What is energy conservation? The main directions and methods of energy conservation

Today, in the modern world, energy conservation is an integral part of the life of a civilized society. This is health care, and saving money, and comfort of living. But one of the most important (global) characteristics of energy conservation is the protection of the environment from negative influences.

Energy saving concept

The very concept of "energy saving" began to be used in Russia for a very long time, back in the Soviet period. To date, energy conservation is characterized by the conceptual apparatus cited in the main Federal Law "On energy conservation and energy efficiency and on amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation" No. 261-FZ of 11.23.2009.

Energy saving is

Energy saving is based on an energy resource as a carrier of energy that can be used in any activity.

The Federal Law on Energy Saving also introduces the concept of "secondary energy resource", which is an energy resource obtained as a result of the implementation of any technological process that is not aimed at generating energy.

Energy conservation is any activity aimed at reducing the use of energy resources without compromising the main function of their use.

Despite the extreme accuracy of the definitions, very often there is confusion in the concepts of "energy conservation" and "energy efficiency". In this regard, this section defines the latter.

Energy efficiency is a certain set of characteristics that reflect the ratio of the effect of the use of energy resources to the costs of energy resources themselves. Energy saving efficiency is also characterized by the energy efficiency class , which reflects the degree of usefulness of a product in terms of energy saving. To determine energy efficiency, special energy surveys are carried out.

Basic principles of energy saving

Now, having decided on the basic concepts in this area, it is worth reflecting the basic principles of energy conservation:

  1. Use of alternative energy sources.
  2. Use of secondary energy resources.
  3. The use of non-energy-intensive technologies and equipment.
  4. Taking measures for the rational use of available energy resources.
  5. Conducting an assessment of the economic feasibility of applying any energy-saving technologies and solutions.

This list can be attributed both to the principles of state regulation of energy conservation, and to the main approaches to warming a private house. The main thing to remember: energy conservation involves not only additional ways of generating energy, but also activities to save existing and rational spending.

energy saving program

Alternative energy sources

Today, a lot is said about alternative energy sources. As a rule, this refers to renewable energy. What is renewed endlessly on planet Earth? Of course, this is water, the sun, the wind, the earth's crust. Of course, if you go into details, then the solar activity changes over time, and the surface of the earth's crust becomes thinner, but all this is on the scale of the Universe. We are talking about resumption within the framework of our civilization - in the coming centuries, we believe that the Sun will not fade and the Earth will not fly off orbit.

energy efficiency and energy saving

Thus, the following sources of energy are considered today alternative to oil, gas, coal and wood:

  • Energy of sun. To use such a source, solar panels and collectors are used. The first are photocells that directly convert the energy of the sun into electric current. Solar collectors do not convert energy into electric current, but heat the coolant for its subsequent use (for example, for heating water in a private house).
  • Wind energy. Windmills producing electricity using blades rotated by wind power are very popular in Europe. For example, Germany already receives a third of its electricity using this particular renewable energy source.
  • Water energy. It is not only about hydroelectric power plants. Today, there are heat pumps that convert the heat of water in a lake or pool into a stable heating of water for heating a house and supplying it with hot water.
  • Earth energy. The heat pumps described above can also use heat from groundwater or the top layer of the earth's crust for utility needs. Such installations are very popular because they do not require a source of water or wind nearby: the coolant can be placed in special pipes under the lawn, for example, or in wells in the garden.

Secondary energy resources

The use of energy repeatedly is one of the basic principles that ensure high-quality energy saving. Improving the efficiency of the ventilation and air conditioning system used in the building is possible only with the secondary use of the heat of the exhaust air. This process of returning part of the heat leaving the building (the air is heated in the room by working equipment located in the room of people) is called recovery. In this aspect, energy conservation is the activity of preserving the energy available in a room.

power saving mode

The principle of operation of the recuperator is very simple - through certain platinum, which conducts heat well, the air drawn from the room heats the cold flows entering from the street without mixing with it. As a result, heated air enters the house rather than icy, but by 2-3 degrees, which contributes to a more comfortable microclimate in the room, and also allows saving on heating, due to the increase in temperature in the room due to warm currents.

Recuperators are lamellar, as described above, rotary (with a rotating element inside) and with an intermediate heat carrier. A large selection of manufacturers of recuperators allows you to choose the device for different rooms and customers.

How to rationally use communal energy resources?

The rational use of available resources includes not only the installation and operation of energy-efficient equipment, but also compliance with a certain regime. The energy saving mode is the order of life in which energy is saved at the household level. If you set a goal - to save on utility bills, then you must first install equipment that, with the help of automation of the supply and metering of energy, will allow you not to waste in kilowatts.

It should be selected based on the marking confirming that this device or device provides energy saving. Improving energy optimization of resource use is possible only with the rational operation of all equipment. Timely turning off the light in rooms where there are no people, attentive attitude to the waste of hot water and the correct setting of automatic metering devices and consumption of heat and electric energy in the house will achieve significant results in saving energy and personal money.

What is a passive house?

Energy efficiency and energy saving are inextricably linked with the concept of passive housing construction. It combines a set of energy-saving measures, which together provide a low level of energy consumption. The technology of a passive house begins in Darmstadt, where it was first developed by physicist Feist. The calculation of the energy balance of the house gave him the idea of ​​creating a building that would not have to be connected to heating even in winter, a passive house. Then in Germany, the house consumed about 200 kW . h / m² per year. The passive house needed only 10 kW . h / m² per year to remain suitable and even comfortable for year-round use.

The basic criterion for a passive house is the creation of a closed building envelope with increased thermal insulation and low thermal conductivity. This is achieved through the use of energy-saving heat-insulating materials, the exclusion of the so-called cold bridges (places in the building envelope, through which the cold penetrates the building: fastening facades, window frames).

Evaluation of the effectiveness of energy-saving technologies

In order to bring the level of energy consumption in a building closer to the standard of a passive house, it is necessary to use materials with high heat resistance, modern engineering equipment, renewable and secondary energy sources, in short, measures that provide energy saving. Energy efficiency is calculated on the basis of the expenses spent on a particular innovation in the house, and the effect that such a decision will bring to the owner.

energy saving efficiency

Firstly, it is necessary to calculate the impact of new technology on the volume of production and consumption of a particular type of resource. In this case, you need to evaluate:

  • The degree of saving of resources (the difference in resources used by energy-efficient and traditional equipment during the calculation period when generating the same amount of energy).
  • The effect of energy production (the difference or the ratio of the volumes of energy generated over a certain period by the compared equipment options when using the same amount of resources).

These indicators will give us an idea of ​​the need to move on to calculating the economic effect. It is calculated by comparing the costs spent on the purchase of new (and, possibly, dismantling the old) equipment, and the income from energy savings when replacing the wasteful apparatus with a more modern one (over a certain time period). This difference will be the effect that the owner will receive after a specific period of time after applying an energy-efficient solution. Typically, installing recuperators or solar panels pays for itself in 3-5 years.

History of energy conservation programs in Russia

Like other strategically important tasks for the country, energy conservation in Russia is carried out using the program-targeted management method that has been widely used for many years. The energy conservation program is a set of measures to achieve specific goals and solve specific problems.

The first program "Energy Efficient Economy for 2002-2005 and the Future Till 2010" was approved on November 17, 2001 by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 796. As a result of the implementation of the program, positive changes occurred in the fuel and energy complex of the Russian Federation, however, due to interruptions in the system of financing the program, its performance decreased significantly in 2006 and it was closed by Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1446-p.

The second state program “Energy Saving and Improving Energy Efficiency for the Period until 2020” was in effect for only 2.5 years and was canceled by Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 479 in 2013.

Instead, another energy-saving program “Energy Efficiency and Energy Development” was put into effect, which lasted less than a year and was closed in 2014 by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of April 15, 2014 No. 321.

Today, the new program “Energy Efficiency and Energy Development” from 2014 (approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated April 15, 2014 No. 321) is in force. Its effectiveness will be shown by time, but now the scope of the expected results can be estimated: by 2020, the energy intensity of GDP should fall more than 9% compared with 2007. Within the framework of this program, it is also planned to develop the extraction of coal, oil, gas, and the use of alternative energy sources in industry.

Energy saving in residential and social buildings in Moscow

With the advent of the first energy-saving program, the approach to building buildings in Russia has changed dramatically. Special regulatory requirements were introduced for the thermal protection of building envelopes and their energy consumption. Designers strictly followed the requirements of regulatory documents, but studies have shown that residential buildings in Moscow, which were built after 2000, are almost 2 times higher than the established standard. On average, during the heating period they consumed up to 160 kWh per square meter of living space, with a norm of 95 kWh per square meter. In this regard, changes were introduced that led not only to the regulation of energy consumption, but also to the application of specific energy-efficient solutions in residential and public building projects.

energy saving and increasing energy efficiency

Currently, various energy-efficient solutions are used in residential buildings and social buildings (kindergartens, schools, etc.):

  • The automatic metering devices for the consumption of hot water and coolant in the heating system are used.
  • Battery-operated controls are used, allowing each tenant to adjust the room temperature as they wish.
  • Pipelines are insulated to reduce heat loss.
  • Ventilation units with a heat recovery system are used.
  • Building envelopes include high-quality insulation and three-chamber double-glazed windows.

In addition to rationing building designs, certain incentive measures have been developed for energy-efficient housing construction. For example, for owners of energy-efficient buildings there are tax benefits:

  1. The tax base does not include property with a high class of energy efficiency for three years from the moment of registration (Federal Law of June 7, 2011 No. 132-).
  2. It is possible to double the depreciation of such property (Federal Law of November 23, 2010 No. 261-FZ).

Tariff incentives are also used as a method of motivating the rational use of energy by residents of Moscow.

State Information System for Energy Saving

The State Information System (GIS) "Energy Efficiency" is an accumulation center for all information on energy conservation. Designed for the population of the country, legal entities, employees of the state apparatus. In addition to informing about new energy-efficient solutions, achievements of modern innovators, helping reduce energy consumption for enterprises and owners of private houses, this site is also used by public services to collect information on energy consumption of budgetary organizations.

The last function is implemented through the module "Information on energy conservation and energy efficiency." Here, budgetary organizations and municipalities fill out declarations on energy consumption online, using the following data:

  • Energy passport.
  • Articles of association.
  • Organization staffing.
  • Invoices for fuel and energy resources.
  • Technical passport of the building and data from the BTI.

Such an energy-saving module allows saving the resources of organizations that are obliged to report to the federal authorities on energy costs, and also provides government agencies with the opportunity to quickly and thoroughly analyze and draw conclusions about changes in the country's energy policy.

power saving module

In conclusion, it is worth noting that energy saving is not just saving money. First of all, this is concern for tomorrow, in which our children will live.


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