Last edited 31 Aug 2019

Energy in the built environment

In very general terms, energy is a capacity to do work that can take a number of different forms, such as; thermal (heat), radiant (light), motion (kinetic), stored (potential), secondary (e.g. electricity), chemical, mechanical, and so on.

In the built environment, the term 'energy' is typically used in the context of generating heat, powering equipment, creating products and materials, transportation, and so on.

Sources of energy tend to be categorised as either renewable or non-renewable.

The main types of renewable energy sources include:

Solar thermal energy: The conversion of solar radiation to thermal energy in order to heat a working fluid.
Geothermal energy: The natural heat energy stored in the earth.
Wind energy: Energy generated by the wind.
Biomass: A generic term referring to organic materials that can be used as fuels.
Hydropower: The generation of electricity from flowing water power.

For more information, see Renewable energy.

The main types of non-renewable energy include:

Petroleum products: Formed from dead plants and animals. E.g. petrol, diesel, kerosene.
Hydrocarbon gas liquids: Such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Natural gas: Distributed through pipes from point of origin to point of use, e.g. mains gas.
Coal: A combustible material mined from the ground.
Nuclear energy: Released during nuclear fission or fusion in a power plant.

For more information, see Types of fuel.

Energy can be stored to try and off-set the risks of more unpredictable and intermittent power generation or availability. For more information, see Energy storage.

According to the Technology Strategy Board, in the UK, the built environment accounts for 45% of total carbon emissions (27% from domestic buildings and 18% from non-domestic), and 73% of domestic emissions arise from space heating and the provision of hot water. The EU Directive on the energy performance of buildings was adopted in 2002. It was intended to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, reduce carbon emissions and reduce the impact of climate change.

Energy performance certificates (EPCs), set out the energy efficiency rating of buildings. They are required when buildings are built, sold or rented if they have a roof and walls and use energy to condition an indoor climate. Buildings are rated from A to G on EPCs, with A representing a very efficient building and G a very inefficient building.

For more information, see Energy performance certificate.

The term 'embodied energy' relates to the energy consumed to create a building or a component of it, the energy consumed in refurbishing and maintaining it during its life, and the energy consumed in its ultimate disposal.

For more information see: Embodied energy.

Designing Buildings Wiki has a number of articles relating to energy, including: