Energy analysis of materials and structures in the building industry

With the help of five examples an overall review is presented of the importance of energy analysis for the building industry. Such an analysis can be used for both micro and macro considerations, as is shown. In the first example the effect of cement and baked clay brick manufacturing processes on energy consumption is shown. Based on the energy content of building materials, the effect of type and amount of materials in building structures on the energy consumption is calculated in a second example. The third example describes the energy savings achieved by better insulation of dwellings and gives a comparison of the economic value of such savings and the costs of achieving them. The fourth example compares the annual energy consumption for the construction of buildings in the Netherlands with the yearly energetic exploitation of buildings. The fifth and final example indicates the economic importance of the Dutch building industry, as well as its energetic importance, and the effect of fuel price rises on delivery prices.