Regulated and unregulated energy consumption
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
A building’s energy consumption varies considerably according to the building’s function. Its total operational energy usage comprises regulated and unregulated energy. BREEAM broadly defines regulated and unregulated energy consumption as follows:
[edit] Regulated energy
‘Regulated energy is building energy consumption resulting from the specification of controlled, fixed building services and fittings, including space heating and cooling, hot water, ventilation, fans, pumps and lighting. Such energy uses are inherent in the design of a building.’
Designers may not be able to predict how the services and fittings will be used but they can design them to be as energy efficient as possible.
NB The Home Quality Mark One, Technical Manual SD239, England, Scotland & Wales, published by BRE in 2018 defines a regulated energy as; ‘…building energy consumption resulting from the specification of controlled, fixed building services and fittings, including space heating and cooling, hot water, ventilation and lighting.’
[edit] Unregulated energy
Unregulated energy is building energy consumption resulting from a system or process that is not ‘controlled’, ie energy consumption from systems in the building on which the Building Regulations do not impose a requirement. For example, this may include energy consumption from systems integral to the building and its operation, e.g. IT equipment, lifts, escalators, refrigeration systems, external lighting, ducted-fume cupboards, servers, printers, photocopiers, laptops, cooking, audio-visual equipment and other appliances.
Some buildings can have unregulated energy accounting for 50% of total energy use.
Unlike regulated energy use, unregulated energy consumption is usually only determined very late in the design process; it can also vary throughout the building lifecycle. This is because buildings may have different occupants or uses.
NB The Home Quality Mark One, Technical Manual SD239, England, Scotland & Wales, published by BRE in 2018 defines a unregulated energy as; ‘…the energy consumption of the home that is not ‘controlled’, i.e. energy consumption from aspects of the home on which Building Regulations do not impose a requirement. For the purposes of the HQM assessment, this includes energy associated with lighting, appliances and cooking.’
[edit] Building regulations
Designers usually demonstrate compliance with Approved Document L of the building regulations as evidence of a building’s energy efficiency. But this does not fully reflect reality, as regulated energy is only a part of the total. Although they can usually predict regulated energy usage, it becomes more difficult with unregulated energy as predicting user behaviour can be problematic. This means that designers should not be held accountable for total operational energy usage as it is something they can only partly influence.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Approved document L.
- BREEAM.
- Building Regulations.
- Energy performance certificates.
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
- New energy retrofit concept: ‘renovation trains’ for mass housing.
- Operational carbon.
- Performance gap.
- The code for sustainable homes.
[edit] External references
- Bonfield review.
- Energy Saving Trust.
- EU Energy Efficiency Directive.
- Part L (Conservation of fuel and power).
- Planning Portal – Energy Saving.
Featured articles and news
The continued ISG fall out, where to go?
Support for ISG contractors, companies and employees.
New HES national centre for traditional building retrofit
Announced as HES publishes survey results which reveal strong support for retrofit.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Expected to become one of the largest activities in the global construction industry.
The ECA industry focus video channel
Keeping update with the industry session by session.
Over 25 recorded informations sessions freely available.
AT Awards 2024 ceremony East London October 25th.
Revisiting the AT community at the 2023 awards evening.
The Community Housing Fund and built affordable homes
CLTN reviews the impact of the Fund and calls for extension.
The grading system of the Regulator for Social Housing
A background, an explanation and ten recent enforcements.
Construction, repair and maintenance. Book review.
Putting new life into a city with a 1900 year history.
BSRIA Briefing 2024: Sustainable Futures speakers
Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living 22 Nov.
Wall of support for post-Grenfell regulation of electricians
Call for a shake-up of the construction industry highlighted on radio.
Digital sustainability through future AEC tools
Bringing together industry and academia to meet challenges.
Skills gap for net zero highlighted to Minister for Industry
ECA convenes roundtable discussion at Portcullis House.
Evidencing Net Zero with the new UK buildings standard
Pilot version with detailed excel proforma out now!
Scottish Building Safety Levy, in consultation
From direct remediation and the RPDT, to the costs and alternatives.
Waves of warmer homes grants for the rental sector
Boosting energy efficiency standards for all rented homes.
A refocus of the National Planning Policy Framework
Key terms described in brief, as the consultation closes the evening of the 24th.
Fortified farmhouses of the unruly 16th-and 17th-century borders.