| Summary: | Student Number : 9709225V -
MSc project report -
School of Construction Economics and Management -
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment === This research was conducted in order to highlight the misconception that there may be a
single answer to the challenges of energy efficient design; a “single elixir that will be the
answer to all problems” (Holm, 1996).
Existing literature pertaining to energy efficient design principles was analysed and tested
against a well known example of Southern African energy efficient building practice; the
Botswana Technology Centre (BOTEC). BOTEC was selected as the case study for this
investigation because it was designed to be a living exhibition of energy efficient design
and as such a manual or ‘elixir’ for alternate design.
BOTEC was analysed on site, personal interviews were held with the architect and a
questionnaire was circulated to the users of the building in order to observe whether the
principles used at the BOTEC building are appropriate and represent the “single elixir, the
answer to all problems,” with regard to energy efficient design (Holm, 1996).
Although BOTEC appears to perform well, interviews with the users of the BOTEC building
suggest that the building does not perform well in winter at all. Interviews with the
architectural consultant who worked on the BOTEC building expose a simple oversight in
design which leads to ‘this building’s underperformance in winter’.
In concurrence with Holm therefore, this report ultimately shows that there are no perfect
solutions to energy efficient design and by applying a once successful solution without
taking cognisance of specific climatic and geological differences, the building will not
function correctly.
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