Low-energy house
A low-energy house is characterized by an energy-efficient design and technical features which enable it to provide high living standards and comfort with low energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Throughout the world, companies and non-profit organizations provide guidelines and issue certifications to guarantee the energy performance of buildings and their processes and materials.
[4] According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), buildings is the sector which presents the most cost effective opportunities for GHG reductions.
One of the most significant has been the withdrawal of the Code for Sustainable Homes (CfSH) as a system for assessing and encouraging improvements in the environmental design of dwellings.
At the opposite end are buildings where few attempts are made to reduce their space-heating requirement and which use high levels of imported energy in winter.
Although this may be balanced by high levels of renewable-energy generation throughout the year, it imposes greater demands on the national energy infrastructure during winter.
The history of passive solar building design provides an international view of one form of low-energy-building development and standards.
[21] The European Union directive has clarified low-energy houses in Europe, and a large portion of the discussions on zero-energy building in North America derives from the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
[24] Canadian builders may use a range of standards, labels, and certification programs to demonstrate a high level of energy performance in a given project.
Airtight houses will trap pollutants inside them, whether produced indoors or outdoors, and lead to an increase in human exposure and potential health issues.
Low-energy building design is considered important to encourage resource efficiency and reduce global climate change associated with the burning of fossil fuels.
[31] The best low-energy designs offer occupants a better environment and more stable, controlled thermal comfort in addition to reduced energy costs.
Strategies adopted by low-carbon buildings to reduce GHG emissions during construction include: Reduction of energy consumption is more environmentally and financially advantageous than increasing onsite production to reach a low-energy goal.
Passive solar building design and energy-efficient landscaping support the low-energy house in conservation and can integrate it into a neighborhood and environment.
[32] Other techniques to reduce excess solar heat include brise-soleils, trees, attached pergolas with vines, vertical gardens, and green roofs.
Although low-energy houses can be constructed from dense or lightweight materials, internal thermal mass is normally incorporated to reduce summer peak temperatures, maintain stable winter temperatures, and prevent possible overheating in spring or autumn before the higher sun angle "shades" midday wall exposure and window penetration.
Home appliances meeting independent energy-efficiency testing and receiving Ecolabel certification marks for reduced electrical and natural-gas consumption and product-manufacturing carbon emission labels are preferred for low-energy houses.
