Latest comments posted about “Energy-efficient” buildings? Not always on ChinaDialogue en-gb http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/2299--Energy-efficient-buildings-Not-always http://staging.chinadialogue.net/images/cdlogo.gif http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/2299--Energy-efficient-buildings-Not-always Energy conservation in construction is a future trend and it should go along with scientific blue prints. This article gives a good account of this. Our conmpany has the intention to build a new factory and also wants to consider this. Translated by Chen Liying(Anna) Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:03:44 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2299#comment-8788 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2299#comment-8788 Are there legal regulations on energy-efficiency of buildings? If there are, strict auditing and positive favorable policies should be carried out to encourage real energy-efficient designs. This comment is translated by Lijin Zeng. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:23:56 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2299#comment-7835 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2299#comment-7835 It seems that all Chinese people have this shortcoming: as soon as they hear “energy saving,” they suddenly want to use all their efforts to support it, but in the meantime they neglect to take time to thoroughly consider all the issues. Indeed, energy saving buildings are not supposed to be simple structures. Although replacing light bulbs to use more energy efficient ones is a simple and effective way to save energy. It’s just that for the main HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) spending part, maybe it’s even more important to consider the system’s changes. How can we save energy while at the same time ensuring a comfortable temperature? This is a pivotal point in energy saving. In my country, where it is increasingly recognized that we need to save energy in order to cut emissions, more experts and energy saving companies need to realize their own inadequacies and as quickly as possible upgrade their professional capabilities, and get accustomed to accelerating market demand. BTW. Prof.Jiang's energy saving building is simply a building for product demonstration, which has nothing to do with energy saving. So shall we use his building as an example to persuade everyone? This requires a bit more consideration. (This comment was translated by Michelle Deeter.) Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:30:40 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2299#comment-7797 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2299#comment-7797 This is a well written article. It highlights a long neglected problem: the coordination and integration of composite systems in a complex system. Be it energy-saving or renewable energy technology, they are not to be evaluated and applied independently. The cases mentioned in the article, such as solar panels and double-glazed insulation, are all examples in which energy-saving technologies that are ill-fitted with each other fall far short of the effect they are supposed to achieve. An analogy can be drawn with the fact that simply replacing a few components with new ones for an old-fashioned machine won’t make it up-to-date, neither will the new components work well. Similarly, without the support of adequate policy, new technology won’t achieve its ideal result. A case in point is the environmental advantages of clean energy cars can only work well with adjustment in taxation and oil prices. An energy-saving building doesn’t refer to a building to which energy-saving technology is applied, but a building which hosts well coordinated and integrated energy-saving technologies. Wang tao, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change and Sussex Energy Group. (This comment is translated by Yang Bin) Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:53:40 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2299#comment-7772 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2299#comment-7772 There are buildings at many US universities that claim to be energy efficient but cannot be used by the people that work in them. So energy is still being wasted. It is better to live as Henry David Thoreau said "simplify, simplify." Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:42:30 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2299#comment-7765 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2299#comment-7765