Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Additional LEED for Homes credit categories are:
1. Location and linkage credits encourage construction on previously
developed or infill sites and promote walkable neighbourhoods with
access to efficient transportation options and open space.
2. Awareness and education credits encourage home builders and real
estate professionals to provide homeowners, tenants and building
managers with the education and tools they need to understand and
make the most of the green building features of their home.
In addition, there are two bonus credit categories:
1. Innovation in design or innovation in operations credits addresses
sustainable building expertise as well as design measures not
covered under the five LEED credit categories. Six bonus points are
available in this category.
2. Regional priority credits address regional environmental priorities
for buildings in different geographic regions. Four bonus points are
available in this category.
8.4 New Design Practices and Renewable Energy Blends
Various countries currently rely heavily on coal, oil and natural gas for their
energy. Fossil fuels are non-renewable; that is, they draw on finite resources
that will eventually dwindle, becoming too expensive or too environmen-
tally damaging to retrieve. In contrast, the many types of renewable energy
resources—such as wind and solar energy—are constantly replenished and
will never run out. Most renewable energy comes either directly or indirectly
from the sun. Sunlight, or solar energy, can be used directly for heating and
lighting homes and other buildings, for generating electricity, and for hot
water heating, solar cooling, and a variety of commercial and industrial uses
(Figure 8.1).
Solar heat also drives the winds, whose energy is captured with wind tur-
bines. Then the winds and the sun's heat cause water to evaporate. When
this water vapour turns into rain or snow and flows downhill into rivers or
streams, its energy can be captured using hydroelectric power.
Along with the rain and snow, sunlight causes plants to grow. The organic
matter that makes up those plants is known as biomass. Biomass can be used
to produce electricity, transportation fuels or chemicals. The use of biomass
for any of these purposes is called bioenergy.
Hydrogen also can be found in many organic compounds as well as in
water. It is the most abundant element on the Earth. But it does not occur
