Technological Product Innovation for Sustainable Energy

Technological product innovation for sustainable energy in buildings generally comprises two categories of technical solutions: energy-efficient technologies, and renewable energy technologies (Brindle et al., 2007).

Energy efficiency is the use of less energy than the industry standard for ventilation, heating, cooling, an artificial lighting to fulfil desired thermal comfort and task requirement of building occupants (Intrachooto, 2002). Energy efficiency often take two forms: reducing the demand for energy, and using fossil energy as efficiently as possible. Reducing energy demand can be achieved by avoiding energy waste and implementing energy-saving measures (Action Energy, 2002). This should be accomplished while maintaining thermal comfort (experienced temperature, heating and cooling), visual comfort (light and shading) and air quality (fresh air, removal of pollution and surplus heat) (Monash University, 2010). Using fossil energy more efficiently can be achieved by performing the same task with less energy, using the same amount of energy but producing more useful or higher value product and redefining the task so it can be performed using less energy (Clement et al., 2009). As Intelligent Energy (IE, 2009) argues, energy efficiency issues are affected by the passive and active qualities of the building. The passive qualities of the building involve issues related to its geometry, design and choice of materials and largely influence its lighting, temperature and ventilation. The active qualities involve the technical installations (lighting, heating, ventilation and cooling), supplementing the passive qualities of the building to create a comfortable indoor climate (IE, 2009). Such energy-efficient technologies inc...

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...on upon which this research study is rooted. In addition, the term sustainable energy innovation is used to represent both energy-efficient innovations, and renewable energy innovation. In other words the term sustainable energy innovation is used on this research study to represent innovations that are implemented to either reduce the demand for energy, use fossil fuel more efficiently or utilise renewable energy. Therefore, taking the above distinctions into consideration, the following definition of sustainable energy innovation is adopted:

Sustainable energy innovations are novel technological product innovations that are successfully integrated into design strategies in order to prevent or substantially reduce the negative impacts of energy use by reducing energy demand, increasing energy efficiency, or utilising new ways of renewable energy generation