Zero Energy Buildings

Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Zero energy buildings

Environmental Engineering

Ankit Agarwal

Prateek Deshmukh

Rahul Agarwal

Varun Pal Singh Kohli

Amrit Juneja

24-3-2008

CONTENTS

ABSTRACT 4

INTRODUCTION 5

I. Boundary Definitions and Energy Flows 6

II. Definitions 9

III. How definition influences design 11

IV. Conclusion 14

V. References 16

LIST OF TABLES

I. Table 1 7

II. Table 2 15

ABSTRACT:

A net zero-energy building (ZEB) is a residential or commercial building with greatly reduced energy needs through efficiency gains such that the balance of energy needs can be supplied with renewable technologies. We lack a common understanding or a common definition for the phrase “Zero Energy Building”. In this paper, we use a sample of current generation low-energy buildings to explore the concept of zero energy: what it means and why a clear and measurable definition is needed. The way the zero energy goal is defined affects the choices designers make to achieve this goal and whether they can claim success. A ZEB can be defined in different ways relating to cost, energy, or carbon emissions and, irrespective of the definition used, different views are taken on the relative importance of energy generation and energy conservation to achieve energy balance. This study shows the design impacts of the definition used for ZEB and the large difference between definitions.

“Using ZEB design goals takes us out of designing low-energy buildings with a percent energy savings goal and into the realm of a sustainable energy endpoint,” and the goals that are set and how those goals are defined “are critical to the design process,” with the definition influencing designers who strive to meet it. “Because design goals are so important to achieving high-performance buildings, the way a ZEB goal is defined is crucial to understanding the combination of applicable efficiency measures and renewable energy supply options.”

INTRODUCTION:

A zero energy building (ZEB) or net zero energy building is a general term applied to a building with a net energy consumption of zero over a typical year.3 Four well-documented definitions—net-zero site energy, net-zero source energy, net-zero energy costs, and net-zero energy emissions—are studied; pluses and minuses of each are discussed. Although zero energy buildings remain uncommon in developed countries, they are gaining in importance and popularity. The zero-energy approach is promoted as a potential solution to a range of issues, including reducing carbon emissions, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Most ZEB definitions do not include the emissions generated in the construction of the building which would usually invalidate claims of reducing carbon emissions.

A building approaching zero energy use may be called a near-zero energy building or ultra-low energy house. Buildings that produce a surplus of energy during a portion of the year may be known as energy-plus buildings.

Zero-Energy Buildings: Boundary Definitions and Energy Flows

The tagline of the ZEB concept is that buildings can meet all their energy requirements from low-cost, locally available, nonpolluting, renewable sources. For a building to be classified as a ZEB it should generate enough renewable energy on site to equal or exceed its annual energy use. The following questions arise while designing a Zero Energy building.

How to Account for the Energy Balance?

A ZEB implies that the energy generated on the site must be equal or in excess of its annual energy usage. There arises two obvious cases-

(a) When the on-site generation does not meet the loads then a ZEB can typically use traditional non renewable