Sustainable housing is one that meets the requirements for energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency means using less energy to do the same tasks, which means eliminating energy waste. Energy efficiency brings a number of benefits: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the demand for energy imports, and reducing our domestic and economic costs. Although renewable energy technologies also contribute to these goals, improving energy efficiency is the cheapest – and often the most immediate – way to reduce the use of fossil fuels. There are huge opportunities to improve efficiency in all sectors of the economy, be it sustainable housing, transportation, industry or power generation.
In housing and buildings
Architects and designers seek to optimize the efficiency of buildings and then incorporate renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaic energy or aerothermal energy. Changes can also be made to existing buildings to reduce energy use and costs. These may include small steps, such as the choice of LED bulbs and efficient appliances, or larger efforts such as improved insulation and air conditioning and the implementation of tailor-made solutions, which allow to create an environment where well-being, l ‘efficiency and savings prevail; whether in flats, single-family homes, offices, factories, industry, etc.
How does photovoltaic work?
Using solar energy and the use of photovoltaic panels. This technology is based on the fact that the sun’s rays collide with the plates, which are composed of semiconductor materials. These materials convert the energy they receive from the sun’s rays into electricity.
Solar panels are made up of solar cells. These are the ones in charge of carrying out this transformation. They are small cells made of crystalline silicon or gallium arsenide. They are also mixed with phosphorus and boron to form two parts: one with negative electrons and another with positive electrons.
When the sun falls on the plates, it allows the photons to move the electrons from the part where there is a negative charge to the part where it is missing. As the photons release electrons, more electricity will be generated. This is how direct current is achieved, which will be stored in batteries until it is finally converted into alternating current, which is what reaches our home.
How is it calculated?
The number of panels depends on consumption, how it is consumed and even the geographical characteristics of the area of residence. However, we can make an estimate based on whether consumption is low, medium, or high. Thus, in a home with a consumption of up to 2,000 kWh, 2 to 4 panels will be needed. In a house with a consumption of 2,000 to 5,000 kWh, between 5 and 7 panels will be needed. Also, a home with a consumption of more than 5,000 kWh will require more than 7 panels.
In order to select the right number, it is also important to consider the characteristics of the plates we choose and the characteristics of the property.
Facing change
Research has shown that 30% of the energy-saving potential of high-efficiency technologies is lost due to a number of social, cultural and economic factors. Addressing these factors is also an important component in making our economy more energy efficient.
Discover with TerraSolari the most suitable systems for your home, company or industry, and we will help you with personalized proposals, exact budgets, in which we will detail the materials, aspects such as the type of property, its location, hours of sun, daily consumption, type of installation and labor.
