The use of a combination of active and passive measures to increase energy efficiency in building applications is possible. Passive strategies look into mechanisms in building design and orientation, as well as the building envelope, to reduce overall energy demand for heating and cooling. Active strategies include the adoption of advanced technologies for improved energy supply and efficiency, whereas passive strategies look into mechanisms in building design and orientation, as well as the building envelope, to reduce overall energy demand for heating and cooling. To aid the transition to sustainable energy practices, an energy efficient building design should not only boost energy efficiency on the supply side, but also minimize energy requirements and consumption on the demand side.
Good evening,
Usually one would expect that the passive measures schould be the prime consideration when the energy efficiency is the aim. The 'building envelope first' is the common appoach in this respect with the aim to minimise the heat losses through the building envelope and maximise the (passive) solar gains during the winter months in order to reduce the heating costs for example in the cloder climates. This is normally combined with solar shading and natural ventilation in order to minimise the overheating in summer, etc. The approach will be slightly different in warmer climates where cooling in summer is probably the bigger issue. These appraoches may be combined with some traditional methods used in a particular country for micro-climate control, like ventilation towers, ground wells, courtyards with trees and water, etc. These can normally moderate the micro climate within the building and reduce the building energy related loads.
The active measures tend to be the second layer associated with energy efficiency but they tend to be more expensive and not all of them are always suitable depending on the building location, surrounding building, etc. One have to aim to avoid the so called 'eco-blink' approach where number of active energy generated technologies are incorporated on a building just to showcase how the building is 'green' or similar whilst the actual energy generating potential is quite limited by some of the systems deployed.
With Best Wishes