Energy saving potential in fenestration design for school buildings in Malta

Abstract

Architecture is all about bringing people closer to the environment through the use of buildings and spaces designed by them. Use of natural light in buildings has been an architectural issue for centuries, but the topic of the moment that we need to address is the issue of rising ambient temperatures on our planet due to the excessive use of fossil fuels. This has brought this matter to the forefront once again. It has to be stressed here that the use of natural light in a building is not only a means of reducing the use of electrical energy and reducing carbon emissions, but natural light is a key architectural feature and good use of natural light makes the building more livable and pleasant to use. On the other hand the issue of carbon emissions and the fact that more than 50 percent of such emissions come from the burning of fuels to generate energy for buildings is also a very important issue. There is a universal drive to design buildings that use less energy without reducing comfort levels. In fact the EU has issued draft building regulations referred lo Part L which state very clearly what are the maximum energy levels that buildings can use to be able to meet the reduction in carbon emissions set to control the greenhouse effect on our atmosphere.