 (October 27, 1992).Google Scholar
10.Griffth, B.T., Arasteh, D., Advanced Insulations for Refrigerator/Freezers: The Potential for New Shell Designs Incorporating Polymer Barrier Constructions (Report LBNL-33376, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 1992).Google Scholar
11.Kunzel, H., Grosskinsky, T., Vapor Barrier for Use in the Heat Insulation of Buildings. U.S. Patent 6,808,772 B2, 2004.Google Scholar
12.Haines, J.A., Infrared Refective Wall Paint. U.S. Patent 7,157,112, 2007 (and associated art).Google Scholar
13.Telkes, M., “Phase Change Thermal Storage Materials with Crust Forming Stabilizers,” U.S. Patent 4,187,189 (1980).Google Scholar
14.Buddhl, D., A Selected List of References in Twentieth Century (1900–1999) on Phase Change Materials and Latent Heat Energy Storage Systems (Thermal Energy Storage Laboratory, School of Energy and Environmental Studies, Devi Ahllya University, Indore, India).Google Scholar
15.Plchot, F., Ferrere, S., Pitts, R.J., Gregg, B.A., J. Electrochem. Soc. 146 (11), 4324 (1999); NREL Report JA-590–26316.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Benson, D.K., Tracy, C.E., Jorgensen, G.J., Evacuated Window Glazing Research and Development: A Progress Report (Report PR-255–2578, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 1984).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Carmody, J., Selkowltz, S., Lee, E., Arasteh, D., Willmert, T., Window Systems for High Performance Buildings (W.W. Norton, New York, 2004).Google Scholar
18.Burch, J.D., NREL Report CP-550–39461, 1877 presented at ANTEC 2006 Plastics: Proceedings of the Annual Technical Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina; Brookfeld, CT: Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), 7–11 May 2006.Google Scholar