Zero
Authors
Klijn, Dirk ; Rusch, Benjamin
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2020
Submitted on
2020-08-12
Pages
156
Abstract
London is caught in an ongoing housing crisis, with fewer homes built each year. Similar pressures are visible in many large cities. This matters because buildings and construction already account for nearly 40 percent of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. In UK homes, about 62 percent of energy use goes to space heating, so reducing heat demand is a key lever. This thesis explores how a low-tech approach can lower a building’s overall energy demand. By low-tech we mean simple, passive, and easy-to-maintain solutions that reduce the need for complex mechanical systems. We used an integrated design process with iterative loops of computer simulations and physical prototypes. These steps informed each other and directly shaped the final design. Our results indicate strong potential for alternatives to high-tech implementation systems, such as full heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), in residential buildings. In the context of a reuse project, working with an existing building, we find that low-tech measures can meaningfully reduce total energy demand. We do not claim that low-tech replaces all mechanical services; rather, we show that careful design can significantly reduce heating demand and overall energy use in housing reuse projects.
London er fanget i en vedvarende boligkrise, og der bygges færre boliger år for år. En lignende tendens ses i mange storbyer. Det er vigtigt, fordi bygge- og anlægssektoren allerede står for næsten 40 procent af de energi-relaterede drivhusgasudledninger. I britiske hjem går cirka 62 procent af energiforbruget til rumopvarmning, så det er et centralt område at reducere. Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan en low-tech tilgang kan sænke en bygnings samlede energibehov. Med low-tech mener vi simple, passive og let vedligeholdelige løsninger, der mindsker behovet for komplekse mekaniske systemer. Vi anvendte en integreret designproces med gentagne runder af computersimuleringer og fysiske prototyper. Disse skridt informerede hinanden og formede direkte det endelige design. Vores resultater peger på et stort potentiale for alternativer til high-tech implementeringer, som for eksempel komplette HVAC-systemer (varme, ventilation og aircondition), i boliger. I et genbrugs- eller ombygningsprojekt, hvor der arbejdes med en eksisterende bygning, viser vi, at low-tech tiltag kan reducere det samlede energibehov mærkbart. Vi påstår ikke, at low-tech kan erstatte alle tekniske installationer, men at omhyggelig udformning kan sænke varmebehovet og det samlede energiforbrug i boligprojekter med genbrug.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]