The Manchester Project involved the energy efficient rehabilitation and retrofitting of existing housing units plus the construction on vacant lots of new dwellings incorporating energy conservation measures. This project, in the Manchester neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, began inthe late 19 70s and was completed in 1983. Energy use and air quality monitoring were carried out for one year after the completion of the project. It was found that in comparison to detached single-family houses using standard construction, energy savings of 75 to 80% were being realized.
The project involves a 'Housing for the Elderly' development of 32 units, built by the Blenheim Borough Council, BBC, under a Housing Corporation sponsored initiative. The initiative is aimed at providing affordable rental accommodation for the fastest growing section of the community: the elderly. The council sought a new housing design which catered specifically to the needs and resources of elderly tenants. Comfortable and affordable rental accommodation linked with low maintenance were foremost considerations in the project.
An integrated approach to energy management and auditing over the past 10 years has turned Australia's Parliament House into an energy champion. Total energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions over that time have been culled by an impressive 52.3% and 41.2% respectively. Equally impressive is the fact that all energy efficiency improvements have been fully funded from energy savings.
In 1991 the UK Audit Commission produced energy performance indicators for hospitals based on the type of care provided. However, an analysis of over I 00 hospitals throughout 1he United Kingdom has found the type of care provided to have relatively little effect on rhe energy performance of hospital . Although other factors influenced energy use to some degree, the major factor affecting performance was found to be the plan of the hospital, as this influenced the amount of mechanical ventilation required.
Defective and energy inefficient windows, such as single-pane windows, can be responsible for up to 70% of a home's heating and cooling load. An innovative internal storm window system designed to reduce energy loss through single-pane windows was field tested in three occupied homes in the southeastern part of the United States to demonstrate its energy savings impact. The test results indicated that this system, called the "Winsulator" system, reduced window-related energy consumption for heating and cooling by 29%.
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