Energy efficiency practice in office building

The conflicting demands of growing building energy use against targets for reducing carbon emissions coming from the building sector has gained widespread attention. Energy efficiency is one of the few techniques which has been used to tackle the great concern of increased energy use and carbon emissions in many countries. Energy efficiency is considered a key element of energy conservation and a contributor to the reduction of carbon emission in many countries throughout the world, not least because of the high proportion of the total energy used by the buildings the building sector. Some countries have now introduced building regulations concerning energy conservation and the use of energy efficiency measures. In the UK, the government has introduced the Building Regulations Approved Document Part L regarding the conservation of fuel and power. This paper presents a showcase of a newly built office buildings in the UK and demonstartes how the energy efficiency technology in buildings might contribute towards energy conservation and fully comply with the building regulations. A large array of energy efficiency solutions are used such as a ventilation system with an efficient high heat recovery system, lighting controls linked to daylighting, etc. Using energy efficiency technology the office building in case study has shown compliance with the building regulations and has also conserved energy. This paper will demonstrate that energy conservation and compliance with building regulations are achieved through early incorporation into the building design. The show case of an office building in this paper brings practical applications to building services engineers and consulting engineers who might want to design an office building that conserves the energy. Certainly, Part L of the Building Regulations has statutory standing as legislation in the UK, however this regulation has been amended and synchronised with the Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) set up by the European Parliament and Council on energy efficiency of buildings. So this study will not be only useful for building engineers in the UK but also in the EU as well as any part of the globe which use EPBD as the basis to develop local energy codes