Energy Conscious Architecture: Demand or Necessity

Abstract

In today’s world there is a growing awareness of the energy use and its crisis thereof, and thus the need to conserve and manage the energy resources in a responsible manner is being increasingly felt by different sectors of the economy. There has been a recent trend of exponential increase in energy pricing, with the result that the hitherto underestimated concept of energy conservation has swiftly assumed great significance and it has tremendous prospective in cutting costs and promoting development, mainly in developing countries. There is also a trend of higher consumption of energy in buildings with the increase in the standard of living. The present paper delineates imperative need to design energy efficient buildings. The major aim of this paper is to invigorate the readers about the energy conscious or passive architecture, and to question it to be a demand or a necessity in the present context? Buildings aim to maintain interior thermal comfort and reduce heating and cooling loads through energy efficiency strategies. Specific consideration is required with respect to the location of the site, prevailing climate, design and construction, placement of glazing, shading elements and incorporation of thermal mass. It is envisaged that the paper will highlight some aspects and important points and present a future course of research for others who are willing to further their study on this particular research topic.