On an energy cost basis, therefore, this preliminary analysis would suggest that the
traditional mud option may be the most favourable option compared to the present
technology of choice, fired bricks. Other inconveniences, such as water penetration
and termite attack, may, however, limit its application. Another insight is that the
difference in total energy requirements is driven almost entirely by construction
energy differences. The variation in operating energy is much smaller. One
implication of this finding is that the favourable choice of construction materials is
unlikely to vary much across India due to varying climate conditions. However, if
one were to consider a broader range of energy savings measures (e.g. thermal
insulation, high-performance glazing, shading devices, etc.) operational energy
reductions may have a more influential role.
In Brazil, building operating energy is even less important than in India, due to
more moderate climatic conditions. The variation in energy from the heterogeneity
of climatic conditions in the country is correspondingly lower as well. Notably, the
building materials show similar relative merits with respect to total energy
requirements, with the exception that the traditional (in this case, wood) housing is
even more favourable, having the least total energy requirement.
5.2 Water Supply Energy Requirements
Key sources of uncertainty for water supply include the geography and normative
standard for water demand. We compare two different systems with different
geographies—one with low water conveyance (in South Africa [7]), and another
with high conveyance requirements (in Florida [8]). We also vary the normative
standard for water demand, between a normative minimum of 50 l per cap per day
[9], and a reference of 100 l/cap/day (representing approximately the average
demand in India). Notably, nothing in this analysis is actually dependent on local
conditions in India or Brazil, so we show only one set of results.
In contrast to housing, water energy requirements are almost entirely composed
of operating energy, which comprises pumping water through the distribution
system and treating water. In this sector, construction materials matter far less than
pumping technology and location. The range of variation for the two systems is
higher than the mean. There may well be other locations in these countries that
entail even higher conveyance costs (Fig. 4).
404
N. D. Rao et al.
traditional mud option may be the most favourable option compared to the present
technology of choice, fired bricks. Other inconveniences, such as water penetration
and termite attack, may, however, limit its application. Another insight is that the
difference in total energy requirements is driven almost entirely by construction
energy differences. The variation in operating energy is much smaller. One
implication of this finding is that the favourable choice of construction materials is
unlikely to vary much across India due to varying climate conditions. However, if
one were to consider a broader range of energy savings measures (e.g. thermal
insulation, high-performance glazing, shading devices, etc.) operational energy
reductions may have a more influential role.
In Brazil, building operating energy is even less important than in India, due to
more moderate climatic conditions. The variation in energy from the heterogeneity
of climatic conditions in the country is correspondingly lower as well. Notably, the
building materials show similar relative merits with respect to total energy
requirements, with the exception that the traditional (in this case, wood) housing is
even more favourable, having the least total energy requirement.
5.2 Water Supply Energy Requirements
Key sources of uncertainty for water supply include the geography and normative
standard for water demand. We compare two different systems with different
geographies—one with low water conveyance (in South Africa [7]), and another
with high conveyance requirements (in Florida [8]). We also vary the normative
standard for water demand, between a normative minimum of 50 l per cap per day
[9], and a reference of 100 l/cap/day (representing approximately the average
demand in India). Notably, nothing in this analysis is actually dependent on local
conditions in India or Brazil, so we show only one set of results.
In contrast to housing, water energy requirements are almost entirely composed
of operating energy, which comprises pumping water through the distribution
system and treating water. In this sector, construction materials matter far less than
pumping technology and location. The range of variation for the two systems is
higher than the mean. There may well be other locations in these countries that
entail even higher conveyance costs (Fig. 4).
404
N. D. Rao et al.