Reducing energy loss with insulation
Buildings account for approximately 40% of the annual energy consumption in Turkey, revealing the importance of reinforcing the insulation system in buildings. Prof. Dr. Celalettin Kozanoğlu, Head of Department of Civil Engineering, Izmir University of Economics (IUE), stated that it is possible to reduce energy loss in buildings even with minor arrangements. Emphasizing that 40 percent of the heat loss in buildings is due to walls, 30 percent to windows, 7 percent to the roof, 6 percent to the basement floor and the other part due to various leaks, Prof. Dr. Kozanoğlu stated that a strong insulation is essential for energy saving. Prof. Dr. Kozanoğlu said that insulation materials are light, and if they are used, earthquake safety will increase thanks to the reduction of the load on the building.
Noting that energy is now as important as water, Prof. Dr. Celalettin Kozanoğlu, Head of IUE Department of Civil Engineering, gave information about the arrangements that can be made for energy saving in buildings.
INSULATION of 70% IS WEAK
Prof. Dr. Kozanoğlu said, “Most of the annual energy capacity in our country is used for heating and cooling of buildings. About 40 percent of energy consumption belongs to buildings. Additionally, 30 percent of carbon dioxide emissions originate from buildings. This reveals the importance of saving, especially in buildings. In general, we can say that 70% of the buildings are weak in terms of insulation in our country. This causes an increase in the consumption of electricity and other types of energy and causes unnecessary costs.”
EVEN PLANTS ARE BEING USED
Prof. Dr. Kozanoğlu continued as follows: “Recently, biophilic designs have come to the fore in buildings, and plants are also used in building insulation. For example, seaweeds (algae) used in building insulation both provide insulation and enable energy production. Of course, there is no rule that these will be used in every building. It is also possible to obtain positive results by using basic insulation materials that strengthen the insulation in buildings. Instead of weight-bearing wall materials for thermal insulation, lightweight insulation materials can be used. In this way, the load carried by the building is also reduced and the safety of the building in case of a possible earthquake increases. Many details, such as how many millimeters of glass used, what kind of insulation material is used on which facade of the building, are also effective in saving.”
LEGAL ARRANGEMENT CAN BE MADE
Stating that a legal arrangement can be made to increase environmental regulations in buildings, Prof. Dr. Kozanoğlu said, “The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has recently taken important steps in the field of energy as well as earthquake safety. We can show the 'Energy Identity Certificate' and the voluntary-based National Green Certificate System 'YeS-TR' application as examples. It is clear that the need for energy will increase in the coming years, not only in our country, but also throughout the world. Under these circumstances, the issue of building insulation, in particular, can be sanctioned by a legal arrangement without being left to the request of individuals. A legal study can be done on this subject.”