Design Of Net-zero Energy Buildings Research Articles

Multi-objective optimization of energy demand and net zero energy building design based on climatic conditions (Case study: Iran)

Multi-objective optimization of energy demand and net zero energy building design based on climatic conditions (Case study: Iran)

Finding the gaps in design strategies and technological advancements for net-zero energy buildings development in India

The climate-adaptive net-zero energy building design is an effective trend for achieving a carbon-neutral environment and reducing global energy demand, especially, in India where building energy consumption recorded substantial growth in the past decade. This review article focuses on the development of net-zero energy buildings in tropical climates through the analysis of 44 real case studies. This study investigates the building envelope parameters, advance technologies, and their effectiveness on the building energy models. In the first phase of this study, fourteen net-zero energy buildings or high-performance buildings in the USA, China, and India considering energy-efficient design features and their significant effect on energy consumption have been examined. Moreover, the role of building simulation tools in improving energy efficiency is discussed. The second phase investigates the thirty best practices of net-zero energy buildings in tropical climates worldwide based on envelope choices, heating, cooling, and lighting features. Furthermore, this review discusses the evolving definitions, challenges, and inconsistencies in terminologies of net-zero energy building and illustrates India's initiatives towards net-zero development. The objectives of this review study are to highlight the challenges in building material research, advanced lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technologies, and integration of renewable energy compared to developed nations. Additionally, the gaps that are the barriers to the development of net-zero energy building in India have been identified. The review eventually concludes by providing policy recommendations and suggesting areas for future research to facilitate net-zero energy-building development in India.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Energy-Efficient Design Strategies in Achieving Net Zero Energy Building through Reduced Energy Consumption

Abstract: Net zero energy buildings (NZEBs) have emerged as a sustainable and energy-efficient solution to the challenges of climate change and rising energy costs. These buildings are designed to generate as much energy as they consume, resulting in zero net energy consumption. The paper explores the evolution of NZEBs and the latest emerging technologies that are enabling their development, including smart building automation systems, energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems, vacuum insulation panels, Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems, and advanced sensors. The effectiveness of these strategies is analyzed using Autodesk insights and Revit software. The paper also discusses the comparison of Energy Use Intensity (EUI) before and after implementing energy-efficient and renewable energy techniques, which is crucial in determining their effectiveness. The proposed building achieved a significant 57.3% reduction in energy consumption after implementing various NZEB design strategies, resulting in a mean EUI value of 99.8 kWh/sq. m/year. The analysis was conducted using Autodesk Insights and Revit software, utilizing the Building Information Modeling (BIM) approach for building design. This paper concludeswitha discussion on the future of NZEBs and how they are an important step towards achieving sustainable and efficient energy use in the building sector,resultingincostsavings andreducedcarbon emissions

On Net Zero Energy Building Design Methodology: A Case Study Examining Learning as Measured by Interdisciplinary Knowledge Acquisition

Net zero energy building design methodologies include integrative approaches and numerical tools to provide optimal performance and cost-effective results. Team integration, characterized by knowledge transfer between disciplines, has yet to be quantified for the design processes of these buildings. This article proposes a specific methodology for designing net zero energy buildings, tested through a case study design process conducted in an academic setting at Universidad Centroamericana in El Salvador, with the participation of students and faculty members. Through a survey, interdisciplinary knowledge transfer between team members was measured. We found that, without additional instruction, team participants outperformed a control group without project involvement by 16.4% (P < 0.002, t-test) in terms of interdisciplinary knowledge. This result implies that designers acquire new knowledge from other disciplines by interacting and solving design problems, although such acquisition is not uniform between disciplines. Remarkably, results show that the disciplinary groups that acquired the most knowledge about each other are Mechanical Engineering students and Architecture students. These results help us understand how to improve the design process, limit boundaries for disciplinary interactions, and determine which specific knowledge gaps to target per discipline in engineering and architecture education.

Zero Energy Building

Abstract: Decarbonizing the building sector is extremely important to mitigating climate change as the sector contributes 40% of the overall energy consumption and 36% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the world. Net-zero energy buildings are one of the promising decarbonization attempts due to their potential of decreasing the use of energy and increasing the total share of renewable energy. To achieve a net-zero energy building, it is necessary to decrease the energy demand by applying efficiency enhancement measures and using renewable energy sources. Net zero energy buildings can be classified into four models (Net-Zero Site Energy buildings, Net Zero Emissions buildings, Net-Zero Source Energy buildings, and Net-Zero Cost Energy buildings). A variety of technical, financial, and environmental factors should be considered during the decision-making process of net-zero energy building development, justifying the use of multi-criteria decision analysis methods for the design of net-zero energy buildings. This paper also discussed the contributions of renewable energy generation (hydropower, wind energy, solar, heat pumps, and bioenergy) to the development of net-zero energy buildings and reviewed its role in tackling the decarbonization challenge. Costbenefit analysis and life cycle assessment of net-zero energy building designs and their challenges were reviewed to shape the priorities of future development. It is important to develop a universal decision instrument for optimum design and operation of net-zero energy buildings Keywords: Zero Energy Building, Energy Efficiency, Greenhouse gases, Renewable Energy, Grid

Net Zero Energy Building: A Case Study of Padra Taluka of Vadodara District

Abstract: Global warming and climate change are raising issues during the last couple of decades. With residential and commercial buildings being the largest energy consumers, sources are being depleted at a much faster pace in the recent decades. The main aim of this project is to make the building as a net zero energy building (NZEBs). In which NZEBs design tools and applications are presented that can help designers in the commercial and residential sectors design their buildings to be NZEBs. It is much difficult to understand the overall concept of a NZEBs. As the building has significant impact on the energy use and the environment which effects on the development of the present era. The NZEBs occupants with healthy & comfortable indoor living environment and produces as much energy as it consumes on an annual base. We shall use the solar panels, solar PV system, wind energy, tidal energy, some plants to make building NZEBs & to make the building eco-friendly and energy efficient. Keywords: Eco-friendly building, Self- energy generating building, Energy conservation, Renewable energy resources, Sustainable development

Performance investigation of a net-zero energy building in hot summer and cold winter zone

The net-zero energy building (NZEB) is spreading rapidly as an integrated solution to address energy saving and carbon emissions reduction in the building sector. However, few studies pay close attention to the operational performance of NZEBs as well as their life cycle impact on the environment. This study investigates the operational performance of NZEBs, analyzes the influence factors in achieving net-zero energy, and explores the pathway to reduce the building life cycle carbon emission via a case study conducted from March 2017 to February 2018 in the hot summer and cold winter climate zone of China. The one-year investigation results show that the case building, where energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy were integrated, achieved net-zero energy with good indoor environmental quality. Based on the investigation, influence factors in achieving net-zero energy were analyzed via DesignBuilder: the minimum area per capita was 42 m 2 /person under the circumstance of net-zero energy; when operational strategy was changed, the air-conditioning energy use reduction was less than 5%. Additionally, in order to achieve net-zero energy, an equation was proposed to estimate the area ratio of installed photovoltaic (PV) panels to that of the building roof, thereby providing guidance for NZEBs design. Furthermore, life cycle carbon emissions of the project were evaluated. Based on the foregoing results, it can be concluded that by increasing carbon offsets of the PV system appropriately, an NZEB can be transformed into a life-cycle zero-emission building. Moreover, it is necessary to mention that the life cycle carbon emissions of the PV system should be considered. • Efficient technology and renewable energy are integrated to achieve net-zero energy. • Indoor environment quality is kept within comfort range with low energy used. • Influence factors in achieving net-zero energy is analyzed. • A net zero-energy building can achieve zero emission throughout the life cycle. • Life cycle carbon emissions of PV system deserve consideration.

Modeling Energy Efficiency Performance and Cost-Benefit Analysis Achieving Net-Zero Energy Building Design: Case Studies of Three Representative Offices in Thailand

The concept of a zero energy building is a significant sustainable strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The challenges of zero energy building (ZEB) achievement in Thailand are that the design approach to reach ZEB in office buildings is unclear and inconsistent. In addition, its implementation requires a relatively high investment cost. This study proposes a guideline for cost-optimal design to achieve the ZEB for three representative six-story office buildings in hot and humid Thailand. The energy simulations of envelope designs incorporating high-efficiency systems are carried out using eQuest and daylighting simulation using DIALux evo. The final energy consumptions meet the national ZEB target but are higher than the rooftop PV generation. To reduce such an energy gap, the ratios of building height to width are proposed. The cost-benefit of investment in ZEB projects provides IRRs ranging from 10.73 to 13.85%, with payback periods of 7.2 to 8.5 years. The energy savings from the proposed designs account for 79.2 to 81.6% of the on-site energy use. The investment of high-performance glazed-windows in the small office buildings is unprofitable (NPVs = −14.77–−46.01). These research results could help architects and engineers identify the influential parameters and significant considerations for the ZEB design. Strategies and technical support to improve energy performance in large and mid-rise buildings towards ZEB goals associated with the high investment cost need future investigations.

Rethinking the concept of building energy rating system in Australia: a pathway to life-cycle net-zero energy building design

Over the last decades, Australia has taken several measures to tackle the increasing trend of energy use in residential buildings. Recently, the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings has been endorsed aiming to reduce energy usage in residential buildings. However, the primary focus of this trajectory is on decreasing operational energy without considering the embodied energy of the building and systems. This paper aims to address one primary question; ‘can the continued exclusion of embodied energy from the energy efficiency regulations effectively lead to reducing energy consumption in Australian residential buildings?’. The findings indicate that embodied energy becomes a dominating factor as buildings’ thermal performances increase according to the Australian energy efficiency regulations. In transitioning from a standard 6.0-star building to a highly energy-efficient 8.7-star building, the proportion of embodied energy significantly increases from 20–40% to 50–75%. This study recommends establishing minimum mandatory requirements for buildings’ embodied performance.

Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) Design

Presently, buildings are expected to be designed to meet higher energy performance, sustainability to enjoy healthy and comfortable environment for the occupants. With the growing public awareness of environment issues, the energy efficient design concept for construction of buildings is being accepted to reduce the day-to-day energy demand of the buildings. In this scenario, net zero energy building design is one of the solutions to combat global warming by reducing energy demand and simultaneously use of renewable energy to run the operations of the building. In this paper, the focus is given on net zero energy building design criteria for composite climate zone. The technical parameters of planning, orientation, envelope, heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC), use of energy efficient materials and integration of renewable energy system in designing the net zero energy building were analyzed and evaluated. The net zero energy balance equation was established from the building design strategies by evaluating the total annual energy demand, reduction in annual energy consumption implementing energy efficient technologies and annual renewable energy generation under the boundary of the building. This equation of net zero energy building was validated on design and construction of BISA building located at Ludhiana, Punjab falls under the composite climate zone. The analysis, evaluation and validation were carried out on system-generated model of the building. The reduced annual energy demand of the building of 432,742 kWh was met from the renewable energy generation of rooftop solar photovoltaic power plant of capacity 300kWp and satisfied the net zero energy balance equation.

Dynamic and consequential LCA aspects in multi-objective optimisation for NZEB design

Multi-objective optimisation coupled with building energy simulation (BES) and life cycle assessment (LCA) models is a promising method to eco-design net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) in line with sustainable objectives such as UN SDG’s goals 7, 11, 12 and 13. This paper presents a method of building multi-objective optimisation based on NSGA-II coupled with the BES model COMFIE and the building LCA tool EQUER to identify NZEB designs that minimise construction costs and GHG emissions. A dynamic electricity mix model was implemented in LCA to evaluate more precisely time-related impacts of heating and solar photovoltaic production. Three different LCA approaches defining the multi-objective optimisation problem were compared: static LCA (considering an average annual electricity mix), dynamic attributionnal LCA (average hourly mix) and dynamic consequential LCA (marginal hourly mix). Results show minor differences in optimums quality between static and dynamic attributionnal approaches but important differences in optimums design parameters between attributionnal and consequential approaches. The influence of the LCA approach on multi-objective optimisation results emphasises the need to specify guidelines for practitioners about the choice of the LCA approach.

Optimal Distribution of Renewable Energy Systems Considering Aging and Long-Term Weather Effect in Net-Zero Energy Building Design

Generation system interruptions in net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) may result in missing the net-zero targets by a great margin. Consequently, it is significant to incorporate a realistic reliability model for renewable energy systems (RESs) that considers aging and long-term weather conditions. This study proposed a robust design optimization method that deals with the selection of RES to achieve NZEB. Different case studies were evaluated: 1. Deterministic approach; 2. Markov chain-based reliability without the aging effect; 3. Markov chain-based reliability with the aging effect. The results showed that the optimal sizes of RES, considering the aging effect, were much larger than the other two cases based on the annual energy balance. Moreover, the consideration of the aging effect on the reliability assessment of the generation system for NZEB opens a pathway for a more robust and economic design of RES.

KELAYAKAN FINANSIAL NEAR ZERO ENERGY BUILDING DENGAN PERATURAN KEMENTERIAN ENERGI DAN SUMBER DAYA MINERAL NO. 49 TAHUN 2018 MENGENAI INSENTIF ENERGI TERBARUKAN

Industri konstruksi dan bangunan bertanggung jawab atas lebih dari 35% konsumsi energi di dunia dan menghasilkan hampir 40% emisi gas rumah kaca seperti CO2. Emisi CO2 berasal dari konsumsi energi bangunan dimana lebih dari 65% yang masih bersumber dari bahan bakar fosil. Near Zero-Energy Building (nZEB) adalah sistem bangunan yang memiliki efisiensi energi tinggi dan dapat menghasilkan listrik secara mandiri dari sumber energi terbarukan, sehingga mengurangi biaya operasional dari tagihan listrik tahunan secara signifikan di dalam umur pakainya. Pembangunan berkonsep ini akan menambah biaya konstruksi awal untuk penerapan desain hemat energi dan sistem pembangkit energi terbarukan pada bangunan. Kelayakan finansial bangunan dengan desain seperti ini diukur dengan metode analisis Life Cycle Cost yang juga memperhitungkan biaya operasional sepanjang umur pakainya. Insentif energi terbarukan merupakan faktor penting dalam analisis kelayakan finansial karena insentif ini secara langsung mengurangi biaya operasional (biaya listrik tahunan) bangunan. Kementerian Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral (ESDM) telah menerbitkan peraturan baru mengenai besaran insentif yang diberikan kepada pemilik bangunan yang memasang pembangkit listrik dari sumber terbarukan. Perlu ada kajian mengenai dampak finansial dari diterbitkannya peraturan baru ini terhadap nilai finansial nZEB sebagai sebuah sistem bangunan utuh yang terintegrasi dengan pembangkit energi dari sumber terbarukan, terutama bangunan pemukiman padat. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah membandingkan kelayakan finansial nZEB yang menggunakan peraturan tahun 2013, dengan Peraturan Kementerian ESDM no. 49 tahun 2018, pada bangunan pemukiman padat berkonsep desain nZEB. Penelitian ini menemukan nilai kelayakan finansial konsep desain nZEB di bawah peraturan insentif tahun 2013 lebih besar daripada di bawah peraturan tahun 2018.

Benefits For Public Healthcare Buildings towards Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs): Initial Reviews

NZEBs concept has received incrementing attention especially since European Union Parliament are progressively moving towards regulation in which all new buildings to be “nearly Zero-Energy” Buildings by 2020. Even though this concept delivers promising benefits, previous studies found that the benefit of NZEB is still in vague to the Malaysian construction industry, mostly for healthcare buildings. The NZEBs concept implementation is critical in healthcare building as it seen as a key part of the needed transition towards sustainable development. This paper aims to define benefits of NZEBs practices through initial investigation among architects. Several existing energies works of literature and pilot studies by using semi-structured interviews were conducted. The findings divulge that, although the term ‘NZEBs design strategies’ is not being used largely across construction industry in Malaysia, some sustainable practices related to the design stage of construction has been implemented. The findings are also promising in growing awareness, practices and implementation of NZEBs design strategies by the practitioner in Malaysia. It is foreseen that the paper will provide a straightforward knowledge for future research in NZEBs design strategies practices for healthcare buildings construction in Malaysia.

A Building energy simulation methodology to validate energy balance and comfort in zero energy buildings

The construction of Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) is one of the objectives in the road to the low-carbon economy by 2050. NZEB design includes a reduction of current energy demands and the balance between consumption and on-site energy generation without compromising indoor comfort conditions. Building designers are using building information modeling (BIM) and building energy simulation (BES) tools to validate design decisions and to evaluate energy balance in buildings. However, the flow of information between BIM software and BES tools has not been solved yet. This work proposes a method to address the decision-making process at three different stages of the building design. Initially, the use of BIM over the architectural design process helps architects to make meaningful decisions related to the passive solar heat gains and envelop materials. Secondly, a more advanced BES is used to analyze the strategies of ventilation and the influence of heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Finally, a new method to integrate water flow glazing (WFG) is implemented to increase the comfort in those areas of the building with a large area of glass. Applying the right strategy for natural ventilation can reduce the thermal loads by 45% in Summer. Using WFG minimizes the gap between indoor air temperature and operative temperature according to the results.

Heuristic optimization for grid-interactive net-zero energy building design through the glowworm swarm algorithm

As buildings account for a substantial amount of energy worldwide, many developers encourage self-sustained net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) to minimize buildings’ energy consumption and negative impacts on the environment. In contrast to regular buildings, NZEBs have interactive and complex energy systems that require synthetical evaluation of their complicated interplay with the grid. Many studies implemented various optimization approaches to improve the NZEBs energy system designed with a global optimal sizing solution. However, the optimal design is often infeasible due to the availability of proper equipment sizing on the markets. In addition, due to the uncertainty caused by different climate conditions, government feed-in-tariff subsidies, and availability of renewable systems, there could exist multiple distinctive design solutions for the same building. Therefore, this study intends to develop a heuristic multiple objectives algorithm based on the glowworm swarm mechanism to refine the optimization of the grid-interactive NZEB design. To validate the proposed method, a case study of the Hong Kong Zero Carbon Building was examined and three design variables (area of the photo-voltage system, installation power of the wind turbine system, and capacity of the thermal energy storage system) were optimized. The results suggest that the optimized design can outperform the baseline design in terms of operating costs and grid energy consumption. In addition, multiple local optima design solutions that represent different design strategies can be identified using the proposed non-linear model.

Net-zero energy building design and life-cycle cost analysis with air-source variable refrigerant flow and distributed photovoltaic systems

Net-zero energy building (NZEB) design has been gaining widespread acceptance as a major driver to reach feasible long-term goals of energy reductions in a building sector for the coming decades. Accordingly, net-zero energy targets for commercial buildings have been specified by federal and/or local government agencies in U.S. Although moving toward NZEB goals has technically feasible long-term advantages, economic issues are one of primarily concerns by building owners and designers for the application of advanced building technologies in NZEB design of their retrofit or new building construction. However, the lack of life cycle cost (LCC) data has still hindered reliable understanding of adopting NZEB design by building owners in a cost-effective manner. In response to this gap, this study conducts life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) of NZEB design with an energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and a solar power generation system. To enable NZEB design, an air-source VRF heat pump (HP) type system is considered for energy-efficient HVAC equipment in an office building model with a grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) system. Results reveal that the LCC of NZEBs varies primarily due to a combined effect of annual site EUIs, on-site power generation, and cost-items of each location in U.S. climates. Some hot and mild climate zones in the U.S. represent that LCC values of NZEBs are considerably lower. In contrast, some other cold zones result in unattractive LCC values for NZEBs, caused by a combined effect of relatively lower potential of on-site PV electricity generation and city cost indices. Yet, with subsidized financing by the federal government for PV installation costs, LCC values of NZEBs become significantly attractive in most climate locations.

USE OF GREEN BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING IN THE ASSESSMENT OF NET ZERO ENERGY BUILDING DESIGN

In the face of extreme climate, Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) represent a very high standard of building energy conservation. The design of NZEBs requires continuous design improvement and analysis in a decision-making process that seeks to meet energy conservation goals. This paper recommends the use of green Building Information Modelling (BIM) to support the design of zero-energy buildings. The design of NZEBs requires two sets of tasks: First, it requires determination of whether the building will offer high-energy efficiency, and, second, it lacks the installation of sufficient renewable energy equipment to meet the building’s load needs. After drawing on the spirit of the United States’ Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and considering the current situation in Taiwan, this paper recommends the use of electricity Energy Usage Intensity as a measurement unit providing a holistic indicator of energy usage and takes optimized energy performance as a performance target for various solutions. This study demonstrated procedural steps in the application of green BIM and analyzed restrictions on the implementation of green BIM to the analysis of NZEB design.

A review of net zero energy buildings in hot and humid climates: Experience learned from 34 case study buildings

Sustainable development in the building sector requires the integration of energy efficiency and renewable energy utilization in buildings. In recent years, the concept of net zero energy buildings (NZEBs) has become a potential plausible solution to improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption in buildings. To achieve an NZEB goal, building systems and design strategies must be integrated and optimized based on local climatic conditions. This paper provides a comprehensive review of NZEBs and their current development in hot and humid regions. Through investigating 34 NZEB cases around the world, this study summarized NZEB key design strategies, technology choices and energy performance. The study found that passive design and technologies such as daylighting and natural ventilation are often adopted for NZEBs in hot and humid climates, together with other energy efficient and renewable energy technologies. Most NZEB cases demonstrated site annual energy consumption intensity less than 100 kW-hours (kWh) per square meter of floor space, and some buildings even achieved “net-positive energy” (that is, they generate more energy locally than they consume). However, the analysis also shows that not all NZEBs are energy efficient buildings, and buildings with ample renewable energy adoption can still achieve NZEB status even with high energy use intensity. This paper provides in-depth case-study-driven analysis to evaluate NZEB energy performance and summarize best practices for high performance NZEBs. This review provides critical technical information as well as policy recommendations for net zero energy building development in hot and humid climates.

A holistic design approach for residential net-zero energy buildings: A case study in Singapore

The concept of net-zero energy buildings is an important element and dimension of the sustainable built environment. This paper introduces a holistic design approach for residential net-zero energy building (NZEB) by adopting the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) principles: social, environmental, and financial. The social need is mapped to human comfort and nature contact (i.e. thermal comfort achieved by natural cooling, and visual comfort achieved by daylighting); the environmental need is mapped to energy efficiency; and the financial need is mapped to life cycle cost (LCC). Multi-objective optimizations are conducted in two phases: the first phase optimizes the utilization rate of natural cooling and daylighting, and the second phase optimizes energy efficiency and LCC. Sensitivity analysis is conducted to identify the most influential variables in the optimization process. The approach is applied to the design of residential NZEBs in a tropical country, Singapore. The potential of building residential NZEBs in Singapore is evaluated with two typical residential building types: a landed house and apartment building. The required capacity of a renewable energy system (RES) is calculated. Results show that while it is achievable to build a net-zero energy landed house with only rooftop solar panels, it is much more difficult to achieve net-zero energy for apartment buildings. Further design considerations and analysis show that for a 25-floor H-shaped residential building with a solar panel integrated facade, the produced electricity is able to meet the energy demand of up to 19 floors. Findings and derived insights from the case study show that although some variables need to be carefully selected to balance daylighting and natural cooling, the two objectives do not always contradict each other regarding certain variables. Similarly, environmental aims and economic aims do not always contradict each other on certain variables. Also, the social aims do not contradict environmental and economic aims, as the findings show that designing for daylighting and natural cooling contributes to the improvement of energy efficiency and cost effectiveness. These results provide a framework and modeled cases for design insights, parametric design, and trade-off analysis toward sustainable and livable built structures.