{"id":38,"date":"2015-01-26T15:13:52","date_gmt":"2015-01-26T15:13:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/excelsior.servers.prgn.misp.co.uk\/~theoneplanetlife\/?p=38"},"modified":"2015-01-27T16:58:02","modified_gmt":"2015-01-27T16:58:02","slug":"4-ways-to-plan-neighborhoods-and-buildings-to-minimize-energy-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theoneplanetlife.com\/cy\/4-ways-to-plan-neighborhoods-and-buildings-to-minimize-energy-use\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Ways to Plan Neighborhoods and Buildings to Minimize Energy Use"},"content":{"rendered":"

Conventional buildings consume much energy for heating and cooling to protect them from the temperature effects of climate and seasons. But some basic thought and planning, in combination with these 10\u00a0passive solar building design techniques<\/a>, can help to radically reduce these energy costs. Here’s 4 key ideas:<\/p>\n

1. Optimize the spatial layout<\/h2>\n

\"Inappropriate<\/p>\n

Inappropriate (left) and appropriate (right) spatial layouts for settlements in hot climates. Grid layouts borrowed from other climates, and wide spacing of buildings, do not provide shade or wind shelter. Organic, non-grid layouts do provide shade and can be designed to block winds, preventing issues with wind funnelling. <\/em>Credit: author.<\/p>\n

\"Sample<\/em><\/p>\n

Right: Sample layout for housing estate in higher latitudes such that each property has both privacy and an equator-facing aspect and roof to maximise potential use of solar energy. Grey circles are trees, grey lines are hedges (preferably) or fences. <\/em>Credit: author.<\/p>\n

2. Optimize the building form and layout<\/h2>\n

A low surface area to volume (S\/V) ratio is optimal for a passive, low-carbon building. This is the ratio between the external surface area and the internal volume.<\/p>\n

Compactness C = Volume \/ Surface Area<\/div>\n

Size is also a factor: a small building with the same form as a larger one will have a higher S\/V ratio. Buildings with the same U-values, air-change rates and orientations but differing S\/V ratios and\/or sizes may have significantly different heating demands. This has the following consequences:<\/p>\n