CORE & ENVELOPE
The primary goal of the building envelope should be maximum thermal
performance. Conservation of energy is one of the most important aspects to consider
in developing sustainable buildings as more than 60% of all electricity and more than 30%
of all energy in the United States is consumed by buildings. Regardless of building
type, most energy that is wasted can be attributed to poor design decisions regarding such
factors as orientation, insulation, and glazing. Envelope considerations deal with passive
solar heating, building insulation and glazing. Designing correctly can save on both
energy consumption and cost, and it can reduce air pollution by limiting infiltration of
outdoor pollutants into the buildings air supply.
According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, $13 billion are lost
each year in the form of lost heated or cooled air seeping through cracks or holes in a
buildings shell. |
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