Net-Zero Energy & Renewables

U.S. Department of Energy (public domain)

Net-zero energy use is the ability of a building to supply its own energy over the course of a year by using renewables (typically onsite renewables, though some definitions include offsite procurement).

Alternative energy sources like photovoltaics are becoming more affordable, increasing the possibility that a building project can achieve net-zero energy. And as more buildings use renewables along with storage technologies, there are opportunities to harmonize with the grid and use more renewable energy from there as well.

Net-Zero Energy & Renewables

Deep Dives

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  • The Secret Math Behind RMI’s New Headquarters

    Feature Short

    Designing for net-zero energy and carbon in the nation’s coldest climate is not just a physics problem. There’s also the chemistry.

  • In the Pipeline: District Energy and Green Building

    Feature Article

    Very common in northern Europe, district energy systems use a network of buried, insulated pipes to distribute centrally produced steam, hot water, or chilled water to heat or cool multiple buildings. These systems can make use of waste heat from power generation (combined heat and power) or renewable fuel sources to help reduce the environmental impacts of buildings and communities.

  • The Challenge of Existing Homes: Retrofitting for Dramatic Energy Savings

    Feature Article

    Greenhouse gas emissions associated with residential energy use account for a fifth of all emissions in the U.S. Retrofitting existing houses to achieve a two- to three-fold reduction in energy use is necessary if we are to achieve the emissions reductions scientists say are required for avoiding catastrophic climate change. Here's a look at how it can be done.

  • Is Nano a No-No? Nanotechnology Advances into Buildings

    Feature Article

    Nanotechnology takes advantage of the novel properties that particles can exhibit at a billionth of a meter in size. Those properties are being used in building materials, where they can improve thermal performance and the effectiveness of photovoltaics, among many possibilities. The field has little regulation, however, despite significant health and environmental concerns.

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Product Guidance

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  • Wind Turbines on the Parapet

    Product Review

    AeroVironment, Inc., is introducing a new approach to small-scale wind generation that takes advantage of the rush of wind as it crests a building's facade.

  • Climate Energy Brings Combined Heat and Power Home

    Product Review

    The idea of combining electricity generation with the production of useful heat-referred to as combined heat and power (CHP) or cogeneration-has long been attractive. Now, after many false starts, a viable residential-scale CHP system is about to enter the market.

  • Measuring Solar Access with the Solmetric SunEye

    Product Review

    The SunEye is an easy-to-use, digital tool for measuring solar shading and calculating daily and monthly solar access on building sites.

  • Mobile Photovoltaic Power Generators

    Product Review

    Mobile photovoltaic generators can provide a silent power supply for construction sites and other off-grid applications without the use of fossil fuels.

In The News

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Perspective

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  • Get Ready for Fuel Switching

    Op-Ed

    As the cost of heating fuel rises, utilities must prepare for increased demand as homeowners switch to cheaper electric-resistance heat.

  • Save the Icing for Last

    Op-Ed

    Before considering high-profile features such as wind turbines and photovoltaic arrays, we should focus on the basics of green building.

  • On the Path to Net Zero

    Op-Ed

    At Leonard Farm, we’ve taken another big step in our quest for net-zero energy and net-zero carbon—but we’re not there yet!

  • Why Net-Zero Energy Is a Goal We Can All Get Behind

    Op-Ed

    BuidingGreen’s recent report critiquing net-zero energy may be fighting the wrong battle.

Learning Resources

Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.

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  • IRA Nuts & Bolts with an Energy Tax Expert

    Webcast

    The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers us a once-in-a-generation chance to equitably decarbonize the built environment and prepare communities to weather future climate threats. Will we seize that chance in time? For that to happen, it’s vital that project teams understand the rules well enough to offer and implement the right solutions.

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