Aesthetic and energy consequences of air conditioning systems in building design integration

Abstract

Buildings are among the top of energy consumers. It is estimated that over 50% of the overall produced energy is consumed in buildings, mainly on heating and cooling. Application of air conditioning systems saw an important expansion in the past decade. These systems are used, not only for cooling but for heating, or supplemental heating, as well (as heat pumps). While there is virtually no alternative to their usage as cooling systems, heating applications should be reconsidered in a more subtle manner to maintain the principles of energy efficiency. Mass consumption of air conditioners has as an effect a significant rise in consumption of energy, mainly during the summer. Aesthetic consequences are another important problem. Since the placement of these appliances is not regulated by law, and left to the citizens they are commonly self-initiated and misaligned which undermines aesthetic values. Additional problem is placement of air conditioning systems on protected objects (religious institutions, object under protection) which undermines not only aesthetic, but historical value as well. On the other hand, many new buildings represent a positive example, since this problem is adhered from the very start of conceptual design, and these appliances are covered with adequate architectural solutions. This paper will try to cover positive and negative examples of Serbia, Montenegro, and some other Balkan and Western Europe's countries. It will also give recommendations in solving the negative energy and aesthetic consequences of these problems. Non-controlled application of air conditioning systems is becoming a health problem. Large differences between the interior and exterior temperature leads to an array of health problems registered by many medical reports. Improper maintenance of air conditioning systems could lead to bacterial propagation which could seriously damage health.

Sektor zgradarstva je jedan od najznačajnijih potrošača energije. Smatra se da se oko 50% ukupno proizvedene energije potroši u zgradama, prvenstveno na grejanje i hlađenje prostora. Poslednjih desetak godina, veliku ekspanziju doživljava upotreba klima uređaja, koji se koriste ne samo za rashlađivanje prostorija u kućama i stanovima u toku letnjih meseci, već i za grejanje odnosno za dopunu grejanja u predgrejnoj sezoni (toplotne pumpe). Dok u procesu rashlađivanja skoro da nema alternative, korišćenju rashladnih uređaja kao toplotnih pumpi mora se prići na jedan suptilniji način ako se želi ostati u okviru principa energetske efikasnosti. Masovna upotreba klima uređaja za posledicu ima i povećanu potrošnju energije, posebno u letnjim mesecima. Estetske posledice predstavljaju drugi značajni problem, budući da je postavljanje klima uređaja u postojećim objektima zakonski neregulisano, i samim tim ostavljeno volji građana. Ovakvo stanje stvari najčešće dovodi do samoinicijativnog i pogrešnog postavljanja klima uređaja na spoljne fasade zgrada, što za posledicu ima narušavanje estetskih vrednosti, često izuzetno značajnih arhitektonskih objekata. Poseban problem predstavlja činjenica da se klima uređaji postavljaju i na zaštićene objekte (sakralni objekti objekti pod zaštitom), čime se neposredno uništava ne samo njihova estetska već i istorijska vrednost. S druge strane, mnogi novoprojektovani objekti predstavljaju pozitivne primere, jer se već u fazi projektovanja ovom problemu poklanja pažnja i klima uređaji se zaklanjaju adekvatnim ar hitektonskim rešenjima. Tema ovog rada biće pozitivni i negativni primeri iz Srbije, Crne Gore, ali i nekih zemalja Balkana i zapadne Evrope. Pored toga biće date preporuke za rešavanje negativnih energetskih i estetskih posledica ovog problema. Nekontrolisana upotreba klima uređaja odražava se i na zdravlje ljudi. Velike razlike u spoljnoj i unutrašnjoj temperaturi dovode do niza zdravstvenih problema na koje upozoravaju i ukazuju lekarski izveštaji. Nepravilno održavanje sistema za klimatizaciju može da pogoduje razvoju bakterija koje izazivaju teške zdravstvene posledice.