Toward Zero Energy: Active and passive design strategies to achieve net zero Energy Building

Abstract

Buildingsare found to be an essential part of the needed transition towards energy sustainability. In the past few years, there have been growing interests in net zero energy buildings (NZEB) adapted worldwide. The minimized energy demand and airtightness of a passive house and the low energy buildings have provided in the past a step forward to the energy efficiency goal and the net-zero energy building. Implementation of proven energy efficiency technologies offers the world the fastest, most economical, and most environmentally benign way to alleviate threats. This paper will discuss Net Zero Energy Building definition and design strategies targeting for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. The literature shows that to improve the integrated performance of the building and to achieve the goal of energy efficient and NZEB, appropriate active and passive design strategies should utilize. Also, energy demand should reduce to a minimum, through energy efficient building designs, leaving only a fraction of the energyrequired to be covered by renewable energy generation.