Color and Energy Consumption

After Vaike’s presentation on color I did some research and found that the colors used in designs can have a significant impact on energy consumption. It can physically and psychologically change the amount of energy that we require for maintaining a comfortable thermal environment.

- The color of roofing determines the amount of heat that is absorbed into a building. Darker colors absorb more heat, whereas lighter colors will deflect it.

In fact, a statistic that I found stated that on a 32 degrees Celsius day, a white roof will be 43 degrees Celsius, an aluminum roof will be 60 degrees Celsius, and a black roof will be 89 degrees Celsius.

http://www.colormatters.com/energymatters.html

During the summer that difference in temperature can greatly alter the need for cooling. Also, due to the heat, black roofing tends to have a much shorter lifeline so it requires more material and energy to replace the roof on a more frequent basis.

- The colors used in an interior can alter user’s perceptions of what the temperature of the space is. If cool colors are used in the design, the space is perceived to be cooler in temperature. If warm colors are used in the design, the space is perceived to be warmer in temperature.

I think that this information reveals additional advantages of using color in designs that are not always considered. Often color is strictly thought of as a tool for creating aesthetically pleasing designs, and not necessarily as a tool for the function of a design.

M.H.

An interesting design in Canada that uses color is, the Palais des Congres de Montreal, in Montreal.

http://www.architecture.uwaterloo.ca/faculty_projects/terri/steel/palais.html

Simple Solutions

There are too many simple solutions to saving energy that not enough people are using. Some are so simple that you almost feel stupid for not thinking of it your self. Utilizing your windows is major idea for energy savings. During summer time, close the blinds early in the day and leave them closed until sun down. Heat from the sun radiates from our floors all year round but by closing the blinds during the day in summer less heat is generated by the sun in our homes reducing strain on our air conditioners. At night open the windows to help cool the house further.

In the winter you simply do the opposite, leaving open your south facing windows will create a decent amount of radiated heat even in winter. The north facing windows should remain curtained however. This is because hardly any light enters them in winter with the sun angel. Therefore a curtained North window will remain insulated and retain heat.

Urban Heat Island

In the lecture on September 25th we discussed the thermal environment and how it relates to human comfort.

When I began researching the thermal environment I came across an interesting phenomenon, which is referred to as the Urban Heat Island. 

This phenomenon refers to the fact that metropolitan areas are much warmer in temperature in comparison to their rural, or lower-density, surroundings. This occurs because the large amounts of concrete, asphalt and tar used in the construction of the infrastructure within the city collect heat and thus the area becomes an ‘Urban Heat Island’.

I thought this was an interesting idea related to human comfort in the thermal environment. The difference in temperature between the Urban Heat Island and the outside space is said to, at times, reach as much as 10 degrees. Therefore the presence of this additional heat can have a significant effect on the level of human comfort within the city.

An innovative solution to the Urban Heat Island effect that I found is called Drainscape – Pervious Concrete. This is a new material designed to replace standard concrete, which allows it to have a cooler surface temperature. The difference is that Pervious Concrete is porous (a 15%-30% void structure) which allows the free flow of water and air through the material. It mimics the efficiency of soil in absorbing water.

Progressive Concrete Works Inc. has used Pervious Concrete in the construction of the Arizona State University parking lot. They are currently researching its positive effects on the Urban Heat Island. Also, Pervious Concrete is recognized by LEED for its environmental benefits. It eliminates the need for complex storm water management, large retention basins and expensive underground tanks. In general, the material leaves a smaller footprint than standard concrete.

The Urban Heat Island concept relates human comfort to the thermal environment on a larger scale. To address this issue it is not possible to simply consider the thermal principles of one building or an individual structure. The city has to be rethought in its entirety, since only a radical change in design would make a significant difference. Constructing one road or parking lot of Pervious Concrete will not change the thermal environment in a recognizable way. However, if it was implemented across the urban environment it may benefit overall human comfort and reduce the need for other means of maintaining human comfort such as air conditioning.

Youtube has some useful videos on both the Urban Heat Island concept and Drainscape – Pervious Concrete:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vipjSEiRQis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOXbNf1IJsY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUJJInj5x98&feature=related

 

 -M.H.