Ventilation, definition of

Also known as Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), plug-in hybrids are similar in design to conventional Hybrids except their battery can be recharged from an external power source such as electric vehicle charging points.

As a result they can travel significant distances, typically 40 miles, using just their electric motor before their internal combustion engine kicks in.

They are being widely touted as a means of cutting carbon emissions and urban air pollution, while improving vehicle fuel efficiency to a level where cars can travel upwards of 250 miles on a single tank of fuel.

A range of new plug-in hybrids are expected to be launched over the next two years, including GM's Chevy Volt and a new version of Toyota's Prius.

Plug in hybrids are expected to be more expensive than conventional cars, however they will result in reduced fuel costs and a number of governments are offering tax breaks to try and increase consumer take up.

• Reducing Your Electricity Bill - 10 top tips
  Electricity costs are constantly increasing. This article explains 10 top tips that are cost effective and practical.
• Home Ventilation Techniques
  Home Ventilation improves the quality of living in your home, we look at the ventilation system options available.
• Mould Prevention, do it yourself tips
  Preventing mould in your house without using expensive chemicals or solutions, managing it the DIY way.
• What is a Trombe Wall and how can you use one?
  Trombe Walls can provide free heating, cooling and ventilation. We explain how Trombe Walls work; how to build a Trombe Wall and how such a wall saves money by reducing energy usage.
• Low Allergen Building Design
  Low allergen design is a whole building approach that aims to reduce and avoid all known allergens, and to minimize the conditions in which they occur. This article shows you how.
• Green Home Building and Ecology in Australia
  Info and sites that help with building a sustainable and green home in Australia and useful government agencies to be aware of. Also advice on dealing with architects and builders.
• Keeping your home Cool in Summer or Warm in Winter for free!
  How to keep cool or warm in your home by design, either in Summer or Winter, whilst reducing costs to you and the Earth..

• Home Ventilation
  Ventilating your home is important for your health and well being.

• The Firewood Garden in China adapts to the local environment
  A modern building sits in the Anshi Village, Yibin, in Sichuan Province, China, but it is using entirely traditional building techniques to adapt to its environment...
• This villa in India is made up of cascading floating terraces
  Currently under construction in Hyderabad, India and designed by Studio Symbiosis, the Floating Terraces Villa will measure 11,840 square feet on one acre of natural landscape...
• A prefab home in Sydney celebrates indoor-outdoor living
  Constructed in a Melbourne factory in just 12 weeks, this elegant, prefab home in Sydney offers indoor-outdoor living without compromising thermal comfort. First designed by Sydney-based architectural practice Fox Johnston, the home’s concept was later...
• Breezy Ecuadorian brick home on stilts embraces cool tropical winds
  Ecuadorian architecture firm Natura Futura Arquitectura has completed the Stilts House, an elevated brick home that opens up to the outdoors with a perforated facade...

Related Tags: passive design