Conservation of Energy in Buildings

The energy shortage in the United States will be of many years duration. In the past, commercial buildings have not been designed to minimize the consumption of electricity and fuels. Because of the energy shortage and the resulting rise in costs of energy, it is imperative that conservation measures be implemented. Little information is available on how energy is consumed in buildings. Computer models which analyze the total energy balance of a building provide valuable guidance in planning conservation strategies. Obstacles to innovations and improvement in construction technology are examined. Some general methods are described for reducing energy consumption in the existing stock of commercial buildings. Areas where improvements can be made in future designs are identified.