International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)
Volume 10, Issue 04, April 2019, pp. 1632-1639, Article ID: IJCIET_10_04_170
Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=04
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316
© IAEME Publication
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ADVANTAGES OF ENERGY-EFFICIENT
CONSTRUCTION
Kozlov Nikolay Olegovich, Zakharov Oleg Andreevich, Kudrya German Gennadyevich,
Komarov Dmitriy Stanislavovich, Yavorskiy Mikhail Mikhailovich, Mkrtchyan Armen
Mkrtichevich, Ordinartcev Maksim Yurevich, Zhostik Anastasiya Aleksandrovna,
Zatonskih Matvej Alekseevich, Averyanova Anastasiya Gennadevna
Moscow State University of Civil Engineering (MGSU) National Research University, 26,
Yaroslavskoye Shosse, Moscow, Russia
ABSTRACT
This article highlights the relevance and appropriateness of building energyefficient houses in Russia with the use of modern building materials and devices, the
use of essentially new approaches to the design of structures, the practice of
introducing new technologies and structures in housing construction using the example
of low-rise houses-cottages.
The basic principles of design of energy-saving houses are also analyzed, such as
rational landscape planning and the correct orientation of the building to the sides of
the world, a spatial planning solution that implies the compactness and correct
geometry of the building to reduce its heat losses, the use of highly effective thermal
insulation materials in multicomponent facades, foundations and roofing systems, the
use of a controlled system of combined extract and input ventilation with recuperation
and the use of systems a automation. The main advantages and disadvantages of
building energy-efficient houses in the Russian Federation are considered.
Key words: energy efficient house, energy resources, energy saving, construction,
design, heat loss heating, operation, recovery.
Cite this Article: Kozlov Nikolay Olegovich, Zakharov Oleg Andreevich, Kudrya
German Gennadyevich, Komarov Dmitriy Stanislavovich, Yavorskiy Mikhail
Mikhailovich, Mkrtchyan Armen Mkrtichevich, Ordinartcev Maksim Yurevich,
Zhostik Anastasiya Aleksandrovna, Zatonskih Matvej Alekseevich, Averyanova
Anastasiya Gennadevna, Advantages of Energy-Efficient Construction. International
Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 10(04), 2019, pp. 1632-1639
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=04
The trend of world energy development and the provision of its corresponding energy resources
is the subject of public and expert discussions. The depletion of reserves of fossil fuels has
become the main factor driving the need for energy conservation, and has forced the world
community to consider developing programs on saving energy.
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Kozlov Nikolay Olegovich, Zakharov Oleg Andreevich, Kudrya German Gennadyevich,
Komarov Dmitriy Stanislavovich, Yavorskiy Mikhail Mikhailovich, Mkrtchyan Armen
Mkrtichevich, Ordinartcev Maksim Yurevich, Zhostik Anastasiya Aleksandrovna, Zatonskih
Matvej Alekseevich, Averyanova Anastasiya Gennadevna
Equipping enterprises with new energy-saving equipment, upgrading the housing and
utilities sector, introducing energy-saving technologies, and attracting investments are
necessary measures to ensure energy saving [2].
The main role in increasing energy efficiency belongs to modern energy-saving
technologies. The energy-saving technologies include new or improved technological
processes, which are characterized by a higher coefficient of useful use of fuel and energy
resources.
In industrialized countries, the desire to improve energy efficiency has become a national
idea. There state policy is aimed at optimizing energy consumption through energy
conservation, development of renewable energy sources and diversification of supply sources.
Large energy consumption accounts for residential buildings. Therefore, one of the main
methods of saving energy resources is to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. Innovative
direction in the construction is the creation of energy-efficient houses. The basic principle of
designing such houses is to reduce energy costs for heat supply in comparison with standard
buildings while at the same time increasing the comfort of the indoor microclimate due to the
maximum sealing of the building and the use of alternative energy sources.
We will consider the projects of foreign energy-efficient construction. In 1972, one of the
first experimental energy efficient buildings was built in Manchester (New Hampshire, USA).
Architects were Nicholas Isaac and Andrew Isaac. The purpose of the construction of this
building was to identify the total effect of energy saving thanks to the use of architectural and
engineering solutions aimed at saving energy resources [3].
The energy consumption for ventilation of this building is offset by a decrease of the
amount of outside air supplied. This is achieved due to proper planning and optimization of air
distribution, as well as replacement of external air with purified recirculation air. Heat
recuperators made it possible to reduce energy costs for cooling and heating the incoming air
by 60–75%. In addition, the control system of artificial lighting made it possible to save
electricity.
Pic.1 Energy-efficient high-rise building (1972, USA)
In 1979, in Otaniemi (near Helsinki, Finland) a second energy-efficient building was built
(under the supervision of architect Heimo Kautonen), it was EKONO-house. A feature of this
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Advantages of Energy-Efficient Construction
project was the construction of two externally identical sections of the building, while one of
the sections was built according to the building standards existing at that time and did not
contain innovative energy saving solutions, while constructing the second section of the
building energy-efficient solutions were used. As a result, the designers got a unique
opportunity to compare the energy consumption of both sections and evaluate the effectiveness
of the selected solutions [3].
Energy-saving solutions, recognized as innovative, allowed to ensure the effective use of
the internal volume of the building - to minimize the area of enclosing structures and reduce
heat loss through them. Improved thermal insulation of enclosing structures also allowed to
reduce heat loss.
Enclosing structures have high heat capacity, due to which the heat resistance of the
building is increased, and heat is accumulated.
Ventilated windows have a three-layer glass in the outer cover and a single glass in the
inner cover. At the bottom of the inner cover there is a narrow inlet through which air from the
room enters the interglass space, where it takes up much of the thermal energy of solar
radiation.
Thus, ventilated windows work like solar collectors. They make it possible to use up to
55% of solar heat for heating the air. The load on the heating system is reduced due to the
accumulation of heat of solar radiation at the base of the structure.
The building is characterized by minimal air leaks due to the tightness of the structure. This
building is equipped with an automatic control system for air-conditioning and lighting
equipment to optimize and account of energy consumption.
Pic.2 EKONO-house (1979, Finland)
Further newer buildings followed. One of these was the City Hall in Southwark, London
(British architect Norman Foster). The concept of construction is defined as a building that is
intended to become an example of openness, accessibility and a “life-sustaining building”.
During the construction of the building, many energy-saving solutions were used. The
shape of the egg allowed minimizing heat gain in the warm season, as well as heat loss during
the cold season. At the expense of the elements of external enclosing structures with sunscreen
properties, reduced heat input is ensured. A large area of translucent walling made it possible
to reduce the costs for central heating and lighting thanks to the passive use of solar radiation
and predominantly natural light.
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Kozlov Nikolay Olegovich, Zakharov Oleg Andreevich, Kudrya German Gennadyevich,
Komarov Dmitriy Stanislavovich, Yavorskiy Mikhail Mikhailovich, Mkrtchyan Armen
Mkrtichevich, Ordinartcev Maksim Yurevich, Zhostik Anastasiya Aleksandrovna, Zatonskih
Matvej Alekseevich, Averyanova Anastasiya Gennadevna
High-quality thermal insulation materials allow to retain heat. When the weather is getting
warmer outside, the ventilation becomes mostly passive (natural) and is carried out through
double ventilated facades.
For water heating pumps with the ability of automatically adjusting the speed of rotation of
the working elements are used. These devices can reduce energy costs, and therefore obtain the
optimum temperature of the air in the rooms. The heat of the exhaust air is also not lost - it is
used to heat the supply air. Cold is obtained from low-temperature groundwater, and instead of
the traditional air-conditioning system, cooling ceilings are installed.
The building has a control and automation system that allows year-round maintenance of
optimal microclimate parameters and significant energy savings. As a result, in the London
City Hall the savings on heating and ventilation are 75% compared with buildings of similar
size.
Pic.3 London City Hall (2002, United Kingdom)
The issue of energy efficiency in housing in Russia is also very relevant today, as most
regions of our country are characterized by harsh climatic conditions. In modern times, the
rapid and active growth of tariffs for utilities, as well as the deterioration of the ecological
situation in general, contribute to the fact that the population has increasingly begun to think
about a more rational and productive expenditure of energy consumed. One of the solutions for
this problem may be the construction of energy-efficient houses. An energy efficient (or
passive) house is a structure that operation can cost about 60-70% cheaper than conventional.
Such savings are achieved mainly due to the reduction of heat loss by the building (Pic. 1),
using high-quality thermal insulation of window and door openings, exterior wall decoration,
as well as eliminating the use of cold bridges in materials and junctions, inlet-exhaust
ventilation, extracts and so on. In addition, alternative sources such as wind, sun, and earth are
most often used as electricity, heat, water, and heating in such houses.
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Advantages of Energy-Efficient Construction
Figure.4 Comparative histogram of annual heat losses of conventional and energy-efficient houses,
kW / m2
The architectural concept of energy-efficient houses differs from the conventional ones by
thought-out geometry, the correct zoning of the room, orientation to the cardinal points, the
original interior design, etc. Ideally, such a building should be absolutely energy-independent
[2].
It is worth saying that during the construction of energy-efficient houses only
environmentally friendly and safe materials with a high quality standard, such as wood, stone,
brick, aerated concrete and others are used.
A pronounced trend in the market of private housing today is cottages that do not burden
owners with the costs of their maintenance. The main task in the design of such houses is the
creation and implementation of a complex of advanced design and engineering solutions that
are able to reduce operating costs throughout the entire period of operation of the structure,
mostly during the heating season.
Carefully designed and well-executed projects of energy-efficient homes can halve the cost
of heating in comparison with similar stone and other buildings.
To create a comfortable “weather in the house”, designers work together with
manufacturers and suppliers of the most diverse equipment - from cable heating systems and
micro-ventilation devices to heat pumps.
As a rule, during the construction of energy-efficient cottages, rational projects with simple
pitched roofs and areas of enclosing structures minimal in relation to the living space are taken
as a basis. But even the simplest architectural forms and volumes require, firstly, a suitable site
for this project, and secondly, proper binding to the site [5].
First of all, when starting to design and build a house that is oriented towards low energy
consumption, it is worth considering that a good microclimatic site is a favorable microclimate
in the house, and also the possibility of significantly reducing its operating costs. After all,
sunlight, the water cycle and the natural movement of air masses are the best air conditioning.
The most important factor for an energy efficient project is the correct orientation of the
house on the cardinal points and its landing on the relief. This moment, most likely can be
attributed to the shortcomings of low-energy houses, as this requires additional time and
financial costs, and individual work of the architect.
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Kozlov Nikolay Olegovich, Zakharov Oleg Andreevich, Kudrya German Gennadyevich,
Komarov Dmitriy Stanislavovich, Yavorskiy Mikhail Mikhailovich, Mkrtchyan Armen
Mkrtichevich, Ordinartcev Maksim Yurevich, Zhostik Anastasiya Aleksandrovna, Zatonskih
Matvej Alekseevich, Averyanova Anastasiya Gennadevna
With orientation to the cardinal points, everything is more or less clear. The adjustment of
the finished project in this case comes down to, guided by the requests and wishes of the
homeowner, to arrange the day-stay rooms to provide access to sunlight, bedrooms - to the east,
offices and living rooms, in which the evening is usually met - to the west. The northern side
is usually reserved for technical and household premises.
Of course, such an arrangement is not an axiom, if you need to take into account individual
characteristics or beat specific features of the site. However, when designing with an eye to
energy saving, it is important to remember that the southern roof slopes are an ideal place to
locate solar panels and collectors, some models of which are outwardly almost
indistinguishable from the usual skylights.
Most modern energy-efficient cottages are built using frame technology. Ceramic brick (or
rather, its modern version - porous large-format blocks), as well as cellular concrete - are also
“friendly” with energy saving, but necessarily require additional insulation. And regardless of
what heat-insulating material is chosen (synthetic, based on polyurethane foam, or mineral), in
a layered wall structure it replaces at least a half-meter thick layer of traditional brickwork [5].
It is also important that when using thin-layer insulators in modern rational houses, the
walls become lighter and thinner, they lack thermal physical mass. When designing an energy
efficient house, this feature must be considered.
Thus, modern construction, focused on high-energy efficiency with low material
consumption, requires the use of heat accumulators, which compensate the lack of wall mass
and smooth the daily and seasonal fluctuations in temperature. In a conventional house, a brick
stove acted as such, in the modern, a monolithic slab basement of the type “Swedish stove”
insulated from the outside and included in a warm contour-concrete screed of the first floor,
acts like this [5].
The fact that the enclosing structures of the cottage (basement, walls, roof) must be
insulated - today almost all future homeowners know. When building an energy efficient house,
it is very important to use high-quality windows and ventilation systems with heat recovery,
since they play a key role in the home energy balance system.
Proper selection of windows and design of ventilation systems is one of the factors that turn
an ordinary house into an energy efficient one. But it turns out that these are two very difficult
tasks over which technologists, engineers, and designers have been struggling for many years:
Firstly, the energy-saving characteristics of even the most advanced developments in the
field of vacuum glass units cannot even come close to the level of thermal protection of an
ordinary wall sandwich panel.
Therefore, we have to manage with the fact that now we have on the market of the
construction segment, but when designing we should remember that not all widely presented
window profiles are suitable for low-energy-oriented houses.
When designing windows in residential premises, it is unreasonable to exceed the standard
for glazing (10-12% relatively to the floor area).
At the same time, for long-stay premises, preference should be given to two-chamber (and
in the northern regions, three-chamber) double-glazed windows with glass having an energysaving coating, or Scandinavian window units with an additional windshield outside.
Secondly, traditional ventilation systems - air vents, exhaust and intake installations and
valves designed to provide air exchange in the room are not suitable for low-energy houses, if
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they do not have a recovery unit as a basic configuration, that is, a system that allows heat from
the overheated exhaust air for heating cold, from the street.
It should be remembered that the design of such a system is always a matter of careful
calculations. The real efficiency of such a system depends not on the quality of the equipment,
but on the proficiency of the designers [5].
The main advantage of energy-efficient houses is the reduction of heating costs.
Not long ago the heating boiler was considered as the actual center of any heating system.
And the more its radiators heated, the more effectively the system was considered. The constant
problems of the traditional in the Russian regions high-temperature heating system with wiring
to hot radiators, such as: lack of oxygen, drafts with open windows, as well as temperature and
humidity drops are harmful for living organisms in the house or for building structures.
Conventional Russian approach no longer works on constructing the energy efficient house.
Such a cottage warms up rather slowly, but its massive elements must accumulate heat and not
allow it to cool down instantly when a planned or freelance cut off the heat supply happens.
In this case, if the enclosing structures are insulated, and the recovery system is working
properly, electric boilers and cable heated floors will not be financially overhead. Modern
heating systems in such houses are not equipped with traditional radiators, but with those that
are able to work effectively at low coolant temperatures (up to 55 Cº) or water (more precisely,
liquid) heat-insulated floors.
As an auxiliary source of heat, solar collectors are most often built into the system, but this
practice is still known only in Europe. According to the Baltic designers, the use of solar energy
in climatic conditions close to our middle lane, reduces the annual energy consumption for
heating and heating water for domestic needs by 30-40% [5].
In a conventional house familiar to us, the tenants are able to regulate the climate
themselves, doing everything on the basis of the subjective sensations of “cold - warm”. At
the same time, a significant item of expenditure, associated exclusively with the human factor,
is the forgetfulness of the owners, who, leaving the house, leave the windows open, or do not
put the heating system in the economy mode.
Another important component of the engineering design of the house, which is energyefficient, is the home automatic system, which makes it possible to control the indoor climate
separately. Such automation, in accordance with the specified scenarios, will allow avoiding
overheating and will transfer the cottage into an economical mode of operation on time.
Analyzing the information of this article, it can be concluded that the concept of a passive
house for the conditions of Russia consists of a system of interrelated technical solutions in the
field of construction, heat and power supply and water supply, which allow achieving the
required level of domestic comfort at a low level of capital expenditures.
Interest in such houses is due not only to the issue of economy, but also due to the
improvement of the ecological situation and environmental protection.
Unlike conventional homes, energy-efficient houses have several advantages. They are:
- Energy saving and energy efficiency. It means more than tenfold reduction in the heat
consumption on air conditioning or heating needs. An energy-saving house makes it possible
to abandon the centralized energy supply, using only the generated energy by the house itself
[7].
- Taking care for the environment. Environmentally friendly materials that are used in the
construction of energy-efficient homes do not pose a threat to human health, and the
hermeticity of the building and the use of its own sources of energy, do not harm the
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Kozlov Nikolay Olegovich, Zakharov Oleg Andreevich, Kudrya German Gennadyevich,
Komarov Dmitriy Stanislavovich, Yavorskiy Mikhail Mikhailovich, Mkrtchyan Armen
Mkrtichevich, Ordinartcev Maksim Yurevich, Zhostik Anastasiya Aleksandrovna, Zatonskih
Matvej Alekseevich, Averyanova Anastasiya Gennadevna
environment and prevent CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, which is the result of burning fuel
when heating conventional buildings [7].
- Comfort. A favorable microclimate is formed in the house, which creates a comfortable
and favorable environment for the health of people living in the house. Hygienic characteristics
of air are increased [7].
The disadvantages of building energy-efficient houses are:
- The complexity of the design documentation and the requirements for the quality of work
at different stages of construction;
- increased construction costs.
You can find certain disadvantages in the design of energy-efficient houses, but it is worth
saying that the current trends in energy saving, simply leave no other option but to find variants
with minimal resources and a highly efficient result. To date, the technology of building
energy-saving houses is unambiguously leading in this matter.
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