We created this table as part of our study of energy-efficient building technologies. The technologies are first grouped according to the need that they aim to meet. The divisions are then subdivided once or twice more. The idea is to make it easy to see what technologies are available for each purpose.
| Efficient fossil fuel use | CHP | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Condensing boilers | |||
| Heat pumps | Conventional Solar-assisted |
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| Minimum heat losses | Heat recovery | ||
| Insulation | Opaque | Glass wool etc Gas bags Dynamic insulation Breathing wall |
|
| Transparent | Polycarbonate Glass capillary Aerogel |
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| Glazing | Low-e Gas fill Evacuated |
||
| Ventilation | Heat exchanger | ||
| In/exfiltration | |||
| Optimal ambient gains | Heat | Solar walls | Conventional Hybrid heat/water |
| Glazing | Low-e SW passing Low-e SW reflecting Prismatic glass Thermotropic glass Thermochromic glass Electrochromic glass Gasochromic glass |
Control | Roller blinds Shutters Overhangs Special venetian blinds Special glazing Switchable space heat/HW Trees |
| Electrical | Roof-top turbine Photovoltaics |
||
| Energy storage | Electrical | Batteries Capacitors Fuel cells |
|
| Thermal | Sensible heat | Water tanks Rock bins Mass walls Solar ponds | |
| Latent heat | Phase change materials Desiccants |
||
| Mechanical | Flywheels Kinetic rings |
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| Optimal daylighting | Light wells Transparent Insulation Light redirection |
||
| Embodied energy | Materials | ||
| Implied energy use | Repair/Demolition | ||
| Resource use | Re-use of grey water |