Minimising Energy Demand Through Passive Measures

At Varming Consulting Engineers in Dublin, we’re regularly involved in sustainable and green design in our client projects, and we create blogs like this one to provide news and education on matters relating to modern electrical and mechanical engineering.

Today, we’re here to talk briefly about passive measures that can be used to reduce the demand a building has for powered heating and cooling. Let’s start off, however, by explaining what is meant by passive design when it comes to energy usage.

What Is Passive Design?

Much focus has been placed on building design in recent years due to the fact that buildings account for approximately 40% of all EU energy consumption. It’s a sector that’s growing all the time, meaning that energy demands are also on the increase.

In an attempt to reduce energy consumption, there are both active and passive technologies that can be used. Active technologies focus on making powered systems more efficient, whereas the passive kind seeks to make use of natural resources.

Technologies that Harness Nature

Examples of this include a group of methodologies like natural lighting, night cooling,  natural ventilation and shading technology that are able to reduce overall energy demand.

By adjusting a building’s design, it can make use of natural resources in a more efficient way.

The Varming team has years of expertise in sustainable and passive design, as can be seen in our recent involvement in the €4.3m Health Services Executive project at Clonakilty Community Hospital, for which we were commissioned to design the mechanical and electrical services installations for a 20-bed ward extension and communal areas.

Continuing to Help Clients Meet EU Energy Targets

Passive energy reduction is just one of the areas we have expertise in at Varming, as our team has decades of experience in all matters relating to sustainable and green design. If you’d like to know more about us or would like to see more examples of our many past projects, visit us today at www.varming.ie.

Alternatively, to speak with a member of our expert team about your next project, call our Dublin HQ today on 01 4872300.