Towards zero-energy buildings and neighbourhoods – A combination of energy-efficiency and local renewable energy production

The construction sector is a great contributor to global warming both in new and existing buildings. Minimum energy buildings (MEBs) demand as little energy as possible, with an optimized architectural design, which includes passive solutions. In addition, these buildings consume as low energy as possible introducing efficient facilities. Finally, they produce renewable energy on-site to become zero energy buildings (ZEBs) or even plus zero energy buildings (+ZEB). In this paper, a deep analysis of the energy use and renewable energy production of a social dwelling was carried out based on data measurements. Unfortunately, in residential buildings, most renewable energy production occurs at a different time than energy demand. Furthermore, energy storage batteries for these facilities are expensive and require significant maintenance. The present research proposes a strategy, which involves rescheduling energy demand by changing the habits of the occupants in terms of domestic hot water (DHW) consumption, cooking, and washing. Rescheduling these three electric circuits increases the usability of the renewable energy produced on-site, reducing the misused energy from 52.84% to 25.14%, as well as decreasing electricity costs by 58.46%.

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Study on the Certification Policy of Zero-Energy Buildings in Korea

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12125172 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 5172 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yeweon Kim ◽

Ki-Hyung Yu

Keyword(s):

Energy Efficiency ◽

Renewable Energy ◽

Energy Consumption ◽

Residential Buildings ◽

Building Energy ◽

Primary Energy ◽

Zero Energy ◽

Renewable Energy Consumption ◽

Self Sufficiency ◽

Zero Energy Buildings

This study presents a methodology and process to establish a mandatory policy of zero-energy buildings (ZEBs) in Korea. To determine the mandatory level to acquire the rating of a ZEB in Korea, this study was conducted under the assumption that the criteria of ZEB was a top 5% building considering the building’s energy-efficiency rating, which was certified through a quantitative building energy analysis. A self-sufficiency rate was also proposed to strengthen the passive standard of the buildings as well as to encourage new and renewable energy production. Accordingly, zero-energy buildings (ZEBs) in Korea are defined as having 60 kWh/(m2·yr) of non-renewable primary energy (NRPE) consumption in residential buildings and 80 kWh/(m2·yr) in non-residential buildings, and the self-reliance rate should be more than 20% of the renewable energy consumption as compared to the total energy consumption of the buildings. In addition, the mandatory installation of building energy management systems (BEMS) was promoted to investigate the energy behavior in buildings to be certified as zero-energy in the future. This study also investigated the number of ZEB certificates during the demonstration period from 2017 to 2019 to analyze the energy demand, non-renewable primary energy, renewable primary energy, and self-sufficiency rate as compared to those under the previous standards. For ZEB Grade 1 as compared to the existing building energy-efficiency rating, the sum of the NRPE decreased more than 50%, and renewable energy consumption increased more than four times.

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Zero-Energy Buildings-A Review

SAMRIDDHI A Journal of Physical Sciences Engineering and Technology ◽

10.18090/samriddhi.v5i2.1532 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Pawan Singh ◽

Rakesh Verma

Keyword(s):

Energy Efficiency ◽

Renewable Energy ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Hot Water ◽

Energy Sources ◽

Zero Energy ◽

Zero Energy Building ◽

Efficiency Measures ◽

Renewable Energy Generation ◽

Zero Energy Buildings

A zero-energy building (ZEB), which is an autonomous building energy option, is defined as a building that produces as much energy as it uses from renewable energy sources at the site. Zero-energy buildings can exchange energy with the power grid as long as the net energy balance is zero on an annual basis.In terms of the thermal energy transfer and storage, zero-energy buildings can achieve annual energy consumption levels down to 0 kWh per square metre through the use of renewable energy sources, which compares favourably with the passive house energy criteria per square metre. Energy plus houses, in contrast with both the passive houses and zero-energy buildings, focus on producing more energy per year than they consume, which can lead to an annual energy performance of -25 kWh per square metre. Zero-energy buildings should have features like: i) Enable building owners to be isolated from fluctuating energy prices through the on or off-grid renewable energy supply ii) Help reduce peak electrical demand by self-supplying energy demands on site iii) Go hand in hand with the transformation of energy infrastructure and market. Zero-energy buildings can be achieved by incorporating energy efficiency measures and on-site renewable energy generation technologies and its energy efficiency measures include: creating a high-performance building envelope, installing energy efficient appliances and lights, increasing the use of passive solar cooling and heating techniques and installing high-efficiency mechanical systems that match the lower energy requirements of the home. On-site renewable energy generation systems can be available within a building's footprint by using PVs, solar hot water and wind located on the building or at the site by means of PVs, solar hot water, low impact hydro and wind located on-site not on the building. Zero-energy building is still in the conceptual stage in the Asia-Pacific region. A few pilot projects have been applied to public buildings, such as research institutes, for demonstration purpose e.g., Sustainable Energy Technology Centre in China, Pusat Tenaga Malaysia's Zero Energy Office (ZEO) Building and National Institution of Environmental Research in Republic of Korea.

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Main Street Net-Zero Energy Buildings: The Zero Energy Method in Concept and Practice

ASME 2010 4th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Volume 1 ◽

10.1115/es2010-90225 ◽

2010 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Paul Torcellini ◽

Shanti Pless ◽

Chad Lobato ◽

Tom Hootman

Keyword(s):

Energy Efficiency ◽

Renewable Energy ◽

Large Scale ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Office Building ◽

Zero Energy ◽

Net Zero Energy ◽

Net Zero ◽

Net Zero Energy Buildings ◽

Zero Energy Buildings

Until recently, large-scale, cost-effective net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) were thought to lie decades in the future. However, ongoing work at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) indicates that NZEB status is both achievable and repeatable today. This paper presents a definition framework for classifying NZEBs and a real-life example that demonstrates how a large-scale office building can cost-effectively achieve net-zero energy. The vision of NZEBs is compelling. In theory, these highly energy-efficient buildings will produce, during a typical year, enough renewable energy to offset the energy they consume from the grid. The NREL NZEB definition framework classifies NZEBs according to the criteria being used to judge net-zero status and the way renewable energy is supplied to achieve that status. We use the new U.S. Department of Energy/NREL 220,000-ft2 Research Support Facilities (RSF) building to illustrate why a clear picture of NZEB definitions is important and how the framework provides a methodology for creating a cost-effective NZEB. The RSF, scheduled to open in June 2010, includes contractual commitments to deliver a Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design (LEED) Platinum Rating, an energy use intensity of 25 kBtu/ft2 (half that of a typical LEED Platinum office building), and net-zero energy status. We will discuss the analysis method and cost tradeoffs that were performed throughout the design and build phases to meet these commitments and maintain construction costs at $259/ft2. We will discuss ways to achieve large-scale, replicable NZEB performance. Many passive and renewable energy strategies are utilized, including full daylighting, high-performance lighting, natural ventilation through operable windows, thermal mass, transpired solar collectors, radiant heating and cooling, and workstation configurations allow for maximum daylighting. This paper was prepared by the client and design teams, including Paul Torcellini, PhD, PE, Commercial Building Research Group Manager with NREL; Shanti Pless and Chad Lobato, Building Energy Efficiency Research Engineers with NREL; David Okada, PE, LEED AP, Associate with Stantec; and Tom Hootman, AIA, LEED AP, Director of Sustainability with RNL.

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