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2.6 strength and limitation of ecocal

2.6.1 model as simplification of reality
Ecocal is a model , which is used to provide some indication of a household’s impact on the environment

There are many different types of the model :

• physical ( such as a scale model of car used in wind tunnel testing )
• iconic * such as a map or an engineering drawing )
• analogue * such as thinking of heat flowing from hotter to cooler objects as like water flowing from one
level to a lower level )
• mathematical ( such as the equation for calculating the rate of heat loss through a house wall )

it is a simplified mathematical model for assessing how different household activities affect the environment
it self based on a simplified conceptual model of environment impacts namely the ecological footprint.

Simplification of ecological footprint

First , the EF is not supposed to represent a real land.
It is the area of land and ( water ) hypothetically required to continuously support and absorb the effect of an
individuals , household , city’s or country’s activities and can be compared with the actual physical space either
occupies or available .
Second , the EF method involves many assumptions and simplifications in converting an activity , such as car
use , into a land area or footprint .

2.6.3 the ecocal model

ecocal is primarily intended as a means for rising environmental a warrens , but for the general public .
the model is based on UK data and so would not give an accurate score in other countries where the transport
system , the energy supply system , the food distribution system , waste disposal practices , and so on , are different

Other environmental assessment techniques

OECD environmental indicators

The OECD method comprises some 50 environmental indicators covering 13 major issues grouped into three
types . the types are indicators of Pressures on the environment arising from human activities ( e.g. production and
consumption of CFCs and other ozone depleting substances by different countries ) ; indicators of the state of the
environment arising from the pressure ( e.g. the levels of stratospheric ozone over selected parts of the Earth ) ; and
indicators of society’s response to the environmental issue concerned ( e.g. the proportion of CFCs recovered and
recycled in different countries ).

Environmental space

Another approach is called “ environmental space “ which assesses the amounts of energy , non-renewable
materials , land , water , wood and other resources that can be used at a global or regional level without exhausting
the earth’s resources or causing long – term environmental damage .
If the amounts for each resource are then divided by the earth’s population at any time , we get a “ fair share of
environmental space “ per person for that resource .

Home energy efficiency

Read 1B (energy file )

Energy rating systems

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As with ecocal , there are paper – based and computer – based options . the national home energy rating ( NHER )
system, a method for rating the energy efficiency of UK homes . its aim is to provide an energy performance
measure for homes similar to the miles-gallon figure for the fuel consumption of a motor car .
NHER provides a rating of home energy efficiency on a scale from 0 to 10 .

SAP ( standard assessment procedure ) which provides a rating on a scale of 1 to 100 , however , the SAP rating is
based on rather less survey data and more assumptions that the NHER – for example SAP is based only on space
and water heating costs per square meter and assumes that the building is located roughly in the center of Britain
( in the east pennines region ) .
SAQ 8
Why an energy survey is needed
The NHER survey form questions

Heat loss from the building

We are concerned mainly with heat loss rather than heat gain because NHER relates to UK homes.

Exercise pate 38
Why are the following questions , or groups of questions , on the survey form important in determining the heat loss
from a building ? ( note that his is not the order that the questions appear on the survey form )
House or flat age
Wall construction . roof type
Loft insulation
Windows frame and glazing

Answer :
These questions relate to the first of the three main factors that determine that fabric loss from the house or flat as
discussed in the energy file : namely the building materials of the dwelling .

As you will have read in the energy file , the heat loss through each of the elements used in a building’s
construction depends on their U- value . the U- value provides a single measure that combines the thermal
conductivity of the material , or combinations of materials , that make up common building elements with their
thickness . for example , there are U- values for a 250 mm thick solid brick wall , a 300 mm thick cavity wall made
of bricks and blocks filled with insulating material , a metal-framed , double – glazed window , etc.

SAQ 9
(a) calculate the rate of heat loss through an all-brick cavity wall (figure 3.2a ) of area 50 m2
with a U-value of 1.5 W per m2 per oC when the inside temperature is 20 oC and the outside
temperature is 6 oC.
(b) What would be the heat loss through the wall if the cavity were filled with insulation
( figure 3.2b ) making the wall’s U-value 0.6 W per m2 per oC given the same inside and
outside temperature ?
Exercise page 39 and 40

Heating and hot water system efficiency

“ the efficiency of heating appliances ‘ that the amount of useful heat produced by heating appliances and systems s
less that the total heat released by burning the fuel .
in other words , their efficiency* is less that 100% and varies according to the type of fuel appliance and system.

Miscellaneous energy-saving features , cooking and lighting efficiency

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Energy-saving features
The questions in this section include a variety of energy-saving features found in relatively few UK homes at
present , such as mechanical ventilation ( not merely extractor fans in kitchen and bathrooms ) and solar ( water
heating ) panels . clearly these could affect the energy consumption of the home.

Lights and appliances

As a building become s more energy efficient , for example with better insulation , a higher proportion of the
energy required in running it comes from the lights and appliances it contains .

Occupancy
This includes the number of adults and children and the heating pattern chosen by these occupants . this information
enables the program to calculate more accurately the home’s actual energy running costs .

3.3.1 activity : your home energy rating

this activity involves four stages :

(1) the energy survey , you gather the data for your chosen dwelling and complete the NHER
site survey form
(2) energy modeling you either enter the energy survey data or send the data away for
processing . if you are using a computer , you can explore the effects of modifying the data
entered .
(3) the energy report , provides you with the energy rating of your chosen dwelling other
information such as its annual fuel cost breakdown and CO2 emissions , plus suggestions
for improving its energy efficiency .
(4) implementing change finally , as with Ecocal , you consider which changes you would be
most likely to implement in practice in the short and medium term and identify and barriers
to change

3.3.2 stage 1 : the energy survey

see video tape about home energy survey
figure 3.3 example of a completed NHER survey form
case study : Helens house page 51 & 52

3.4 strengths and limitations of the NHER model

all models are simplifications of reality and one simplification , mentioned before , is that the NHER and SAP
ratings calculated by the model always refer to the energy performance of the building under typical conditions and
not of how it might actually be used by its occupants and does not take the account of the things that people often
do- leaving doors and windows open , over-riding controls , failing to maintain appliances , only using central
heating for part of the heating season.

The SAP rating is further simplified by assuming the building is located in the center of Britain and basing the
number of occupants and energy for lighting , cooking , etc. on the floor area of the dwelling
Despite such simplifications , however , within its assumptions , the model provides sensible recommendations for
energy efficiency and reducing fuel costs .
One thing the model leaves out is the energy “ embodied” in the materials used when constructing the home and its
heating system or in making any improvements .
Embodied energy in a material or component is the energy required for mining , refining , manufacturing and
transporting it .

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A more significant issue is that the model was developed to assess and improve the energy efficiency of existing
housing and relatively conventional new UK homes. This means that more radical designs , such as “ super
insulated “ and “ active solar “ houses , are not really covered .

The model is , however , using extended data , capable of assessing housing with community ( district ) heating
systems , including those using combined heat and power ( CHP ) . but it does not suggest conversion to such
systems or other novel methods of heating .

A related issue is that the model is based on the assumption that most energy supplied to the home is from fossil
fuel sources this is realistic at present , but means that , except for solar water heating , the model will not assess or
suggest any use of renewable energy .

SAQ 10 & SAQ 11

4 towards greener homes
4.2 broader environmental assessment of buildings
focusing just on saving energy leaves out the many other impacts on the environment that can arise from buildings.

SAQ 12
Exercise
Reducing housing environmental impacts
The 1995 set of BREEAM criteria by no means deal with all the environmental issues associated with the design ,
construction and use of domestic housing . some issues have already been mentioned and there are many others .
can you identify actions not covered by the BREEAM list that may help reduce the environmental impacts of
housing ?

You might have thought of :

Avoiding building materials with high “ embodied” energy ( e.g. aluminum ) ; . reducing environmental impacts
from extracting and making building materials ( e.g. pollution from brick making )
Designing homes that harmonize with their surroundings.
Further reducing household water consumption by installing showers , recycling water and providing localized
sewage treatment or composting toilets . specifying HFC/HCFC – free refrigerators and water –conserving washing
machines. Designing homes for ease of maintenance and long life. Reducing the amounts of solid wastes arising
from house construction or demolition .
You may perhaps have included wider issues such as :
Building at higher densities to reduce the land area required for homes. Planning homes to reduce transport demand
and to encourage use of cycling and public transport . increasing food production from gardens , allotments, etc.

Low energy design

The principles of energy efficient buildings are quite well known , although not yet generally applied . you have
learned about two of the basic principles from part IB of the energy file and the NHER activity , namely :
Minimizing fabric and ventilation heat losses through : built forms that minimize exposed surfaces , good quality
construction , insulation and eliminating draughts.
Maximizing heating and hot water system efficiency through : choice of fuels , energy efficient appliances and
good controls ( figure 4.1b ).

Other , more advanced , approaches for energy efficient homes include :

Maximizing incidental gains from solar energy through the orientation , form and layout of the building and its
glazing ( figure 4.1c ) , plus a suitable oriented and insulated conservatory ( figure 4.1d ) the benefits of “ passive “
solar design can also be improved through thermally heavy construction that can absorb and then release heat .
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Installing “ active “ solar energy systems such as solar water heating panels and photovoltaic cells , usually on the
roof of the building . or using heat pumps ( devices to extract useful heat from low temperature sources such as the
air or ground water ) ( figure 4.1d )

Further fabric and ventilation losses by very high levels of insulation ( super insulation ) , sheltering the building
from winds or low temperatures , and installing heat – recovering mechanical ventilation or passive ventilation
systems ( figure 4.1d )

Improving the efficiency of he energy supply system , for example by adopting district heating and / or combined
heat and power (CHP) systems (figure 4.1d ) or by supplying electricity from renewable energy sources such as
wind power .

4.4 Ecological design

the ecological design is such issues include choice of building material with minimum environmental impacts ,
waste recycling , water conversation , sewage treatment , and transport

Fig 4.8 & Fig 4.9

Examples of plans for sustainable in the UK are discussed on the audiocassette.

4.4 Greener appliances

The greatest demand for household energy is for space and water heating but as the amount of energy for space and
water heating is reduced , the proportion of household energy required to run lights and domestic appliances
increases . this involves a shift from gas and other heating fuels to electricity.
The household electricity consumption is rising throughout the industrialized world due to an increased number of
households and ownership of appliances.
The production and use of household appliances also raises other issues , including the release of toxic
environmentally damaging chemicals , water consumption , waste disposal and materials recycling

4.4.1 refrigerators and freezers

refrigerators and freezers are the largest users of domestic electricity in the UK
the introduction also mentioned the green freeze refrigerator that avoid the use HFCs and HCFCs by using
hydrocarbons as a refrigerant and as a blowing agent for the foam insulation .
SAQ 13 ( revision )

4.4.2 lighting
the second largest electricity use in the home is lighting , the energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps ( CFLs )
have been available for some 20 years
CFLs use a quarter to one fifth of the electricity , and last about ten times as long as a conventional tungsten
filament lamp.

4.4.3 washing machines , dishwashers and dryers

these so – called wet appliances are the third equal ( with cooking appliances ) electricity users in UK household
and with washing machines and dishwashers there is a potential save for water and detergents .
there is a technical improvement to reduce energy ; water and detergent consumption include new wash processes
that use less water , low temperature detergents , and more efficient motors and controls.

4.4.4 other domestic appliances

5.1 towards global sustainability
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if we are to move towards a sustainability world , major reduction in the environmental impacts of the
industrialized countries will be required .
in fast it has been estimated that a sustainable global economy will involve reducing energy and resources flows
and pollution generated per head in the seven richest countries by anything from 4 to 20 times.
Let assume factor 10 : 90 % reduction in the amounts of energy and materials consumed and pollution produced per
head in the industrialized world .

There are two broad approaches to make this huge reduction :

The first involves reducing the amount consumed per person or household , focusing on the high impact activities
you identified in Ecocal , such as car use and air travel .
The second involves increasing the technical efficiency with which goods and services are provided , for example
by increasing the energy efficiency of your home or by buying “ greener “ domestic appliances.

5.1.1 the “rebound” effect

It is that consumers adapt more efficient technologies that save them money, such as energy efficient homes or
appliances; they will have more available to spend.
they may spend this extra either on higher living standards , or on other activities such overseas travel which may
consume even more energy and produce more pollution .

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