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Overview

Energy use in buildings is a growing concern for designers, builders, owners, occupants and operators.  Buildings are responsible for 30% of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions. North Americans spend about 90% of our time indoors where temperature, humidity, CO2 and indoor contaminants must be controlled to maintain a comfortable environment. Therefore, we have to use energy in our residential and commercial buildings to heat, cool, humidify and supply fresh air. According to the Canada Green Building Council, 38% of Canada’s secondary energy (thermal, electrical and mechanical energy converted from primary sources such as nuclear, natural gas, oil and coal) is used in buildings. 

 

Transportation (cars, trucks, trains and aircraft) represents the largest sectoral source of greenhouse gases but the 30% contribution from buildings is very significant. A typical commercial building has a life of 60 years or more.  Therefore, a building's design and operation has a major impact on energy utilization over a considerable period of time.

In commercial buildings, relative energy uses are as follows (source: BC Ministry of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources):

  • Space heating
  • Lighting
  • 12% Auxiliary equipment
  • 12% Auxiliary motors
  • 8% Water heating
  • 6% Space cooling
  • 1% Street lighting

These uses emphasize that energy is used to provide services and helps us identify the actions we can take to receive these services using less energy. Here are some options:

Space heating

  • reduce heat loss through the building envelope
  • take advantage of solar heat

Lighting

  • maximize daylighting
  • switch to more efficient lighting technology
  • use occupancy sensors and other controls

Auxiliary equipment

  • buy Energy Star-rated computers and office equipment for replacements

Auxiliary motors

  • install variable speed drives

Water heating

  • apply technologies to reduce water use

Space cooling

  • reduce cooling load by using low-E glass

Street lighting

  • switch to more efficient lighting technology
  • use sensors and other controls

Buildings contribute other environmental loads besides those associated with energy. Water is used and then sent to municipal sewers. Indoor finishes and furniture camn emit gases that degrade indoor environmental quality and potentially reduce worker productivity. A ‘green’ building is one that integrates these concerns into the design process.

The Green Value [http://www.rics.org/Property/Green+value.htm] study found green buildings have significant benefits, including:

  • Increasing business productivity, sales & health,
  • Improving investment,
  • Earning higher rents and prices,
  • Attracting tenants and buyers more quickly,
  • Cutting tenant turnover, and
  • Costing less to operate and maintain.

A ‘green’ building approach is one that integrates water and energy use, the environmental impacts of a building’s construction and operation and indoor environmental quality.

Public opinion polls are consistently finding growing concern about climate change and our environment and this opinion is shared by current and future customers, employees and investors. Many businesses as well as primary and secondary industries are responding by taking integrated approach by adopting ‘triple bottom line” accounting, which incorporates economic, social and environmental of operations.  BC Hydro is one of several good examples.

So why should thre rest of us care about green buildings and energy efficiency? Aside from the obvious savings of dollars over time, a green building can give your business a marketing edge and help build a positive profile. The Green Value study puts it this way:

Change is not easy. But to all the developers, investors, owners, lenders, appraisers, valuers, agents and especially, occupiers, the conclusion is that you ignore green buildings at your cost. Green buildings can provide financial benefit.

If you are planning a new building you are invited to explore this web site for information about energy efficiency and green buildings. A new building is an opportunity to integrate architectural design, advanced building systems and sustainable design features to produce an energy-efficient building with significant benefits in occupant well-being and productivity.

 Why worry about energy use in buildings? Well, we Canadians spend about 90% of our time indoors and we like our indoor space to be comfortable. Therefore, we have to use energy in our residential and commercial buildings to heat, cool, control humidify and supply fresh air. That uses a lot of energy. According to the Canadian Green Building Council, 38% of Canada’s secondary {better word or explain!} is used in buildings. Buildings are responsible for 30% of Canada’s greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions.

We hear a lot about cars, trucks and aircraft travel when people talk about greenhouse gases. Yes, those are problem areas and tough challenges, but we need to think of that 30% contribution from buildings. A typical commercial building in the Lower Mainland has a life of XYZ years, so the design and performance have a significant impact on the energy costs to operate that building over its lifetime.

What do we use that energy for? The BC Ministry of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources found the following:

  • 49% Space heating
  • 13% Lighting
  • 12% Auxiliary equipment
  • 12% Auxiliary motors
  • 8% Water heating
  • 6% Space cooling
  • 1% Street lighting

If you look at this list you will notice that want we want from energy is the services it provides, not the energy itself. So, what can be done to deliver the same service using less energy? Here are some possibilities:

Space heating

  • reduce heat loss through the building envelope
  • take advantage of solar heat

Lighting

  • maximize daylighting
  • switch to more efficient lighting technology
  • use occupancy sensors and other controls

Auxiliary equipment

  • buy Energy Star-rated computers and office equipment for replacements

Auxiliary motors

  • install variable speed drives

Water heating

  • apply technologies to reduce water use

Space cooling

  • educe cooling load by using low-E glass

Street lighting
> switch to more efficient lighting technology
> use sensors and other controls

Buildings are about more than just energy use. Water is used, then sent to municipal sewers. Indoor finishes and furniture may emit gases that degrade indoor environmental quality and potentially reduce worker productivity. A ‘green’ building is one that integrates these concerns into the design process.

The Green Value [http://www.rics.org/Property/Green+value.htm] study found green buildings have significant benefits, including:

  • Increasing business productivity, sales & health,
  • Improving investment,
  • Earning higher rents and prices,
  • Attracting tenants and buyers more quickly,
  • Cutting tenant turnover, and
  • Costing less to operate and maintain.

The ‘green’ building approach is one that integrates concerns about energy and water, environmental impacts of a building’s construction and operation, and indoor environmental quality.

Some businesses, for example, BC Hydro, are taking an integrated approach by adopting ‘triple bottom line” accounting, which incorporates economic, social and environmental of operations.

Public opinion polls find increasing concern about the environment and that public includes current and potential customers, employees and investors.

So why should we care about green buildings and energy efficiency. Aside from the obvious savings of dollars over time, a green building can give your business a marketing edge and help build a positive profile. The Green Value study puts it this way:

Change is not easy. But to all the developers, investors, owners, lenders, appraisers, valuers, agents and especially, occupiers, the conclusion is that you ignore green buildings at your cost. Green buildings can provide financial benefit.

Are you planning a new building? If so, explore this website for information about energy efficiency and green buildings. A new building is an opportunity to integrate architectural design, advanced building systems and sustainable design features to produce an energy-efficient building with significant benefits in occupant wellbeing and productivity.


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