Turbine ventilator as low carbon technology for energy conservation in buildings

Abstract

Energy use in buildings due to ventilation and infiltration has received much attention around the world as they account for approximately 30% to 50% of total energy use. In response to the scenario, a plethora of technical and fundamental strategies which are based on low carbon technologies and green energy resources have been adopted in buildings with the aim of achieving energy conservation demand. The use of these low carbon technologies in buildings not only contribute to a significant percentage of energy reduction, but also help to mitigate global warming and environmental impact of a rising carbon footprint. The need for such eco-friendly technologies in buildings has renewed emphasis on wind-driven ventilation techniques to replace electric fans or air-conditioning system. This includes turbine ventilator, a wind-driven ventilation device or air extractor that is commonly used in attics, rooftop spaces or lofts to facilitate ventilation, control high energy consumption and improve indoor environment. In order to obtain a deeper understanding into existing knowledge concerning this field, this paper presented the characteristics of turbine ventilator as low carbon technology for energy conservation in buildings. In addition, operating and physical parameters that influence its performance were also discussed.