Electrical Engineering Applications and Sustainable Architecture In field of Building Constructions
Reza Hajiha /Senior Electrical Engineer /Sharif University of Technology
Sustainable architecture is a general term that describes environmentally-conscious design techniques in the field of architecture.
Electrical Engineering Applications and Sustainable Architecture In field of Building Constructions
Reza Hajiha /Senior Electrical Engineer /Sharif University of Technology
Sustainable architecture is a general term that describes environmentally-conscious design techniques in the field of architecture. Sustainable architecture is framed by the larger discussion of sustainability and the pressing economic and political issues of our world. In the broad context, sustainable architecture seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by enhancing efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and development space.
In residential and commercial buildings, most components of electrical installations are hidden from sight – only elements like lighting fixtures and receptacles are exposed, since their function requires it. The role of electrical systems in building interiors is much more evident in industrial settings, where there are no dropped ceilings or dry walls to hide conduit, junction boxes and other accessories.
Practically all building systems have at least one electrical component, even if the main energy input is not electricity. For example, space heating systems rely on motor-driven fans to distribute air, and gas-fired equipment in commercial kitchens uses electronic controls. Electricity is normally associated with lighting fixtures, power outlets and air conditioners, but its coverage is much broader!
Electricity is the fastest and cheapest energy transmission method known by modern society, but this also makes it dangerous. If a high-magnitude current is not interrupted quickly, it can easily start a fire.
Electrical Engineering Services
Electrical installations have a very important role in buildings, since they provide an energy source for many appliances and building systems. In modern society, electric current is the fastest and most efficient method to deliver energy. However, the power of electricity also makes it dangerous when not used property, and electrical systems must be safe and reliable.
Buildings use plenty of equipment and devices that run with electricity. There are many types of electrical installations, but they must all meet two common requirements:
Being able to deliver enough power for all the electrical devices connected, while keeping a stable voltage.
Operating safely without exposing occupants to electric shock, and without creating fire hazards.
The NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC) is one of the most widely used references for electrical design, not only in the USA but also internationally. The NEC was developed by the National Fire Protection Association, and the first edition was published more than a century ago in 1897. The code is reviewed and updated every three years to keep up with the latest technologies, and the most recent edition was published in 2020. Cities, states and even entire countries have created their local electrical codes based on the NEC.
Delivering enough power and operating safely are basic requirements for all electrical installations. However, electrical engineers also recommend the use of energy efficiency measures. While these measures may increase the initial cost of your electrical systems, every dollar invested is recovered several times during the service life of your building. If the local power grid is dependent on fossil fuels, energy efficiency will also reduce the carbon emissions produced by your building.
Generating electricity on site is now viable, and solar panels in particular can adapt to buildings of all sizes and occupancies. However, a safe and reliable electrical installation is important even when clean energy sources are used. Also, energy efficiency maximizes the value of every kilowatt-hour produced.
Sizing Your Electrical Installations Correctly
Many calculations involved in electrical design have the purpose of finding the optimal size of equipment and components:
When an installation is undersized, wiring and other components can overheat, causing an early failure and possibly electrical faults. Undersized wiring also causes voltage drop issues, which damage some devices.
On the other hand, an oversized electrical installation is more expensive than necessary. Unless you plan to add more electrical loads to the system in the future, there is no point in oversizing.
If you are willing to invest more in an electrical installation, energy efficiency measures and renewable generation systems are much better ways to use your budget. Oversizing is not recommended, unless you plan to connect more electrical load in the future.
Sizing an electrical installation is a design process that involves many steps. First of all, electrical engineers must know all the electrical loads that will be connected to the installation. These include lighting fixtures, home appliances, office appliances, air handlers, air conditioning units, pumps and IT equipment.
Electrical loads are then grouped by categories, and similar devices share electrical circuits. For example, installing individual wiring for every lighting fixture is too expensive, and for this reason fixtures are arranged in lighting circuits. If a circuit contains 20 lamps that consume 200 watts each, it must be capable of carrying 4000 watts (4 kilowatts) safely and reliably.
The total current carried by an electrical circuit determines the conductor size. In turn, the wiring diameters of a circuit determine the conduit or raceway where it will be installed. During the electrical design process, engineers calculate wiring and conduit sizes for all the expected loads in a building. These circuits that power elec