Prof. Ana-Maria Dabija

Speaker Biography:

Prof. Dr. Ana-Maria Dabija is an architect since 1986. She worked in a design institute and a private company before pursuing a university career in the “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urbanism in Bucharest, in 1991. She has a Doctoral Degree, since 2000 and is a doctoral tutor since 2008. Among the courses she developed are the following “Architectural Finishing Systems”, “Contemporary Technological Products and Subassemblies” and “Mistakes in Design – Execution – Use”. She wrote books -“Performant Façade Systems. The opaque component”, “Elements for Stair Design” (also translated in English), “Elements for Designing Windows and Doors”, “Degradation of the Building Envelope”, “Photovoltaic Systems in Architecture”, took part in over 50 conferences (with papers published in the proceedings), coordinated the elaboration of technical regulations and scientific research. She is a Technical Expert and member of numerous national and international professional and scientific bodies: The Union of Architects in Romania, International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction CIB, in technical committees in the Ministry of Public Works, in the Renewable Energy Commission of the Romanian Academy.

Talk Title:

Passive Architectural Design Means for Energy Saving

Talk Abstract:

In 1865 William Stanley Jevons made the observation that “It is a confusion of ideas to suppose that the economical use of is equivalent to diminished consumption. The very contrary is the truth”. The statement is included in the book “The Coal Question” and is referred to, ever since, as the Jevons paradox of the rebound effect. In other words, the better use of a resource leads to the widening of the possibilities of using that resource, thus leading to more extensive use of the specific resource. It worked for coal, 150 years ago, it works for the energy consumption of today. It is not buildings that use a lot of energy, it is the building uses and users who, in fact, drain the energy resources of the planet. While electricity was installed in buildings towards the end of the 19-th Century and Earl Richardson invented, in 1903, the electric iron, today the home appliances and the “intelligent” houses are a great help for the users but in the same time, represent a “rebound effect” in the use of energy. It was not until the major energy crisis of the ‘70s that the alarm signal was pulled in respect with the use of energy non-renewable sources – for our generation – but taking a look at the history of buildings, one will observe that energy crisis had happened before and measures were taken, each time, until obliviousness laid over more prosperous generations.
One characteristic of this period of history is the aged population. According to the World Health Organization, by 2050 he world’s aging population will double (from 12% to 22%); translated into energy needs, this means more light and the need of a higher indoor temperature for comfort needs. The climate change – global warming – also translated into needs of comfort, means the need to cool the interior environment. These requirements can be accomplished with passive means (building compliance and specific detailing) and/or with active means (resulting from the use of building services that require the use of energy). One method of diminishing energy coming from traditional sources is by specific architectural design, by including into the design process the use of the laws of nature.

Keywords:

Architecture, passive design, energy saving, living envelope, daylight, natural ventilation