Climate Change and Structural Engineers
The sun is the main source of energy to the planet and annually it supplies the earth with certain amount of energy. Some of this energy is reflected back to space directly, but the rest that enters the planets is either absorbed by the atmosphere and earth surface or reflected back to space. However some of the energy is trapped by the atmosphere to warm the earth’s surface in a natural way. This phenomenon is called the ‘The Greenhouse Effect’ which is caused by certain gases in the atmosphere known as ‘Greenhouse Gases’, such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Methane (CH4). These gases reflect energy back to earth not allowing its escape to space. However, if the concertation of the Greenhouse Gases in the …show more content…
After analysing the surrounding environment of the construction area, structural engineer start to develop a concept design with the aid of other experts such as architects and construction engineers. They take all the important aspects such choice of material choice, ventilation and illumination into consideration. As well as they use their knowledge about how forces interact and what behaviour must be expected from different substances to come up with the brightest ideas and solutions for a structure to be able to sustain itself through standard predicted conditions. Finally ending with a technical design before …show more content…
Insulation chosen must by of high R-value, thus having better thermal resistance. But at the same time to be of an adequate price and comforting availability for convenience. In addition to that, instead of using conventional heating system, heat pumps can be implemented since they are very efficient. Heat pumps operate with the same concept of a refrigerator but just reversed, as they remove heat from elsewhere source such as the underground and transfer it to the building (illustrated in figure 2). If the building is well insulated, has a very efficient temperature regulating system, uses excelling efficient lighting methods and has a small average temperature difference with it surrounding it achieves its least consumption of electricity thus emits less carbon dioxide. Structural engineers can go even further by trying to achieve a structure with zero carbon emissions by implementing concepts such as natural ventilation (illustrated in figure 3) in warm regions. Natural ventilation will decrease the rate of air-condition systems usage which is still rising from the 1940’s, and will contribute highly over a large scale to climate change since an air-conditioned building produces about 75 kg of CO2/metre square/year. However, when it comes to natural ventilation structural engineers must think about the building’s orientation and study wind
The sun is the main source of energy to the planet and annually it supplies the earth with certain amount of energy. Some of this energy is reflected back to space directly, but the rest that enters the planets is either absorbed by the atmosphere and earth surface or reflected back to space. However some of the energy is trapped by the atmosphere to warm the earth’s surface in a natural way. This phenomenon is called the ‘The Greenhouse Effect’ which is caused by certain gases in the atmosphere known as ‘Greenhouse Gases’, such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Methane (CH4). These gases reflect energy back to earth not allowing its escape to space. However, if the concertation of the Greenhouse Gases in the …show more content…
After analysing the surrounding environment of the construction area, structural engineer start to develop a concept design with the aid of other experts such as architects and construction engineers. They take all the important aspects such choice of material choice, ventilation and illumination into consideration. As well as they use their knowledge about how forces interact and what behaviour must be expected from different substances to come up with the brightest ideas and solutions for a structure to be able to sustain itself through standard predicted conditions. Finally ending with a technical design before …show more content…
Insulation chosen must by of high R-value, thus having better thermal resistance. But at the same time to be of an adequate price and comforting availability for convenience. In addition to that, instead of using conventional heating system, heat pumps can be implemented since they are very efficient. Heat pumps operate with the same concept of a refrigerator but just reversed, as they remove heat from elsewhere source such as the underground and transfer it to the building (illustrated in figure 2). If the building is well insulated, has a very efficient temperature regulating system, uses excelling efficient lighting methods and has a small average temperature difference with it surrounding it achieves its least consumption of electricity thus emits less carbon dioxide. Structural engineers can go even further by trying to achieve a structure with zero carbon emissions by implementing concepts such as natural ventilation (illustrated in figure 3) in warm regions. Natural ventilation will decrease the rate of air-condition systems usage which is still rising from the 1940’s, and will contribute highly over a large scale to climate change since an air-conditioned building produces about 75 kg of CO2/metre square/year. However, when it comes to natural ventilation structural engineers must think about the building’s orientation and study wind